JM Coull named contractor for 65,000 s/f project for Lowell Community Health Center

Rendering of 101 Jackson Street - Lowell, MA

Lowell, MA Lowell Community Health Center (Lowell CHC) has closed on financing for a $27 million expansion that will renovate 65,000 s/f at 101 Jackson St., adjacent to its main center at 161 Jackson St. Through this expansion, Lowell CHC will establish new dental and vision services and expand existing medical services. The enlargement will nearly double the health center’s capacity to provide urgently-needed primary health care to Lowell’s underserved residents.

The contractor is JM Coull Inc., and the architect is Durkee, Brown, Viveiros and Werenfels Architects (DBVW) is leading the design team. DBVW has secured the services of R.W. Sullivan (MEP engineer), Yoder + Tidwell, Ltd. (structural engineer with historic renovation experience), Jody Trunfio (civil engineer), and Hancock Associates (surveyor). Both Yoder + Tidwell and Jody Trunfio were also involved with the development of Lowell CHC’s Main Center at 161 Jackson St.

Lowell CHC is a non-profit center that served more than 26,500 patients in 2015, 94% of whom were low-income.

“Expanding our services and our size will allow Lowell CHC to be an even stronger part of the Lowell community,” said Lowell CHC chief executive officer Susan West Levine. “Primary care, natal care and dental health are vital in not only the present but also in assuring lifelong health. Now Lowell residents can get that care all in one spot.”

Lowell CHC provides dozens of services to its patients, including pediatrics, family planning, inpatient and outpatient behavioral health, and HIV testing, treatment and counseling. It is the major primary care provider in the area, with the nearest comparable facility 30 minutes northeast of Lowell.

The establishment of dental and vision services is supported by an analysis of the area’s health needs. An assessment conducted by Lowell CHC and Harvard University School of Dental Medicine found that 83% of surveyed patients said they were likely to use a dental clinic at the center, with 70% saying they currently had untreated dental decay, which is associated with heart attack and stroke.

“Lowell CHC plays an essential role in maintaining the health of the residents of Lowell,” said Anne Dyjak, managing director at Primary Care Development Corp. (PCDC), which is helping fund the expansion. “By broadening its scope of services in this new space, it will be able to have an even greater impact on the community.”

Since nearly half of Lowell CHC patients speak a first language other than English, approximately 60% of center staff are bilingual and staff provides culturally competent care in over 25 different languages. Much of Lowell CHC’s service area has been designated by the federal government as a medically underserved area, denoting a shortage of primary medical care, dental or mental health providers.

The financing included New Markets Tax Credits, federal tax credits used to promote investment and job creation in low-income communities. The credits were allocated through PCDC ($13 million) and Community Health Center Capital Fund ($8.5 million). U.S. Bancorp Community Development provided $7.9 million in tax credit equity. Additional debt financing was provided by Eastern Bank ($12.3 million) and PCDC ($4.3 million), along with two participants, Boston Community Capital’s Loan Fund (BCLF) ($4.72 million) and The Property and Casualty Initiative (PCI) ($3 million).

“We are proud to be a partner in this project,” said Michelle Volpe, president of BCLF. “Lowell CHC’s expansion will provide dividends for the Lowell community for years to come.”

“Eastern Bank is a strong local supporter of the city of Lowell and the Lowell Community Health Center,” said Christopher Scoville, senior vice president at Eastern Bank. “Last year, our community development lending team made more than 60 loans totaling $200 million for nonprofits across New England. Today’s announcement is another example of our commitment to support the cities and towns where our colleagues and customers live and work.”

“Capital Fund is proud to help fund this new and improved health center, which does so much for those who need it most,” said Brandon Boyle, director of loan programs at Capital Fund.

“The great work that Lowell Community Health Center is doing deserves our support, so we were happy to invest a second time in the health center’s expansion. Giving low-income residents expanded access to health care will strengthen the entire region,” said Tom Oldenburg, vice president of U.S. Bancorp Community Development Corp., a division of U.S. Bank.