The Registry of Motor Vehicles is looking to put their Downtown Lowell location in the rearview mirror.
InsideLowell has learned the RMV “opened bids” for a new home at the end of May, and may have already selected its new location.
While we haven’t been able to confirm the exact location, sources tell us the goal was to stay in Lowell and “find a similar situation to the one in Lawrence.”
The Lawrence RMV is located at Plaza 114 on Winthrop Avenue, which houses a number of businesses, including Marshalls.
Ironically, there was talk in 2014 of moving the Registry from that location into Lawrence’s downtown. Those plans were scrapped in 2016, and the RMV instead moved to a larger unit within the same plaza in March of 2017.
A list of similar properties in Lowell reveals a potential option at Meadowbrook Plaza in South Lowell. The website for RD Management, which owns and manages the property, highlights the Target store located there and lists over 20,000 square feet of available space.
The site, a stone’s throw from the Lowell Connector, also features plenty of parking and even private avenues for drivers license exams to take place.
The current Middlesex Street location, on the first floor of the Early Garage in Downtown, seemed fraught with issues from the outset.
Neighboring businesses often complained of registry visitors taking up all available street parking, even though the facility was housed within a large parking garage. Traffic became an issue with drop offs and pickups, which also made for a more challenging driving exam for inexperienced drivers navigating crowded downtown streets to earn their license.
Our sources indicate the move to a new location is still likely a year away, so residents and businesses hoping the downtown registry issues are alleviated will have to contend with them for a while longer.
28 responses to “RMV Hitting the Road Out of Downtown”
Lowell is so trashy that is a good idea to leave that location..
Is target closing?
Go back to where it was in highlands
Plenty of parking
Stop trashing Lowell……homeless is everywhere…
That would be great
I think its a good idea to move it near target.. the middlesex loctaion is too small,and lowell isnt trashy
Let’s get a little serious with ourselves here first. Why, would a successful business with over 400 employees leave Lowell after 14+yrs? I know reading is tough for some. Trying to see where it said “Target is closing”
Stop calling Lowell trashy is your City or Town so great and with out its problems
tHE HOMELESS IN LOWELL HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ISSUES THE RMV HAS…THEIR SHELTER WAS THERE FIRST AND THEY ARE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE….MOVING THE rmv MAY JUST BENEFIT THEM! aLL FOR IT
Go back to the old location in the Plaza off of Chelmsford St.
Target is not closing. The second strip mall on that site, the one that China Buffet is in, goes wayyyyyyy back, and has a lot of empty space.
It’s kind of out of the way and not very appealing for businesses, but it should be great for this.
It’s about time they’re getting out of the downtown area! In a plaza somewhere is a great idea! I personally go to AAA for my car business, but you have to be a member!
Moving locations is a great idea for the exact reason they mentioned. The plaza they are proposing would be the best location. Plenty of parking and businesses there may get more foot traffic.
Good idea, traffic was a mess over there and people just walked in front of you with out a care in the world!
It took about 20 minutes for me to renew the registrations of our two cars at town hall up here in Pelham.
Lowell is not trashy! Move the RMV to the Target location. There is more parking there, and it is easier to get there.
Leaving the Early Garage, Ash Tray and Pigeon Roost? You don’t say! Employees must have gotten tired of tripping on empty nip bottles. Convenient as it is for those of us who live (in yes, a very trashy) downtown, it doesn’t make sense for the RMV at all.
I think it’s a great idea to move it to the target plaza
Not trashy? Just walk around Gorham and Charles st , you will find needles,trash everywhere.
RMV should move back to Chelmsford Street it was a great location plenty of parking …put it back there
They can move wherever they want, the service is still going to suck.
9 complaints in this thread about “lack of parking” at a DMV location that’s literally inside a parking garage
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For everyone saying Lowell isn’t trashy….. I’m guessing you aren’t downtown very often, because it’s COVERED in trash and human waste. Literally. Piss and shit all over the streets. Can’t walk 4 feet without being harassed by an addict for money. It’s a hellhole. How lucky are the children of Lowell to go to school there?
Wait…people complained their driving test was too difficult because of the location? Isn’t that what the test is supposed to be to prepare you for what’s actually out there?
I absolutely agree. Also plenty of parking and can access still from the connector by Mahoneys gas station or Chelmsford St
Possibly a good option but stop calling it South Lowell. Ayers city.
Great Idea to move RMV to a new location! Anyways, Do Not call the city as trashy if you have not helped anything.! Shame on you otherwise.
Wasn’t it in a plaza on Plain Street before it relocated to Middlesex St. To be honest since the registry is very good sine Dan Grabauski was the registration during the Celluci years. It should be in a plaza. Free parking and make it big.