Police Find Cans of Gas in
Cox Property
Just Weeks After being denied Housing Plan
 Lawrence Police and Arson
investigators are questioning Lowell Developer
Chris Cox after his building on 44 Park Street
was found broken into. Police found teenagers in
the building and open gas containers only weeks
after Cox was denied a plan to tear down the
Historical church building and construct 24
housing units on the property which is only zoned
for only 12.
Cox has been under fire by City Councilors for
claiming he owned the 44 Park Street property
when court documents showed the property had been
swindled away from it's rightful owner. Cox
claimed a financial hardship before the planning
board despite the fact that he planned to use tax
dollars (from HOME funds and others) to tear down
the existing church building and build his 24
units. (5/7/03 Ownership issues stall
church-to-condos plan (EAGLE TRIBUNE)
Investigators
would not say if they are moving to charge Cox,
who's housing plan was denied by the planning
board and therefor not eligible for home funds to
tear down the existing property.
Sources in the police department said they were
"very concerned" about the history of
the property and how it relates to the possible
attempted arson two weeks ago.
The police report filed at the department stated
"44 Park Street is an abandoned church,
which has been boarded up, and has been a
constant problem with trespass. To gain entrance
to the building we were forced to remove a couple
of boards from the door. Once inside we found the
mentioned above suspects inside playing
basketball. We also noticed a strong odor of
fresh paint. Along all of the walls where the
five were there playing there was fresh spray
paint. The paint was so fresh it was still wet to
touch. Nearby we found two empty containers of
red spray paint."
Fire department records show that the Fire
Department was contacted "to remove three
containers of gas from the gym area. Five
individuals were arrested for trespassing. Ladder
5 and Rescue were called to secure the doors for
entry." (See report below)
Since being exposed at the planning board and
having his project denied, Cox has tried to get a
demolition permit using his connections in City
Hall to walk through approval before a new city
ordinance for demolition of properties goes into
effect on July 7, 2003. (Planning Board Rejects
Chris Cox and his
plan for 24 Unit Housing Development on Park St.
The new ordinance would mean buildings older than
75 years would need approval from the Historical
Commission before being demolished. The Turner
Hall Church currently located at 44 Park St.
would be covered by the new ordinance. Historical
Commission president Lee Balcom has spoke
publicly against the demolition of the Turner
Hall Church property and would most likely oppose
tearing it down.
The City Attorney's office says they are holding
up the demo permit until the actual ownership of
the property can be determined, something that
never would have happened if Councilors Sweeney
and Blanchette hadn't researched the property and
presented the documents of ownership to the
planning board last April. (Cox Story)
With no demo permit and no public funds to tear
down he property it certainly would be a windfall
for Cox if the building were torched. As of this
morning, investigators would only say that they
are questioning Cox and looking into the
matter" Asked if Cox was a likely candidate
for arrest and charges one police officer said
"we are looking into everything and there is
a lot to look into with this guy."
Since the teens arrested at the property were
playing basketball and obviously spray painted
the inside of the church building, many city
officials are left to question whether or not the
gas cans were being stored there by Cox.
More details as they become available.
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