Native Lynner’s contest concept a radical remake of Shore Drive

LYNN – In the 1800s, Charles Elliot was commissioned by the MDC to design the land of Revere and Lynn Beach in a way that would enable the public to make the best use of the area, so he turned them into recreational destinations.At the time, those in the medical field commonly believed that being exposed to the ocean and the salt air helped to promote good health and aided healing. Over the years, the original purpose of the shore has seemingly been forgotten, disturbed by the sounds of traffic and the air pollution cars create.Lynn resident and architect Aikaterini Panagiotakis has entered the Human Cities “Places to Be” competition and is looking to recreate the oceanside sanctuary by redirecting traffic from Lynn Shore Drive to Lewis and Broad streets, thereby alleviating traffic congestion next to the boardwalk and reviving the businesses in the area.”My philosophy is architecture is meant for the enjoyment of humanity and the admiration of the environment to its best and healthiest use,” Panagiotakis said.Panagiotakis first heard about the competition when The Boston Society of Architects announced a call for entries. Human Cities is a European network of creative cities which offers a series of innovative views and contributions to the public space and urban areas which are emerging more as a field of creative intervention and collaboration between everyone from artists and architects to sociologists, writers and philosophers. The network holds the competition to address the design multiple and multicultural facets of “urban fabric,” which is used as the main theme for the Human Cities Call for Entries.Panagiotakis’ concept would turn Lynn Shore Drive into a park reservation, reducing vehicular traffic by creating a one-way street and turning much of the pavement into grassy fields. She proposes placing a gazebo on the now-empty platform, an amphitheater on the natural hillside, an arboretum playground with swing sets, basketball courts, a ‘Learning Cottage,’ public restrooms and an area for local art vendors.”Being born and raised in Lynn? the idea and love for this city was always inherent within me since I was a child. I’ve always admired Lynn’s beauty in the downtown area, beach, beautiful buildings and homes, history, accomplishments and the people that surrounded me. At some point in my childhood, the old neighborhood declined. I studied maps in hope to improve them,” said Panagiotakis, who always finds herself pulled to Lynn beach.”The beauty of the ocean in calm or storm was always captivating, but being there, I was simply annoyed with the noise of cars, with loudness of different tunes blaring by, or with the trouble of crossing the street, and disorientation of a beautiful place. I felt although it is in Lynn, it wasn’t fostered by Lynn. This place doesn’t belong to the cars, or the convenience of a drive by, it belongs to society.”Panagiotakis has made an effort to talk to the Mayor’s office as well as the Department of Public Works and the state’s Department of Conservation and Recreation about her ideas. Now that the city’s election is over, she will reintroduce her plan, which she says has a low-cost strategy with great environmental impact.”Thinning the traffic on Lynn Shore Drive, gave way to another solution I always wished for Lewis-Broad street. The increase in traffic is needed here to improve the businesses along the way, and help feed into the downtown area of Lynn as well. The conditions of Broad-Lewis street would also need to be improved for the ease of new traffic,” Panagiotakis said.”Because there is more traffic on Lynn Shore Drive instead of the shorter route of Lewis-Broad streets, this gives evidence that Lynn Shore Drive currently invites traffic, as many travel out of their way to pass by the ocean. We need to re-route the traffic back into the city center, and away from the recreational edge which will be a helpful solution for both.”Panagiotakis, who is self employed and owns Aikaterin