LYNN — Neighborhood Development Associates, the development arm of Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development, and elected officials broke ground on Orchard Grove Thursday morning, a $4.668 million three-phase project transforming vacant General Electric lots into housing in West Lynn.
The groundbreaking officially kicked off the first phase of the revitalization project, the construction of four single-family homes on Minot Street. The entire project, which also includes the transformation of vacant parcels on Richard Street and River Street, is slated to be completed by next spring.
The newly rebranded Orchard Grove neighborhood is the area from Oakville Street to Minot Street and Bennett Street to Western Avenue.
“We (worked) with GE to get these parcels back as part of this really growing and vibrant neighborhood,” said Mayor Thomas M. McGee. “It’s a great step forward for the revitalization and I know the Housing Authority has been working with (City) Councilor (Peter) Capano to really take the heart of this community and grow it and this is a great step forward.”
Neighborhood Development Associates, a nonprofit, purchased the three GE lots in the Orchard Grove neighborhood in December for $520,000, according to Peggy Phelps, director of planning and development for Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development (LHAND).
The project is being funded with private financing, or a construction loan from Salem Five bank; HOME, or federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); and Neighborhood Development Associates funds, Phelps said.
Phelps said the whole idea behind the project was neighborhood transformation, or comprehensive transformative development.
Charles Gaeta, LHAND executive director, said GE sold them the parcels for a fair price and supported their vision for the neighborhood.
The neighborhood infill project was a past vision of LHAND, but more recently initiated and pushed forward with the help of the Lynn Economic Advancement & Development (LEAD) Team over the past two years, according to information from LHAND.
Phelps said the LEAD team was able to bring GE to the table and discuss some of the lots that were vacant, which had been used for overfill parking for GE.
The Minot Street homes, which will sell for approximately $250,000 to $350,000, are expected to be completed and ready for sale by October, Phelps said.
Two of the homes will be market-rate, while the two others will be income restricted for those at or below 80 percent of the area median income. But buyers would have to live in those income-restricted houses for at least 20 years in order to stabilize the neighborhood, Phelps said.
The second phase of the project is the construction of four single-family homes at Richard and Light streets. Phase three is building 10 to 12 townhouses on Burns and River streets, Phelps said.
In addition, Phelps said funding from a $5,000 grant and $15,000 deferred loan will be used for neighbors to revitalize the exterior of their homes, which are not part of the project.
State Rep. Daniel Cahill (D-Lynn) said Thursday was a symbolic day for the city of Lynn and GE — officials were gathered to commemorate four houses, but the day meant so much more than that.
He said GE and the city have a long history together, some years better than others, but they’re now engaged in a historic level of cooperation.
“Hard work pays off and this is just the beginning of a beautiful friendship between GE and the city of Lynn,” Cahill said. “This is a great day for the city of Lynn.”
Richard Gorham, GE spokesman, said the groundbreaking was representative of the latest in a multi-year facet of getting vacant GE parcels back up for reuse.
“Much like our Boston Celtics during the current NBA playoffs, soon families will benefit from this project and realize there’s nothing like being home,” Gorham said.
According to LHAND, the project is part of a larger ongoing neighborhood revitalization strategy between LHAND and Impact Lynn that will help establish and reinforce neighborhood groups, rebranding efforts, conduct cleanups and offer grants and loans to neighbors.
“What we have here is we have good people and when you have good people working together to try and do something good, you just can’t fail,” Capano said.
Capano, the ward councilor for the neighborhood, said the project was an example of public/private partnerships, what he called good people working with the private sector, working with labor unions and cooperation, understanding and input from neighbors.
“That’s why this project is going to be so successful and hopefully, we can expand on it and develop this whole neighborhood and change things so it’s much better than it is right now,” he said.
