Improving Lynn remains goal of Cowdell, EDIC

LYNN – Three city development agencies are working on multiple large-scale projects aimed at changing the face of Lynn.The overlapping initiatives are focused on the waterfront, the downtown business district, lower Washington Street and Sagamore Hill.”The $800,000 streetscape project on Mt. Vernon Street has been completed and now we’re turning our attention to other areas of the city,” said James Cowdell, executive director of the Lynn Economic Development and Industrial Corp. (EDIC).Mt. Vernon Street and Central Square were upgraded with sidewalks, decorative street lamps and newly-planted trees. The city also has settled its lawsuit with the Mayo Group over a former industrial building on Mt. Vernon Street that was converted into 48 condo units, about 30 of which are filled, according to Cowdell.A centerpiece tree will be planted in Central Square in the spring as a final touch, he said.EDIC was also instrumental last year in finding two major tenants for the J.B. Blood Building on Wheeler Street. InnoVentures in partnership with MIT established a business incubator for green technologies on the fourth floor. A center for refugees and new immigrants was also opened in a renovated area of the building, providing consolidated services.The Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development (LHAND) has purchased property on Sagamore Hill, across the Lynnway from the Porthole Pub restaurant, where many homes have ocean views. A plan has been drafted to redevelop the property on Sagamore and Suffolk streets.The hilly terrain is part of the Washington Street Gateway District Plan.LHAND, along with EDIC, has been scrutinizing land on lower Washington Street that might be suitable for in-fill housing.”Those two areas are going to be the focus of our 2010 economic development plans,” Cowdell said.Redevelopment of the waterfront has progressed over the past year. “We’re still working with the owners of Christie’s restaurant (at the Nahant traffic circle) to help them find financing,” Cowdell said. “The owners want to put up a three-story building. The top two floors would be rental apartments and the bottom would be a restaurant, something like an Olive Garden. They would also like to bring in a small coffee shop, preferably a Starbucks, and maybe a small bookstore as well. We would like to help them make that happen.”Owners of the Ocean Shores apartment building, located on the same traffic circle, have been discussing with city officials their plans to erect another multi-story structure on the property. “It would be a separate building. There’s enough land to do it,” Cowdell said. “They want to put up market-rate condos so we will be meeting with them over the next several months.”Although the city did not receive an anticipated $8.5 million federal grant for a Boston commuter ferry off the Lynnway, the EDIC has applied for $2 million in state funding as part of the same project.”We’re seeking the funds related to a commuter ferry through the Seaport Advisory Council. It’s something we are doing at the request of Lt. Gov. Tim Murray who chairs that body,” Cowdell said. “The money would be for phase 2 of the project, which includes dredging and construction of the dock area.”City officials are also moving forward with relocating Lynnway electrical transmission lines away from the waterfront to make way for development.”The permits are in place. We have state money and a $4 million bond from the city,” Cowdell said. “The easements are in place and we’re almost ready to start construction.”In late February, city development officials will meet to discuss the Municipal Harbor Plan. “The city of Lynn has never had one before,” said Cowdell. “It will be part of the city’s Waterfront Master Plan.”Downtown projects on schedule for 2010 include the expansion of the Lynn Community Heath Center on Union Street.”The EDIC owns the parking lot next door to the present health center. Within the next 45 days, we will be selling them that lot to