Local social media has been abuzz the last few days with news that Mill No. 5 businesses have identified St. Jean Baptiste Church as a potential new home, with one going so far as to launch a Go Fund Me page to help with potential build out costs.
Rachel Chandler, owner of Red Antler Apothecary, made the announcement on the business’ Facebook page Saturday, and the news quickly began to spread. The post mentions an entity called Hive Public Market, indicating it will include “some shops from Mill No. 5 and so much more.”
The Go Fund Me page was set up shortly thereafter, setting a targe goal of $100,000 to aid with the “quest to make a new home for small businesses in the wake of Mill No. 5’s sudden closure.”
It asks donors to join “in revitalizing the former St. Jean Baptiste building into vibrant and vibing community, mercantile, and art spaces.” As of press time, the effort has already raised more than $20,000 from 280 donations.
The church, owned by TMI Properties, was most recently used as a staging and shooting location for the second season of Dead City, part of the Walking Dead series. It has also been mentioned as a potential home for the Jack Kerouac Center, though there haven’t been any new developments made public on that front since the initial news broke in November of 2022.
Local developer Brian McGowan, the owner of TMI Properties, tells InsideLowell discussions on relocating Mill No. 5 businesses to the church are “in the very early stages,” but he’s hopeful something positive can come for those businesses and the city.
McGowan mentioned his interest being piqued once news that Mill No. 5 was being sold to Lowell Collegiate Charter School was revealed the day before Thanksgiving. Shortly thereafter, he was contacted by Fred Faust of the Edge Group on behalf of one of the businesses, members of Lowell’s Department of Planning and Development and by Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce President Danielle McFadden.
“I’m a big believer in what was happening at Mill No. 5, having visited the shops on many occasions with my own family,” McGowan said when reached Monday morning. “If TMI Properties and St. Jean Baptiste Church can be part of the solution and add value back to the city and this community, we’re happy to explore those possibilities.”
The emergence of the historic Merrimack Street church as a potential new home for the Mill No. 5 shopping community offers an intriguing opportunity, within walking distance for the UMass Lowell student-body and the anticipated $800-million Lowell Innovation Network Corridor development announced earlier this year.
