Developers present 363‑unit market‑rate plan for Hamilton Canal parcels; board urges pedestrian activation

Developers and architects presented preliminary designs for Hamilton Canal Parcels 2–5, a two‑building market‑rate proposal the team said would yield about 363 units and approximately 320,000 square feet of new construction.

A development representative explained that Parcels 2–4 make up the larger, amenity‑rich building and Parcel 5 is a smaller lobby/elevator parcel intended to maximize unit count on that footprint. The team said Parcel A (part of Parcels 2–4) includes roughly 10,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, a 12,000‑square‑foot amenity program and a pedestrian corridor tying Canal Street to Utopia Park.

Architect Sam Buckman said the scheme celebrates Lowell’s industrial past with a backbone of punched windows and brick at the base while allowing contemporary elements to animate street fronts. Planning staff told the board the project is working within the Hamilton Canal district’s form‑based code and is close to checking the code review box; they noted that a 100% market‑rate project would be a change for the district, which has seen mixed‑income developments previously.

Board members highlighted pedestrian safety and activation of Canal Street, recommended additional ground‑level perspectives to judge how the building reads at the pedestrian scale, and urged careful treatment of the key gateway from the south bridge into Utopia Park so it reads clearly as public and welcoming space.