Lynn Walnut Street condo project moving along

LYNN – The former Ladd’s Auto Service building at 382 Walnut St. was torn down last week to make way for a 12-unit condominium complex.John Calnan of Calnan Properties LLC, proposed the project in June and City Council approved it in July.Since then, Calnan said the project is moving along smoothly and on schedule.”We’re hoping to have the project complete by September or at least by the fall,” he said. “That’s even a little aggressive, but it’s what we’re hoping for.”The defunct auto service center and resident eyesore situated across from Frey Park sat idle for a number of years on the lot, which was zoned for Business District use only until the Council approved the conversion.Perched on the edge of the Lynn/Saugus line, all of the residential units will be owner-occupied.Each two-bedroom unit will have a balcony, roughly 1,000 square feet of living space, hardwood flooring and parking on site.Calnan said he hasn’t decided on a price for the units and is waiting for the real estate market to rebound before doing so.”I would like the market to make a comeback so that there is a little more stability, so I’m not sure just yet,” he said.Professional landscaping is also planned for the complex.Abutters had previously voiced opposition to the project, citing overcrowding in the district, but Calnan said he hasn’t heard anything since.”People in the neighborhood have been pretty receptive to the idea,” he said. “The condos will be in a great location, close to Route 1 and right by Frey Park. Let’s just put it this way, I would live there myself.”