Two buildings on Branch and Kinsman streets will come down

The city of Lowell is finally moving on two properties that neighbors have endured for years. The City Council voted to demolish 290 Branch St. and 48 Kinsman St., structures described by city officials as burnt, dilapidated, and dangerous.

The city awarded the demolition contract to Lowell-based S&R Corporation on April 22 for $156,367. Demolition is expected to begin about a month after utilities are terminated, according to S&R Corp. president and co-founder Roger Ploof.

"In particular, the demolition of 48 Kinsman Street has been a priority for years of the City Council," City Manager Tom Golden wrote in a February 24 memorandum. "I am confident that this action will be welcomed by residents and city leadership alike, as it aligns with our shared commitment to improving quality of life and fostering economic development."

Branch Street property has been a dumping ground

The single-family, four-bedroom house at 290 Branch St. sits in the Highlands neighborhood of Lowell. The property is owned by trustee Diane Panagiotakos Pihl of MG Realty Trust and is assessed for just over $615,000.

The house is surrounded by dense, tangled vegetation and littered with trash. Wood boards cover every door and window. A red "X" is affixed to the exterior, a mark that tells firefighters not to attempt to enter the structure unless they confirm someone is inside.

The property had nearly $41,000 in overdue property taxes and water fees as of 2024.

A neighbor who has lived in the area for five years asked that his name not be used. He described the property as a magnet for homeless people who drink, use drugs, and sleep there.

"I'm so happy," he said. "It's bad to have that property here like that."

Kinsman Street home has been abandoned since 1970

The property at 48 Kinsman St. is in Lowell's Back Central neighborhood. The two-bedroom house has an assessed value of nearly $400,000 and sits on a block of well-kept, close-in homes.

Lowell Building Commissioner Dave Fuller said the building has been abandoned for many years. The city has been tasked with securing it multiple times after squatters broke in.

"The seasonal overgrowth provides habitat for rodents and insects. The property is a public nuisance and a drain of city services," Fuller wrote in a memo to the City Council in February. "The property has been cited continuously for years to take responsibility for the property, but notices have been ignored."

City records show the property has been in tax title since 1970. The city has held recorded liens against it for unpaid property taxes and utility bills. The property is owned by the heirs of Theresa Gormley.

The front yard has become a dumping ground for bags of trash, a bike, a fan, and a twin mattress.

How the city will pay

The demolition funding comes from the sale of city-owned property. It sits outside the operating budget and has no impact on the city's tax levy, according to the Lowell Sun.

The city will attach a demolition lien to both properties. When the cleared lots are eventually sold, the city will recover the cost of demolition, according to city records.

Permit fees for the demolition will be waived. Before work begins, S&R Corp. must set bait traps on both properties for a minimum of two weeks. The traps must be emptied and rebaited every four days.

The contract requires all building materials to be disposed of properly. The scope of work includes removing the buildings, basement walls, and basement floors, then filling the holes with clean fill and three inches of topsoil.

The City Council voted to order the demolitions at its March 31 meeting. Fuller said by email on Tuesday that permits have not yet been applied for.