Troubled complex undergoes transformation

LYNN – The management at Northbay Apartments held a residents’ appreciation luncheon, and the residents didn’t quite know what to make of it.”People were a little apprehensive,” said Northbay Community Manager Irma Chez. “They weren’t sure what to do.”Chez said the residents were not used to management doing much of anything for them, but in the last year that has all changed, dramatically. The luncheon was her way of giving back to the residents whose lives have been disrupted over the last year but for good reasons.It was just about a year ago the 138-unit, brick apartment complex was in foreclosure. Chez said she was hired by the bank that held the mortgage to keep the place afloat until a buyer could be found. The place was in rough shape the result of years of shoddy workmanship and neglect, she said.”There are tenants that have lived here over 40 years, since it was first built and had carpets that have never been replaced,” she said. “There was a lot of mold, and the parking lot was a big issue.”Then came Sawyer Realty Holdings, Chez said.Based out of Maryland, Sawyer has set its sights on expanding in Massachusetts and Northbay is its first property explained Deb MacLeod, director of operations for Sawyer. She said company officials liked Lynn and could see that with a little improvement the complex could be a success.It turned out to be more of an investment than anticipated. MacLeod said it was thought the property could be whipped into shape for about $250,000.”We’re well over that mark, but we’re good” MacLeod said. “And we just put another property here under agreement, 55 units.”At the Park Street place, Chez said bathrooms have been redone, carpeting torn up and replaced, the parking lot, once pockmarked with potholes has been repaved and the landscape and entrance to the building spruced up. Sawyer also offered Chez a permanent position with the company.”It was nice to stay,” she said. “I’ve seen it from what it was to where we we’ve come ? there is a sense of community and residents feel safe.”Betty Sterling has lived at 87 Park St. for the better part of 28 years and said she likes that when she calls the office someone is there.”In the past landlords pretty much left us alone,” she said.Sterling said she recently had an issue with a cabinet but once she called the office, “within about 15 minutes they had it fixed.”Chez said she was so impressed with the way Sawyer has taken over the property she called Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy and invited her to the luncheon, which as a cookout and she accepted.”I wanted her to know that there are companies investing in the community and making it a better place to live,” Chez said.