Northern Essex to Open Culinary Arts Center in Downtown Haverhill

 A rendering suggests how Northern Essex Community College’s culinary arts and hospitality center would fit into downtown Haverhill. (Courtesy photograph)

Northern Essex Community College has something new cooking: Its brand-new culinary arts and hospitality center set to open in downtown Haverhill as part of Sal Lupoli’s “The Heights at Haverhill.”

Northern Essex is currently negotiating a lease for the site and plans to open the center in 2019. The college intends to use the second and third floors of the building for culinary labs, a computer lab and classroom space. A first-floor restaurant and 10th-floor function space are also planned.

“We are very excited about this news,” Northern Essex President Lane Glenn said. “This site has everything we need, and we are looking forward to partnering with Lupoli Companies and contributing to the exciting revitalization of downtown Haverhill.”

With approximately $5 million in overhead costs, the college is currently seeking private funding to supplement the $3 million in state money they’ve already received. A $150,000 Workforce Skills Capital Grant was also extended to purchase equipment.

Northern Essex’s new Culinary Arts Certificate program will be offered along with its current Associate of Science Degree in Business Management: Hospitality offering.

The last time Northern Essex had a formal presence in downtown Haverhill was during the 1960s when it occupied the former Haverhill High School, now City Hall, before its Haverhill campus was constructed.