Board approves major historic permit to convert 71 Willie Street mill into 30 apartments

The Lowell board voted to approve a major historic permit for 71 Willie Street, clearing the way for conversion of the former Dugdale worsted mill into 30 residential units.

Attorney John Gary of Gary & Gary LLP, representing 71 Willie Street LLC, told the board the 22,205‑square‑foot parcel sits in the Acre Neighborhood historic district and that the proposal would repurpose the building from its most recent industrial use to a mix of studio and one‑bedroom homes. "If permitting goes according to plan, we expect that we'll start construction sometime in 2026," Gary said.

Architect Jim Jazokos described the building's history and preservation approach: "This building was originally built in 1860," he said, noting a fire in 1893 and several later alterations. The team plans to remove a nonhistoric wooden lean‑to on the left elevation, repoint masonry, replace doors and windows, and re‑expose historic window openings where feasible.

During board questions, Jazokos said the first floor will be wheelchair accessible and that the building currently has a service lift; final decisions about elevator installation will depend on site grade and civil engineering work. The project also contemplates modest rooftop screening for mechanical equipment rather than ground‑level condensers.

A board member moved to approve the historic permit and a second was recorded. The board voted in favor with recorded 'Aye' responses and no recorded opposition in the meeting transcript. Following the vote, project representatives said they would proceed to planning board site‑plan review and may seek dimensional relief from the zoning board of appeals as needed.

Next steps: the team will finalize detailed elevations, site plans and landscape plans and coordinate required reviews with city staff and boards before applying for building permits.