In what should come as no surprise to anyone paying attention, or anyone warning about it in 2017, the targeted opening date for the completed Lowell High School construction project is no longer August of 2026. That new target date is December of 2026.
City officials were informed today that a “newly discovered structural issue” will delay completion of Phase 3, which in turn will delay the entire four-phase project by three months, leading to the new target date at the end of 2026. Publicly, all parties involved had previously expressed “hope” that the original target date would still be met, despite unforeseen issues. In private, however, numerous sources close to the situation told me the original August 2026 date was very unlikely.
In addition, the Owner’s Project Manager (OPM) acknowledged at tonight’s School Building Committee meeting that with the latest developments, “there is a fair possibility” the project goes over the $381-million budget.
Jim Dowd also told the SBC that the Massachusetts School Building Authority would not provide further funding to cover the likely cost overruns. When further pressed about “value engineering,” aka cutbacks to the project, Dowd said that isn’t possible.
InsideLowell asked for and received a text sent to the School Committee early this afternoon by Superintendent of Schools Liam Skinner, which also mentioned further cost overruns. The note states:
“School Committee members, for your awareness, we are learning today that a newly discovered structural issue in the Lowell High School construction work, will delay the completion of phase 3 by several months, and may involve additional unanticipated cost. As I understand it, a foundation or a whole floor in the basement of t he 1922 building needs to be replaced. I expect to learn further details today, including at the scheduled SBC meeting (6:00pm @ city hall) and will update you when I have further information. Liam.”
Soon thereafter, the City Council was notified in a note from the City Administration which offered Christmas of 2025 as a potential Phase 3 end date. That missive reads:
“Councilors, after this morning’s OAC meeting it was determined that the whole floor in the basement of the ’22 building needs to be replaced. It is unlikely that phase 3 will be completed in August. It is likely to be pushed out until Christmas. The 80’s building should be turned over in August, but the ’22 will likely be delayed. Project team is looking at multiple scheduling options with the school. This will be discussed at tonight’s SBC meeting.”
Even before today’s development, potential delays in the final timeline have been the topic of discussion on multiple InsideLowell Daily Pulse podcasts since January.
The issue with basement flooding was specifically discussed in detail with City Councilor Erik Gitschier during the February 19 show, who had recently completed a walk-thru of the project with many of his fellow colleagues.
Gitschier outlined the issues with the basement floor in the 1922 building, and explained they were tied to water levels in the adjacent canal, which speaks to how major a variable construction crews and city officials are dealing with.
8 responses to “Water Under the Bridge? Flooding Delays LHS Timeline”
The design of the HCID garage was modified part way through the process when cost projection sky-rocketed. That cost was due to going too deep for underground parking, and the need to waterproof against the nearby canal. I believe HCID abandoned the depth, and increased the garage height to accommodate it, to the added chagrin of Canal Place 3 residents. But the 1922 building is existing, so why is it being discovered now? What is basement used for? Is there a way to protect the assets from the just now discovered water?
Working in construction for 45 years I argued against rebuilding downtown because of the age of the building knowing damn well there would be massive overruns just from unknown asbestos. Our elected officials from Belvidere convinced the upper belvedere residents that the “NIMBY” rule applies here. We had the land, we had the athletic fields but they didn’t want 4000 students in their neighborhood. It takes approximately 20 minutes for every transporting means to bring the students back to their neighborhood. The increased taxes on the city is something they can probably afford. From the majority of the city we thank you for your greed and selfishness. To hell with our children and cheers to keeping your neighborhood the most racist, against all residents from receiving the best facilities and the greatest education possible. We will never be a destination city.
Chuck, you are SPOT ON, WELL SAID! It’s exactly my thoughts on the LHS project! It should NEVER of been done! The school should been relocated, don’t think anyone ever thinks of the what IF factor! Especially with the ‘22 building!
Painting with too broad a brush Chuck-my family and many others were all for Cawley and we live in “Belvedere”[sic]. Furthermore, I take exception to your characterization of the entirety of my neighborhood as “racist.” I challenge you to visit the United Nations of a block I live on and stand by that claim. Best neighbors ever.
Dave, I apologize for using the word racist. That was totally wrong of me. I grew up on Morningside Drive and am a lifelong resident of Lowell. Graduated from Lowell High. My frustration would have been better served to the politicians who for years protected Belvidere in their own selfish manner. Far too many residents do have that NIMBY attitude, and that my fellow resident cannot be denied. Sorry to all for my poor choice of words.
You are in absolutely no way the majority of the city, Chuck.
Your side lost by an overwhelming majority.
City-wide.
If every single vote in Belvidere had been thrown out, downtown still would have won. That’s largely because it won in every single neighborhood with a sizable minority population.
Sore losers do not get to lie without being corrected.
Speaking of corrections, will you finally acknowledge that the so-called losers were right about the asbestos, right about cost overruns, flooding issues, and pretty much everything else? Will you acknowledge being wrong about the above?
It’s amazing how the volume from the WINNING side goes mute when the asbestos / hazardous materials let’s call it because there are more than one. Their trained qualified staff inspected and assess the hazards well before a shovel goes in the ground. The City should not have to pay for incompetent workers these hazards and don’t even get me going on the floor how the hell did they not ck that are they guessing on the amount of load it could handle. But these hazards are not hidden as well they where well documented by the city inspectors and they blind eye was turned for election results for a NIMBY motivated group that did a major disservice to the children of Lowell for generations