LOWELL — The Lowell Lodge of Elks, the site of thousands of gatherings since it opened its doors in the Pawtucketville section of the city in 1979, has been sold to a charitable foundation for $1.8 million.
The LASA Foundation — which stands for Love All Serve All — purchased the 40 Old Ferry Road property, according to the listing agent, Ray Boutin of RE/Max Innovative Properties.
“It’s very exciting. The community is so pumped up by the purchase of our new building,” said Vijay Sarathy, a LASA board of directors member. “We’re starting to develop plans for how we can put it to good use. What are the needs of the community? How can we help? That’s why the Elks property is so promising for us.”
The Elks’ one-story building, which features more than 21,500 square feet of space, closed two years ago.
Boutin said the property, located adjacent to the new Market Basket complex, attracted immediate interest, though a few overtures were denied because of its suburban single family zone status, meaning apartments or condos could not be built onsite unless there were zoning changes.
Sarathy said the property will be the hub of LASA’s Boston community.
“We really want to be a partner with the community, first and foremost,” he said. “We want to help serve in any way that we can.”
Sarathy said offering a soup kitchen, hosting after-school programs and being a place where interfaith dialogue can be exchanged are some of the ways the building may be utilized. He said LASA officials want to exchange ideas with members of the community.
The property was put on the market for $1.9 million on Sept. 29. The list price was reduced to $1.8 million on Nov. 10. Boutin said the sale wasn’t delayed because of a lack of interest in the four-acre property.
The process dragged on because Elks members weren’t sure what their next step should be.
Originally, members wanted to sell the property but retain some space for members. Then the plan became to sell the property and look to lease or buy a smaller space in the area.
Ultimately, though, members voted to merge with the Chelmsford Elks, located at 300 Littleton Road, Chelmsford.
“They welcomed us with open arms,” said Boutin, a member of the Lowell Elks for more than 10 years. “It’s not us against them. It’s one group working for the community.”
When the time came for members of the Chelmsford-Lowell Elks to vote on LASA’s bid, the vote was a unanimous yes, according to Boutin.
“It’s near and dear to my heart,” Boutin said of the Elks.
LASA officials have told the Chelmsford-Lowell Elks the building will be made available when the organization holds fundraisers.
LASA made a positive pitch to the combined group, saying 100% of donations go back out into the community.
Boutin said the Lowell Elks paid just over $31,000 a year in property taxes. Heating costs were also extensive.
Renting the facility became difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was a very unsettling time,” Boutin said.
Membership in the Lowell Elks was down to about 250, a far cry from when the building opened in 1979, when Boutin said there were 3,000 to 4,000 members.
The assessed value of the land and the building were $174,100 and $984,200, respectively.
During its heyday, the Lowell Lodge of Elks was a beehive of activity, hosting dances, Bingo nights, wedding anniversary celebrations, Halloween parties and birthday gatherings. It also held the distinction of hosting more road races than any property in the Greater Lowell area.
One side of the building contains a large hall, kitchen, bar access, a smaller hall and bathrooms. The other side features a bar, seating area, offices, meeting rooms and bathrooms.
The property also has a large paved parking lot with 100 parking spaces.
LASA closed on the property on Sept. 2. Sarathy estimates that 100 volunteers helped clean out and spruce up the property for several weekends after the closing.
At the urging of the city, the building has served as a vaccination center since early October.
Sarathy said LASA is inspired by the teachings of the late Indian spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba. Purchasing the Elks property isn’t about publicity or money. It’s about service, he said.
Sarathy said LASA members are “off the charts” excited about the purchase.
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Former Lowell Elks Lodge sold to LASA Foundation - Lowell Sun
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