By CHRISTOPHER SCOTT, Sun Staff
Lowell Sun

LOWELL -- Ending a long search, the United Teen Equality Center will
move from its Merrimack Street base, a relocation that pleases city
political and business leaders while giving the respected youth agency
unbounded room to grow.

If all goes according to plan, the center will purchase the former St.
Paul United Methodist Church on Hurd Street early next year, across from
Lowell District Court, for an undisclosed amount.

The two-story church, which has been vacant for more than year, will
give UTEC nearly 13,000-square-feet, double what it has now at 106
Merrimack St.

A kitchen, dance studio and room to expand its computer-repair business
will fit in nicely.

"This is truly an amazing building for us," said Juan Carlos Rivera,
UTEC's operations director. "This is going to be huge for us."

Gregg Croteau, UTEC executive director, said center officials looked at
several other sites in the city, but none met its growing needs like the
church building, which was built in 1837.

"The building is just ideal," Croteau said. "It's got great potential,
the location is great, it's just a great fit."

City Manager John Cox was initially concerned that UTEC would be too
close to the district court. But when he was told that UTEC normally
doesn't begin operations until mid-afternoon, when the court does much
of its business earlier in the day, he was convinced the move makes sense.

"I'm a big fan of UTEC and I'm excited for the agency," said Cox.

Center leaders have met with district court, Lowell Community Health
Center and other local businesses - as Cox asked - to ensure they're on
board.

"They are," Croteau said enthusiastically.

Once UTEC takes ownership, the center plans to raise a few million
dollars to renovate the church, plus construct an addition. Croteau,
however, declined to discuss those plans since they're still being
developed.

Croteau did say: "Rather than seeing this as just a UTEC teen center, we
really want this to be seen as a community investment where other youth
and community groups have access to the facilities to help benefit their
own programming needs."

Cox is confident UTEC can raise the money.

"I think it's one of the best organizations in the city," said Cox,
noting that the city, through its Community Development Block Grant
program, is funding $250,000 of the church purchase, while UTEC is
relying on private funding for the balance.

Center leaders have been searching for a new home for nearly two years.

It moved to its current location in June 2004, soon after it was removed
from its prior home at St. Anne Episcopal Church on Kirk Street near
Lowell High School -- a location most agreed was perfect.

But last December, several Merrimack Street business owners went public
with their concerns that UTEC's presence on the city's main business
drag hurt business.

They said teens milling around the sidewalk weekday afternoons and early
evenings didn't complement the image they were trying to cultivate.

At the time, UTEC leaders met with business owners to allay their
concerns while requesting their patience, as the center on Merrimack
Street was temporary.

"It's been a long temporary home," said Mark Coddaire, president of the
Downtown Lowell Business Association whose running and fitness store is
located next door. "All those kids could be intimidating. It just wasn't
a location that was conducive to what we're trying to do.

"But I'm happy for them and I'm happy for us," said Coddaire.

George Ramirez, a member of UTEC's board of directors, echoed a similar
sentiment.

"The moves gives UTEC the independence it's been looking for," said
Ramirez. "It will also give the downtown merchants the comfort they've
been looking for."

The center, formed in 1999, provides arts, cultural, culinary,
education, video production and athletic programs to Lowell teens and
young adults.

Its core values are peace and empowerment. It gets its funding from
federal, state and local government agencies plus many private sources.

-- 

To help UTEC move and prepare its new home, while preparing for the
future, UTEC is holding a fund-raiser Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Lenzi's
in Dracut. For more information, call 617-233-3095 or purchase tickets
online at www.utec-lowell.org/donate.

Christopher Scott's email address is cscott@lowellsun.com