Lynn urban upgrade in works

LYNN – Sasaki Associates laid out a transition away from the doldrums of suburbia into a thriving 24/7 urban environment as a vision for the Washington Street Gateway Master Plan Monday.Residents and city officials gathered together at Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development (LHAND) to review the final draft of the master plan that aims to revitalize the district, which includes the Sagamore Hill neighborhood.The idea of creating connections between North Shore Community College and the Washington Street corridor, increasing transit-oriented development and accessibility are just a few of the goals slated for the project.Varoujan Hagopian of Sasaki Associates stressed that the plan is still in the very early stages of concept plans and is by no means a final document.”We’re here to talk about a grand vision and what is possible for the neighborhood,” he said. “We’re not here to talk about speed bump placements?that stuff will come later.”The Gateway project calls for a mix of new two and three story commercial and residential developments on Sagamore Hill, which includes Washington, Newhall, Amity, Sagamore, Suffolk and Farrar streets.Hagopian detailed a vision of 24/7 activities in the neighborhood that would ultimately create a thriving, safe environment.Roughly a dozen lots have been purchased by LHAND at a cost of roughly $1.6 million, according to director Charles Gaeta, with the intention of turning the vision into a reality.A major piece of the Gateway project pie – the revitalization of the Christie’s site – is inching closer to reality according to James Cowdell, director of the Lynn Economic and Industrial Corporation (EDIC).Cowdell said the two vacant apartment buildings on the Christie’s site would be demolished in the coming weeks.”The owners filed for and received a demolition permit, so we are weeks away from people noticing a change,” he said.Hagopian said the demolition would trigger a domino effect where other transformations will follow.”We have been working with Christie’s for some time now because we believe the site is a bookend to the project,” he said.According to Hagopian, the early plans reveal a lower level restaurant with views of the waterfront, with three stories above it containing residences.The building was designed to be slightly elevated to provide space for underground parking.Additional parking spots along the back and front of the building are also in the works.”In 10 years or so, before you know it the neighborhood will regenerate itself as part of the waterfront,” he said. “We have quite a ways to go, but these are building blocks for the plan.”Sasaki Associates were also tapped by the city to design the Waterfront Master Plan, which acts as a separate initiative from the Gateway Project and Sagamore Hill.However, due to a minor mix-up, city officials passed a 40,000 square foot zoning requirement for the entire waterfront project, which the Sagamore Hill area was never intended to have.Lynn Hoffman of Sasaki said a smaller lot size of 10,000 or 15,000 would better suit the neighborhood.”An amendment to the zoning is still in progress and the area needs more of a study,” she said. “40,000 square feet could be too big for the area, and would be more appropriate for the waterfront.”Norm Cole, director of planning and development for LHAND said the group plans to stay connected with the community, pursue historical preservation initiatives, and grants that pertain to the project.