Lowell Community Health Center

LOWELL

Lowell Community Health Center provided primary medical care to over 30,000 Lowell area residents but was bursting at the seams

In 2011 The Lowell Community Health Center provided primary medical care to 32,000 residents of Lowell. with multiple locations housing 250 full time staff, who collectively speak over 25 languages and provide a range of both clinical and public health services.    Despite its extraordinary reach, LCHC staff knew that many Lowell residents still did not have access to primary care, and many health services were not being offered to existing clientele because of space constraints.  This extraordinary institution was bursting at the seams,

LCHC planned to develop a new health center to consolidate its multiple program sites, and to triple its square footage.  The new facility would double the number of exam rooms, add dental operatories, urgent care, a pharmacy and behavioral health services.  LCHC expected to be able to double the number of clients served.

LCHC identified an historic mill building at 26 Jackson Street in Lowell, part of the Hamilton Canal District complex.  The Hamilton Canal District is a 15 acre master planned redevelopment sponsored by the City of Lowell.  The plan projects $500 million in development over ten years.  The first phase is well underway with several housing projects complete.  LCHC’s plan was to adapt an existing mill building into a six-story facility totaling 96,000 net square feet.

The project financing, totaling over $40 million required a broad collaboration of investors and lenders.  LCHC utilized an array of tax credits, including New Market Tax Credits and both Federal and State Historic Tax Credits.  TLI was able to offer flexibility by bridging the tax credits and a federal grant, so that the funds would be available when the LCHC needed them.  TLI invested $5 million, in partnership with Eastern Bank.  The Lowell Community Health Center opened in 2012, anchoring a major redevelopment in Lowell, providing health care jobs, restoring a historic building and, most importantly, now serves more than 50,000 patients.

• Historic Tax Credit bridge financing
• New Market Tax Credit financing

To learn more about Lowell Community Health Center, visit www.lchealth.org.