Under review

How can this be closed the cars are still there. At the end of Inland st. 8 cars surrounding a small house right up to the front door this is a disaster waiting to happen plus it looks like a car dump. I do believe if the city does not do something soon about these makeshift parking lots on everybody lawns
the city will be called one big illegal parking lot. Never would this go on in Chelmsford, Arlington, Lexington etc.

WHY IS THIS CLOSED?? NOTHING HAS CHANGED.

There is no answer???

Hey SUZI-Q, the City of Lowell doesn't care about looks, they only care about property taxes, on a dwelling, so I'm inclined to believe that the city will not do anything, ie. they will not enforce their driveway, and parking ordinances, if property taxes are being paid, on it. Feng-Shui be damned. The workers at City Hall are probably nice people, but I agree they do not know their jobs, and the particular dept. handling these issues is passive, and clueless. Any time I visit Lowell, I realize how much uglier, it has become. Everywhere I look I see cars, and SUV's, on lawns, and yards. I wouldn't be a bit surprised, if some individual built a ramp , to the roof , of his house, in order , to park his car. Also why should any citizen take out a permit , for a driveway, if others just ride over the curb, and park any where they want?

If the city continues to do nothing about the illegal parking going on in this city especially in the upper highlands because they do not want to offend a certain group of people I will contact the state and see if they have any rules and regulations concerning these issues.

Suzi-Q ought, to check out Wedge St., in the Upper Highlands - the destruction, of the neighborhoods continues.I know that if a family, or two moved , into the city managers's neighborhood, in Chelmsford, he wouldn't like it , if his new neighbors converted a single family, into a multi-family, dug up the lawn, and asphalted it, then parked cars everywhere.

What happened to people who liked to keep up their yards and lawns. It has mostly disappeared in the Upper Highlands in the City of Lowell. I am so embarrassed when friends and relatives come to visit because of the deplorable neighborhood habit of people parking their cars all over their lawns and right up to their front door. Usually a comment is made of how dangerous and ugly it is. Do something City of Lowell. Enforce your rules that is if you know what they are.

Cars all over the lawn, and sidewalks of two large houses, on Nesmith St., not far from the funeral parlor.These houses were once single, or two family edifices, now it looks as though they have been broken, into many single units. What a dump. Why does the city allow this especially , on a pleasant main street, into the heart , of Lowell?

I was driving down Inland Street in the upper highlands the other day and almost got hit head on, going onto Chelmsford St. because of cars parked on both sides of Inland St. I have contacted the State concerning the parking situations in Lowell and the public safety issues this is causing. Also I have inquired about cars parking allover their lawns and sidewalks. People asphalting their lawns and making non-permitted driveways. These practices are not only ugly but are dangerous and it seems like it will take an accident before the city of Lowell does anything.

Finally I got a reply. Rode through the upper highlands and pointed out all the things I wrote about. Person could not believe all the mess and so many code violations allowed to go on. I am looking forward to more assistance.

I noticed on Stevens St. near Lowell Catholic a two decker house that has asphalted the whole yard side and back I am afraid that this part of the Upper Highlands is going to turn into a monstrosity like Wilder St. across from the Morey School. Have you no sense City Hall or are you just lazy or incompetent? What do you think Lowell will look like in 10 years??? This has been going on for to long. Educate the people who do not know better. Do your job!!!!!!!!!

I would like to alert the City Council that chickens do not like asphalt. I say this because Lowell is becoming asphalt city.

I see that parking was allowed at 447 Stevens with no buffer for the sidewalk. What a sad state of affairs when the city does not understand neighborhood ordinances. I suppose nothing will be done until someone gets hurt or they start knocking down retaining walls and paving huge parking areas on YOUR street. Breaking up single family homes and making rooms to rent out is illegal. Evidently City Hall and the people in Planning and Development truly are clueless.

477 Stevens St. has a non-permitted driveway just like the house next door to it.Also around the corner, on Wedge St. one will find cars parked head in, on an asphalted lawn now used as a parking lot. These cars are parked illegally, and the owner of the property should be fined, and the city should have the cars towed.Likewise the owner should be forced to plant grass seed, or some kind of greenery. I pity the pedestrians, who have to navigate these streets, As I see it two things are going on in Lowell, which help destroy the neighborhoods- one of course is the matter of non=permitted driveways, usually a consequence of an unscrupulous builder wanting to make a quick buck, who carves up single, and two family homes to create multiple apartments, with no concern for parking, or the larger neighborhood. Secondly this uglification of Lowell has been slowly, but steadily moving up from Cupples Sq., onto Wilder, Chelmsford St. , and now Stevens St. while city officials do nothing to stop this slum creep. Contrary to what we hear Lowell is becoming uglier,less green , less safe, and more congested with cars .

Kudos to the people in Belvidere, who kept the builder O'Neil from destroying their neighborhood. O'Neil comes to town from Westford, and tries to do , in Lowell what he can't do , in Westford. Great work keep it up.

Hopefully the car that is parked precautiosly at 477 Stevens St. will nor roll down and hit someone walking on the sidewalk. The city is losing it's sidewalks, with pedestrians forced to walk on the street. Instead of the City of Lowell running around and putting bicycle pictures on the roads, it would serve the city and it's residents more if you concentrated on these dangerous issues.

Old issues.

These are not old issues they are occurring right now. And the City of Lowell should get out into the upper highlands and do something about it. I will not sit back and watch the upper highlands turn into a dump any longer.

.

A car parked right up to the front door at 603 Stevens St,. 12 cars parked in a small side yard at 15 Inland St., Green space taken away at alarming rate in the upper highlands neighborhoods. Why would a person take the time to go to City Hall pay for a permit for a driveway when so many people just park all over their lawns and also asphalt every bit of green space in their yard to park their cars????? The Zoning Board and Developmental Services must do something about this problem before it is to late.

Is it okay to asphalt the front, side and back of residential homes with no green space left. The Lowell zoning board members should take a ride around the upper highlands and see these atrocities for themselves and finally do something about it. Perhaps they could read the ordinance for residential neighborhoods. Thank You

When is something going to be done about all this illegal paving going on especially in the upper highlands. I believe that single family and double family homes are being made into rooms (boarding houses) for more money and they are paving all the green space into illegal parking lots for these tenants especially on Stevens St., this street is going downhill at an alarming rate.

I grew up in the upper Highlands, still live here. It is such a shame that it's turning into a complete dump! The lower Highlands is a lost cause.

I agree one hundred percent, so sad.

I just rode down Stevens and Wilder Street. What a mess. Billerica puts Lowell to shame. So many houses that have yards paved all over and being used as parking lots. This is a violation of zoning codes and nothing is being done about it.
The paving companies are laughing all the way to the bank. I want to know why this practice is being allowed. I pay taxes in this City and I want something done about this problem. The zoning board members should get out of their CHAIRS and take a ride around the Upper Highlands and put an end to this ugly, illegal ZONING VIOLATIONS!!!!

Why is the City of Lowell so afraid of taking care of these illegal paving issues . Seems like the City of Lowell (zoning board) is going to do nothing about this issue and soon there will be no green space left in the Upper Highlands.

Simple...they don't care. They don't live in these neighborhoods. When it threatens their neighborhoods, something will get done. I've lived in the highlands for 30+ years. I used to live on Wedge Street, which used to be a beautiful tree lined street. Now it's just lined with cars. I currently live on Stevens Street and its creeping up towards my home. Sad to say, but we're looking to move out of Lowell before it gets any worse. There used to be a lot to like about Lowell. Such a shame.

It's not just the Upper Highlands. I have asked before about illegal driveways and business parking lots that overhang the sidewalks and nothing changes? The law office near the Superior Court has a parking lot on the Highland Street side of the building that entirely block the sidewalk and it has been that way forever but they are allowed to get away with it? It is throughout the city and it would seem that they could change it when someone tells them where it is.

I agree the problem is city wide, and I think that the problem has mushroomed the past 25 years so much so that zoning has been overwhelmed by it. I have a suspicion also that city personnel, who are suppose to oversee this issue, perhaps don't know how to read, interpret, and, or, enforce the driveway, and parking ordinances. Changes are necessary.

Seems to me that this and other problems in the city should be among the top priorities in the city. Shouldn't the city want to put on a welcoming face to lure more business in the area since the University of Massachusetts is expanding into every little niche of the city. Makes economic sense to clean up the city in order to keep the talent that comes out of the university.

I agree with all these comments. We should be trying to make and especially keep the city presented in a welcoming way. I've seen this thread marked as old issues a couple of times but it is not. I would like to see the proper city personnel ride around the city and see all the violations. as stated above the one on Highland Street near the courthouse has been that way for years - time doesn't make it okay. This should be a concern especially now with the Rogers reopening as a school again. The sidewalks should not be used as parking lots and yards should not be allowed to be entirely hot topped over. I hope that the city follows through and checks around the whole city for this issue.

A large tree was cut down today, in Highland/Callery park. My questions are 1, why was it cut down, and why was Burbank tree service doing the work?

Agree that this kind of tarring over of green space, blocking sidewalks for makeshift driveways and the city's total lack of concern is unacceptable. Why is the city not enforcing it's own ordinances? There are constantly abandoned cars in the yard at the corner of Middlesex and Walker streets and also along West Adams between Wilder and Walker, try driving down Waugh street and see how many illegally parked vehicles there are and how many cars are parked right up to the house and still block the sidewalks? This cannot be up to code - nevermind the safety concerns. Maybe the city should ask the university to assist with parking enforcement in areas that are on their campuses?? Also the city allows it to happen at the law office on the corner of Highland and Gorham street?? There has been what I would call an illegal parking lot there for years - somehow the city thinks it is safe to send kids out into the street so people can park the cars along a building? I do not understand the city's lace of response to this issue all over the city!!

I'm afraid that nothing will get done about Lowell's excessive paving issue, or it's non-permitted driveways because there is no leadership , in city government. The individuals, who work. In the depts., which handle driveway permitting, and paving either don't care, or understand the detrimental effect these issues have on the neighborhoods, or don't know how to read, interpret, and enforce city ordinances. I'm getting fed up with paying taxes to a city government that doesn't know how to do it's job, and whose only goal it seems,is greater tax revenue.

I read with dismay that Mr. Mackness, of Varnum Ave. is being fined $7350.00, for a greenhouse, which is according to the city a bit too high, and a bit too close to the property line. I believe in following city ordinances, but when I see what goes on, in the city as a whole, through the years, such as non-permitted driveways, driveways that have been illegally widened, cars parked on sidewalks, lawns, and even in crosswalks, and the illegal conversion of single family homes to multiple apts., I have to say that I feel that Mr. Mackness is being picked on, and if I were he, I would continue to not pay the fines till the city does it's job, and fines everyone else, who is in non-compliance with city zoning rules. Fair is fair, and discrimination is also against the rules.

Is there a way for this thread to be sent to our new City Manager? as well as the City Council, perhaps if it's publicly shown at a meeting then someone might begin to realize that the citizens care and are try to help the city even though it is their job to do??

Rode by 603 Stevens St. again there is a car parked where it shouldn't be , on the lawn where the grass has been scraped away. The car does not belong there , and it should be noted that there is a long , wide driveway attached to the 2 family dwelling , which could be utilized by said car. Stevens St. Is beginning to look like s-it. When is the driveway ordinance, of the cityof Lowell, going to be enforced? My hope is that the new city manager will make some changes , in the zoning dept. 603 Stevens is another example , of a 2 family house being converted, to multiple apt., which is really bad for the neighborhood.
The man in Pawtucketville being fined , by the city, for a greenhouse, which is a little too high, is outrageous since he went through the permitting process, and is obviously trying to do the right thing, while others like 603 Stevens St, or the house on the corner, of Webber, and Princeton Blvd, which has a tent, and non-permitted driveway, or the non-permitted driveways, on Wedge, Wilder, and so many other streets, and the illegal conversion of homes, to multiple apts., or the ripping up of lawns, and trees goes unabated, and are never fined, or told to stop. Rules, and ordinances have to be applied to all- the Pawtucketville issue smacks of discrimination.

I spotted another vehicle, in Callery park today. The owner of the vehicle was raking in the little league section, so my comment is why is this person parking , in the park when there was ample parking , on Parker,Wilder, and B street? He did not carry anything heavy from his car to the park so why can't he just park his car, on the street, and WALK over to the field? Let's keep our city parks vehicle free unless it's absolutely necessary.

um... the software makes it seem like I typed a dirtier word than intended. I assure you, it was not. It began with a "d."

Just Remember - New City Council elections coming! Keep up the good work and keep posting! Now, if we can only find electable people who actually give a damn and who makes the city employees "accountable!"