New Marshall neighbors meet with city

LYNN – Residents in the neighborhood of the new Thurgood Marshall Middle School, which is under construction on Brookline Street, gathered at the Community Brotherhood of Lynn last week along with representatives from the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development (LHAND) and Lynn’s Office of Community Development to discuss the New Marshall Middle School Neighborhood Revitalization Plan.With such a large investment being made with the construction of a new Marshall Middle School, the plan’s goal is to create opportunities for businesses, homeowners, landlords and residents to rehabilitate existing dwellings, correct health and safety code violations and revitalize and enhance the appearance of the new neighborhood as a whole. The target area of the plan consists of about 140 lots from Brookline Street to Timson Street and from Chatham Street to Eastern Avenue.The community meeting, which was held at the suggestion of Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy, City Council President Daniel Cahill, Councilor at large Buzzy Barton and Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr, was attended by nearly two dozen residents within the target area. Attendees were given handout materials, which described loans and grants to help them rehabilitate their properties offered by the Office of Neighborhood Development at LHAND in partnership with the City of Lynn.The Development Area Grant will provide these target residents with a grant of up to $5,000 for the cost of eligible exterior repairs and improvements that correct all code violations. The Direct Loan will give eligible residents up to a $15,000 loan for the cost of eligible repairs with a 5-15 year repayment period. Information on other funding sources available through LHAND was also distributed.Jeff Weeden, planning and development specialist at LHAND, outlined a neighborhood cleanup that will take place in May and will focus on litter, dealing with brush overgrowth and the removal of bulk trash items. The cleanup aims to boost community morale and show that the city and its departments are committed to improving the neighborhood beyond providing a new school. In addition to this cleanup, an integrated pest management program will also be put in place to address rodent problems.The next community meeting will take place in early May and will be followed by the neighborhood cleanup. Any resident interested in additional information regarding grant and loan opportunities should contact Patricia with the Office of Neighborhood Development at LHAND at 781-581-8627.