Union Crossing

Lawrence, MA

Project Summary

Union Crossing (UC) is a bold and innovative redevelopment project that will transform a complex of 19th century textile mills into a dynamic new Lawrence neighborhood, bringing investment, housing, and jobs to the historic heart of the city. The project will create more than 400,000 square feet of renovated and newly-built space, including family and workforce housing, commercial office, retail, and community facilities, as well as new green space and public access to the Merrimack River. The Union Crossing project is also the first time that the people of Lawrence—represented by the 2,500+ members of Lawrence CommunityWorks (LCW)—are becoming mill owners in the City.

By virtue of their location, these buildings offer an unparalleled opportunity to shape the development of both the East Island and Center Islands, extending the project’s sphere of influence to the entire mill district. In combination, these buildings are a tremendous opportunity to build a new community and stitch the revitalizing mill district to the adjacent downtown and residential neighborhoods.

Development Team

The Union Crossing development team is a unique partnership between Lawrence CommunityWorks (LCW), a non-profit Development Corporation with a successful track record that includes more than $20 million of award-winning affordable housing and educational facilities over the past eight years, and two of Lawrence’s most successful commercial developers, the Yepez brothers and the Sidell family.

LCW has signed Memoranda of Understanding with two key partners, both of which will be playing a central role in the project: Lawrence General Hospital and Community Day Care Centers of Lawrence. These partners will help anchor the project as tenants, and will work with the development team to plan, design and build a healthy community that offers high-quality educational and economic opportunities for Lawrence families.


Scale models help community members visualize the spaces proposed.

Solution Concepts


"Solution Concepts" outline project goals and propose design ideas in response.
	full pdf of Solution Concepts - B
Separate the Building Entries. Presently, the entries to the bulk of the 50 Island Street floor space (Buildings 4 & 9) are situated in the remote, shaded, and inconspicuous junction of the two buildings – right adjacent to a loading dock and cut off by movement of service delivery vehicles. Therefore: Separate the entrances to Buildings 4 and 9. Put entry to Building 4 at its junction with Union Street, conspicuous to passing traffic and accessible to pedestrians – especially those crossing the Duck Bridge from the commuter rail train station. Combine the required new egress stair with this new eastern end entry. Put Building 9 entry at its junction with Building 11 – out from the shadow, away from the service vehicle traffic, and using the Building 9 tower as the entry “beacon”. Make the entry obvious, intuitive and welcoming.

	pdf of Solution Concepts - F
Materials Recovery and Recycling. Evidence is that, once various materials are consolidated as "trash", there is virtually no reclamation. A community drop-off (from where materials will be transfered to a regional center) must be conveniently located and designed to encourage patronage. Therefore: Locate two (or three) chutes at one or both ends of residential areas, each feeding a mobile bin in the basement. Bins, once full can be wheeled and elevated to the loading dock for dispatch.

Project Benefits

-- 150+ units of mixed-income family and workforce housing, including dedicated units for Lawrence General Hospital workers and young teachers.

-- New day care center serving 136 infants, toddlers, and pre-schoolers.

-- Approximately 200 new jobs (including incubator space for start-up companies and small businesses).

-- Innovative energy-efficiency features and on-site renewable energy systems to reduce operating costs and minimize or eliminate dependence on fossil fuels.

-- Collaborative, cost-effective, and efficient parking strategy: 550+ spaces (including compact and shared spaces) provided on 50 Island St site—sufficient to support all existing and planned development at 50 Island, 56 Island, and 60 Island St buildings; additional parking at 4 Union/220 Canal to support redevelopment of the Duck Mill and potentially other projects in the area.

-- Reduced costs to municipality for water supply, treatment, and waste disposal through innovative rain water harvesting, materials recycling, and composting systems.

-- Improved pedestrian, bike and vehicle circulation on the East Island and Center Islands.

-- Healthy home design will maximize indoor air quality and ambient comfort, reducing health risks for a vulnerable population (Lawrence has one of the highest pediatric asthma rates in the state).

-- Re-use of former brownfield/ industrial sites .

-- Preservation and adaptive re-use of historic structures in a National Register Historic District.

-- New tax revenues (approximately $225,000 annually to the City of Lawrence at full build-out).