One of the largest economic development projects in the state is underway in Lawrence. Dubbed 'Gateway,' this project will transform the City's entrance from Interstate 495 through extensive environmental remediation and significant improvements in infrastructure and transportation.

Notwithstanding the enormous challenges, the underutilized mill buildings and acres of vacant land in the mill district, downtown and North Common neighborhood located right along I-495 represent a huge economic development opportunity for the City, and perhaps the best prospect to attract new businesses and jobs for Lawrence residents.

Many stakeholders, including the City, mill owners and public agencies, have recognized the opportunity for economic development and have been coordinating their remediation efforts and infrastructure improvements as part of the Gateway Project. Under the umbrella of Gateway, private owners such as GenCorp will complete a 20 year, $70 million remediation effort the City, along with more than 17 public agencies, will complete the remediation of the city-owned Oxford Paper site and Mass Highway will complete a $30 million infrastructure and transportation project to improve access to the mill district from the highway. The twofold goal of the Gateway Project is: (1) economic revitalization: leveraging additional public and private investment in the area, creating new jobs in the newly viable mill buildings, and increasing the city's tax base, and (2) environmental enhancement-achieving environmental restoration, creating new public open space and improving access to the river.

The Gateway is housed in Lawrence's North Common neighborhood, one of the City's economically neediest communities, but also one of the most dynamic. North Common neighborhood residents in partnership with Lawrence CommunityWorks (LCW) and Groundwork Lawrence have been transforming vacant lots and abandoned buildings into new homes, playgrounds and community spaces through Project Reviviendo. The Reviviendo Planning Group (RPG), hosted by LCW, began working with neighborhood residents, the City of Lawrence and GenCorp to better understand the redevelopment plans and issues in the Gateway, and to explore how those plans could be an asset to residents of the neighborhood. Through the annual neighborhood summit hosted by LCW two years ago, neighborhood residents identified brownfields sites - large tracts of underutilized, potentially contaminated land-in the Gateway as a central priority. For North Common residents, these brownfields sites were not just environmental hazards, but also represent the neighborhood's best opportunity for economic development and community revitalization.

LCW and Groundwork launched an effort to create a community vision for the Gateway that builds on the work that is already underway. Now known as the Reviviendo Gateway Initiative, the project began with a series of focus group discussions, involving more than 100 participants. Civic institutions, mill tenants, mill owners, neighborhood and downtown businesses, members of the Lawrence Cultural Alliance, Lawrence youth and neighbors to the Gateway Project all weighed in with their ideas for the Reviviendo Gateway District.

Historic North Canal, Lawrence, MA

More than 50 focus group participants and other stakeholders volunteered to form a Steering Committee to develop the vision, goals, recommendations, and implementation strategy. The Steering Committee explored ways to build on the investments planned for the Gateway and to connect the project to other parts of the city, so that Lawrence is a place you come not only to work, but also to shop, dine, and live. At the same time, they worked to create a vision in which the investments that are made in the downtown area will support local businesses and provide neighborhood residents with access to high-quality training, education, and employment opportunities.

On November 7th, 2002, more than 350 people turned out to launch the Reviviendo Gateway Initiative, a community-driven strategy for the renewal of Lawrence. Hosted by the RGI Steering Committee, a diverse coalition of residents, businesses, and community leaders, the event highlighted the results of nine months of intensive community deliberations to create a detailed action plan for the historic heart of the city. Local and state officials in attendance at the event included State Attorney General Thomas Reilly, Congressman Marty Meehan, State Senator Susan Tucker, Mayor Michael Sullivan, School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy, and Police Chief John Romero, among a host of others.

The RGI Steering Committee is currently working to implement their 2003 Action Agenda, which includes the following priorities: 

At the invitation of Congressman Marty Meehan, the RGI Committee is going to Washington, D.C. in late February to present their vision and goals for the Reviviendo Gateway District, and to advocate for federal funds to support targeted projects.

Working with the City of Lawrence, the RGI Committee will advocate for a zoning overlay for the Reviviendo Gateway District. The proposed zoning is designed to unlock development potential in the District and help attract new investment in housing, commercial space, retail, and restaurants.

Members of the RGI Committee, including representatives from local schools and organizations, are conducting an in-depth analysis of the workforce and education system to better understand baseline needs and opportunities.

The RGI Committee will host a public forum on the design and development of a new city park in the heart of the Mill District on the site of the former Everett Mills warehouse.
The RGI Committee is initiating a marketing and promotional campaign to create greater awareness of the Reviviendo Gateway Initiative and the opportunities in Lawrence.