He said a downtown development encompassing the Whyte's and Hawthorne sites and 14 Central could help the city capitalize on the influx of 260 residents into downtown since 2005.
"That's halfway to our goal," Cowdell said, adding, "These are three key parcels that could dramatically change the character of downtown."
High hurdles currently block Cowdell's plan from becoming reality. The Whyte's site is contaminated with commercial cleaning chemicals. Environmental testing pipes protrude from the weed-covered, oblong-shaped lot and Cowdell said owner Elaine Goldberg of Marblehead "has no means to pay for the cleanup."
City efforts to get the Athanas family to outline their plans for the site of their once-popular restaurant and an adjoining 32,000 square foot parking lot have been unsuccessful, said Cowdell.
"They have continuously ignored our request to develop that land. They have the resources to sit on it," Cowdell said.
Attempts to reach the Athanas family Monday were unsuccessful.
Cowdell said 14 Central is large enough to provide space for retail uses on its ground floor with residences or commercial uses on upper floors.
School officials hired air testing firms to check the building in 2002 after more than 30 school employees working in the building complained about respiratory problems. The employees subsequently returned to work but school administrators eventually moved their offices to the Lynn Vocational Technical Institute annex on Commercial Street. The move was billed as a cost-saving measure because the School Department leased 14 Central from a realty trust and LVTI is a city-owned property.
Cowdell is convinced the obstacles facing downtown development are surmountable and pointed to Market and Union streets where the Visiting Nurses Association and Lynn Community Health Center are preparing to build major projects.
"In this economy, that is significant," he said. |
