March 23, 2010
By Thor Jourgensen/The Daily Item
Freeing up waterfront land near the General Edwards Bridge for development is just a first step, Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy said, to eventually moving all waterfront industrial firms across the Lynnway.
"Our efforts should be made to get industrial business moved," she said, adding it will take decades beginning with development ideas now taking shape to reorient the city's industrial zone.
She has been in office less than three months but Kennedy said she has received several suggestions for improving the waterfront in additional to residential and commercial visions already taking shape. Ideas offered to her include anchoring an old warship at the waterfront to attract tourists. During her inaugural address, Kennedy proposed building an entertainment pavilion at the water's edge.
"I envision a place where people from and enjoy what Lynn has to offer. We have a chance to be a regional attraction. This is a time to dream," she said.
Although Kennedy does not have a detailed plan for shifting businesses located on the Lynnway's harbor side to the inland side, she said city officials could work with General Electric to determine if land owns by the aircraft engine manufacturer could eventually be used as sites for businesses relocating across the Lynnway.
Kennedy, in a major departure from her predecessors, has opted for now to not hire a city development director or actively support initiatives to bring a Blue Line rapid transit extension into Lynn. Local business leaders and local and state elected officials have pushed for years to make the extension a reality.
They have won the support of state and federal officials but priority funding for the extension continues to elude them.
"For now I'm proceeding as though it was not coming to Lynn. Given the state and federal economic situation, I see no Blue Line trains here in a generation. I can't plan on 'what if,'" she said.
She said the city needs to concentrate on continuing to develop downtown "as an active neighborhood" by building on the interest shown by developers and condominium residents in the city's center.
"Downtown is growing in response to people moving there," she said, adding that small businesses in Central Square and other downtown sections need city assistance and residents' support. She got her hair done in Textura salon on March 6.
Kennedy is also supporting city Economic Development and Industrial Corporation (EDIC) and Community Development efforts to improve downtown and surrounding neighborhoods.
Community Development spends $2.5 million in federal block grant money on a street and park projects, supporting 18 public service agencies, and 37 youth groups. The department has been successful in securing over $4.1 million in funding for the restoration and improvement of the Grand Army of the Republic Building, Keaney Park, Flax Pond, Stone Tower and High Rock Reservation. Community Development and EDIC are using a $2.5 million grant to pay for power line relocation costs on the waterfront. The relocation is slated to start this month.
In addition, Community Development is anticipating acquiring $5 million in Section 108 loan funds for use in attracting business to our newly created waterfront districts.
The department is also working on transportation solutions along Route 107 and the Lynnway, attempting to streamline traffic to and from Boston.
"We continue to implement the waterfront master plan, and with EDIC will finish the Municipal Harbor plan this year setting the stage for development. Community Development has also launched a commercial façade program affording businesses the opportunity to rehabilitate their storefronts.
"Our antique street lighting program will continue on Essex Street and Washington Street and down a block of South Common Street this year," Community Development Director James Marsh said.
The finishing touches will be placed on the newly refurbished Mount Vernon Street this spring with several city departments involved in that project.
Community Development is investigating the implementation of wireless hot spots in and around the business district and the waterfront to attract residents and new businesses to these areas.
|
