The 25 companies that have been told to leave UMass Lowell’s Haverhill Innovation hub could receive at least a short-term reprieve.
State Rep. Andy X. Vargas told WHAV Friday he is working with Haverhill Mayor Melinda E. Barrett, tenants and others on an extension that would allow various iHub tenants to remain at least through Jan. 1 and possibly longer if another “community partner” can take over management.
“There is a lot of value in the space and nobody wants to see those enterprises and organizations leave downtown Haverhill. We’re going to use the time from now until Jan 1 to do everything possible to keep and grow this coworking space,” Vargas said.
Vargas said his office is one of those tenants and seeks to “continue to be.” He added, “We’ve been working with other coworkers, including the Haverhill Chamber and others. Mayor Barrett has been a great partner in thinking through creative solutions and showing the city’s strong desire to keep this space active.” He added, “I appreciate UML Chancellor (Julie) Chen’s flexibility in providing us some more time as we work with partners to establish a sustainable plan beyond Jan 1.”
In a related development, Haverhill City Councilor John A. Michitson will address his colleagues Tuesday night on, what he termed, “the abrupt closing of UMass Lowell and their innovation hub at Harbor Place in Haverhill.”
As WHAV reported earlier, tenants who rent he co-working space on the third floor of Harbor Place were notified at a “town hall” and also by email last Tuesday that they must leave the space by Oct. 31.
In a statement in response to WHAV’s inquiries, officials explained, “Unfortunately, following the pandemic the demand the university expected and required for the campus to stay financially viable has not returned.”
UMass Lowell’s satellite campus opened in 2017 at the new Harbor Place building at White’s Corner in Haverhill. Besides the third floor, the University once held classes on the partially built-out second floor of the building.