§410cc–22 Acquisition of Property

Summary

The Secretary can acquire ownership or other interests in specific Lowell properties by donation, by buying them with donated or government money, by condemnation (taking by legal process), or other ways. Properties owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or its local governments can only be taken by donation. The Secretary can start condemnation only after trying hard to buy by negotiation and after talking with the Commission (if it exists) and the Lowell city council. The named properties are: Linus Childs House, 63 Kirk Street; H and H Paper Company (Boott Mill Boarding House), 42 French Street; Old City Hall, 226 Merrimack Street; Merrimack Gatehouse, 269 Merrimack Street; Wannalancit Textile Company, 562 Suffolk Street; the buildings with the Jade Pagoda and Solomon’s Yard Goods, 210 and 200 Merrimack Street; and the map-listed parcels: 91 Pevey Street, part of 607 Middlesex Place, Eagle Court, part of 50 Payne Street, and 726 Broadway. Until the Commission holds its first meeting, the Secretary may also acquire other park properties not listed above if they appear in the Lowell Historical Canal District Commission report, are on the National Register of Historic Places, or are found by the Secretary to be of national significance. The Secretary may obtain easements in the park under the same rules. The Secretary may trade park land or land interests for land owned by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the city of Lowell, or the University of Massachusetts Building Authority, following National Park Service rules and any other terms needed to protect U.S. interests. If federal land with needed park facilities is traded for lower‑value nonfederal land, the difference must be made up in cash, unless the federal government gets land of greater value.