The Western Avenue Studios logo on the side of the sprawling mill building that houses artist studios, lofts and more, as seen in May 2021. (Sun file photo)
LOWELL — Improving the approach to Western Avenue Studios & Lofts, a major artistic community off Western Avenue in the Acre neighborhood, was on the City Council’s agenda during its June 27 meeting.
City Manager Tom Golden presented a report from the Cultural Affairs & Special Events office detailing some of the exterior challenges facing the complex, including a sprawling and growing homeless encampment on Kyan Street under the School Street Bridge, broken pavement and sidewalks, overgrown foliage, poor lighting and security and signage issues.
“Councilor (Corey) Robinson and Councilor (Paul Ratha) Yem (and I), we walked that area ourselves, taking a look to see what needed to happen,”…