The
Keefe Company served as development manager (in partnership with
construction manager Gilbane Building Company) for the $28 million
Tsongas Arena in
downtown Lowell. Our accomplishments included the following:
- developed the overall siting plan for the
arena and related developments
- managed the land acquisition strategy, negotiating
agreements or taking strategies for six parcels
- obtained an unprecedented waiver from the
normal environmental review process, allowing final approval
of the draft and final environmental impact statements to occur
during, rather than before, construction of the arena
- negotiated the relocation of the post office
onto two separate sites, one for retail
and one for distribution and maintenance
- managed a process to secure additional grants
for related developments, including $3 million for a canal
and river walkway around the arena and $3.5 million for
an access road and rotary connecting
the arena with an existing parking garage
- negotiated the $20 million state grant agreement
with the Executive Office of Administration and Finance

The Tsongas Arena is home to two hockey teams:
the
American Hockey League Lowell
Devils, an affiliate of the NHL's Carolina Hurricanes
the
NCAA Division I UMASS Lowell River
Hawks
The 7,800-seat arena also hosts concerts, family
shows, sporting events, trade shows and conferences.
The arena is adjacent to UMass
Lowell, the Lowell National
Historical Park, and other downtown attractions. Its construction
played a major part in the revitalization of downtown Lowell.
Peter Aucella, former executive director of
the Lowell Arena Commission, said that "Frank Keefe's vision
gave us the dramatic siting plan that has been so successful for
the Tsongas Arena and related projects. His creativity drove the
land acquisition and funding strategies that were key to making
the project happen."
The
arena was named in honor of Lowell native Paul
Tsongas, United States Senator and presidential candidate.
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