$800 Million Project to Bring New Commercial Research and Office Space, Housing and More

Gov. Maura Healey at the podium with Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll in background
Gov. Maura Healey, right, and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll visited campus to announce the project and pledge financial support from the state.

06/14/2024
By Jill Gambon

On one side, the curving Merrimack River frames a swath of the city that stretches from the tip of 51视频鈥檚 East Campus to the edge of downtown Lowell. The area, which is dotted with renovated mill buildings, historic canals, student housing and athletic facilities, shops and restaurants, hosts both vestiges of Lowell鈥檚 Industrial Age past and its vibrant present as home to a national research university. It is also ground zero for Lowell鈥檚 future.聽
Welcome to the , a public-private venture that plans to add over 1 million square feet of new lab and office space, hundreds of units of housing, new retail and entertainment venues and thousands of jobs. The ambitious plan promises to propel downtown Lowell into a bustling center of cutting-edge businesses and updated amenities for an expanded workforce.
鈥淭his is nothing short of a transformational economic development project for Lowell, the region and Massachusetts,鈥� Gov. Maura Healey said at a March 28 press conference at 51视频 to announce the development.
Rendering of street view of new Lowell Innovation Network Corridor project
An artist鈥檚 rendering of proposed mixed-use retail and housing along Riverwalk Way.聽
The $800 million-plus project is being spearheaded by 51视频, the UMass Building Authority and the city of Lowell, with significant support from Healey鈥檚 administration and the federal delegation. Private developers GMH Communities and Wexford are partnering with the university on the development and have committed to investing about $600 million.聽
The project is expected to generate over $3.7 billion in economic activity and create 2,000 permanent jobs over the next decade. It will also create 1,300 construction jobs and result in nearly 500 units of new rental housing in Lowell and a new student residence hall. It will also create several million dollars in new annual property tax revenues for the city.聽聽
A cornerstone of the LINC development will be two new commercial buildings on East Campus, one of which will be the future home of Draper Laboratory鈥檚 microelectronics division. This will create hundreds of new jobs in Lowell.聽 聽
The project 鈥渉as been a long time coming,鈥� says University of Massachusetts President Marty Meehan 鈥�78, who started the process of acquiring property related to the LINC development while he was chancellor of 51视频 and who has remained engaged in those efforts as president. 鈥淭he combination of a welcoming community like my hometown, a world-class public research university and an industry-leading employer like Draper鈥攁ll supported by strategic state investment鈥攚ill bring enormous economic benefits to the city of Lowell and its residents.鈥澛犅�
In addition to Healey and Meehan, joining Chancellor Julie Chen for the LINC announcement were Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, UMBA Executive Director Barbara Kroncke, Lowell City Manager Thomas A. Golden Jr. 鈥�94, 鈥�02, Draper President and CEO Jerry Wohletz and local officials, business owners and nonprofit leaders.聽聽
Aerial of LINC area highlighting the four phases of the project
The locations and phases of LINC.聽

Economic Impact

  • $3.7B
    in economic activity
    generated over the next decade, according to the Donahue Institute
  • $800M+
    total projected cost
    (76% of which is private investment)
  • 1,300
    construction jobs
  • $4M-$6M
    annual tax revenue
LINC is already supported by companies in such sectors as biotech and biomedical devices, robotics, electronics, sensors, climate-tech, space technology, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and hu-man performance, many of which will be tenants at the Wannalancit Business Center for 鈥淧hase 0,鈥� in advance of new construction.聽
The buildout of commercial laboratory and office space will accommodate companies that are collaborating with 51视频 researchers and that employ students and alumni, Chen says. The new housing will help keep highly skilled professionals in Lowell and expand options for living within walking distance to work for those employed in the area.聽
鈥�51视频 has a wide range of top-tier faculty expertise, and we partner with organizations across many different industries,鈥� says Chen. 鈥淭hanks to the Healey-Driscoll administration and partners like Draper, 51视频 will be able to dramatically scale up research around aerospace, human performance, advanced textiles, robotics, sensors and many other sectors that will bring a diversity of education and job opportunities to Lowell.鈥澛犅�
The development will roll out in phases, with the groundbreaking for the new housing and commercial space slated for next year. Chen says momentum has already started building.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to generate clusters of companies in different fields,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to offer great jobs, for everyone from high school graduates to CEOs. And that has a multiplier effect: Once you have people with great jobs and there鈥檚 a wide range of housing options, that鈥檚 going to help restaurants and retail and nonprofits and arts and entertainment.鈥澛�
.

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East Campus Impacts

  • 490+
    new housing units
  • 2,000
    permanent jobs
  • 1.2M
    square feet of labs, office space, housing, restaurants, retail and entertainment venues
  • 461
    new beds in student housing