To the editor:
We write to respond to the letter that Council President (and candidate for mayor Darren) Cyr wrote (Item, May 25) about the Housing Lynn plan.
We are grateful that he has acknowledged the rapid rise in Lynn housing costs as an important issue. However, his letter was misguided both on the factual record concerning the Housing Lynn process and on the appropriate policy response to this important issue.
First, Housing Lynn was a community-driven planning process that solicited feedback from all stakeholders, including City staff and officials. Because the plan would be submitted to the City Council and Planning Board for adoption, no single councilor or board member was asked to join the Steering Committee, but their input was invited throughout the process.
The Housing Lynn project manager presented to the City Council in February 2020 so that they were aware of the plan and different ways to engage. Councilors and Planning Board members were also invited to one-on-one meetings and to attend plan events (which some councilors did).
As a factual matter, the departments that Council President Cyr claims were not consulted in the process were consulted. The Housing Lynn team met with department heads and municipal staff, also in February of 2020. They, like the City Council, Planning Board and general public, were invited to attend in-person and digital events, complete surveys and provide comment on draft material, including the first iteration of the Housing Lynn plan.
Hundreds of Lynners contributed their time, insight and opinion despite the global pandemic and experiencing or being surrounded by illness, death and loss of loved ones, jobs and housing. Their input was strongly supportive of more affordable housing and other tools to meet the housing needs of all Lynners, including lower-income residents, renters, first-time homebuyers, people of color, families and many others.
This kind of participation in Housing Lynn is unusually high, despite the pandemic! According to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, the consultant that facilitated this process and many dozens of other Housing Production Plans (HPPs), it is common for this kind of project to include two public forums.
By contrast, Housing Lynn involved six citywide events and numerous focus groups and interviews. It is also typical for HPP forums to be smaller groups — often 30 people, sometimes fewer. Participation from those most impacted by an Affordable Housing plan, those who need it, is often low. Neither was the case with Housing Lynn; events often drew 70, 90 or even 500-plus Lynners! More information on the public process can be found on pages 17-19 of the Housing Lynn plan.
Second, as a factual matter, Housing Lynn included an in-depth analysis of the intersection of housing production and public school enrollment. The analysis is described on pages 71-75 of the plan itself and 137-139 of the plan’s appendix. It found that preventing development is not an effective strategy to limit enrollment. In addition, families with children are a protected class under the Fair Housing Act. Any discrimination against them in an effort to control school enrollment is in violation of the act.
While the need for new schools in Lynn is dire, that is not a reason to ignore the problems we have with affordable housing. There are plans in place to address Lynn’s need for schools. The City is moving forward with a process to replace Pickering. There is a broader capital plan that includes addressing school needs. Lynn’s legislative delegation has filed a bill that would allow the City to build new schools faster than the current system.
Blocking efforts to address our affordable housing problem does not address our problem with school buildings. As we work to address our school challenges, the City Council has supported and continues to support significant residential development. Affordable Housing should be no different.
Third, as a factual matter, developers were meaningfully engaged in this planning process. While it would be inappropriate for developers to steer the recommendations of the policies that regulate their profit-making activities, their input was integral to forming recommendations that would not dampen development in Lynn.
Based on discussion with real estate professionals active in our city, the project team built a robust financial feasibility model to determine how development would be impacted by regulations to leverage community benefits. The analysis indicates a range of strategies to leverage community benefits from market-rate development would be viable in Lynn, as they are in similar markets throughout the region. See pages 107-109 of the plan for more information.
Finally, Housing Lynn is a vision of the city’s future. It states that “Lynn’s housing will be safe, affordable, and accessible. New housing will meet the needs of Lynn residents and increase the strength and vibrancy of neighborhoods. Housing will enable everyone to thrive in a community that is inclusive to all.”
The plan recognizes that, presently, there is an incredible unmet need for affordable housing in Lynn and residents are suffering as a result. Supporting the plan means acknowledging this unmet need and committing to consideration of the recommendations. Implementing the plan will entail further vetting of each recommendation and additional public input, but we’re not there yet. Council President Cyr’s letter and efforts to delay the plan’s adoption indicates there remains basic disagreement with this vision.
We appreciate that Mayor McGee has already endorsed this vision and confirmed that adoption of the Plan is the right next step for the City. We expect that the comments solicited by Council President Cyr from various city department heads will confirm the same.
After the thousands of hours of research and multiple community forums that gathered input in creative and meaningful ways, to assert the process was not thoughtful and inclusive is disingenuous. More than that, it blocks progress on a crisis that is acutely affecting Lynn residents and families.
The community has described this crisis and its impacts and has come together to call on city leaders and elected representatives for help. We urge Council President Cyr to listen to them and put the plan to a vote. It’s time we move forward, and Housing Lynn points us in the right direction.
Thank you,
The members of the Housing Lynn Steering Committee
Pete Capano, State Representative
Leonardo Casillas, La Vida Scholars Board of Directors
Magnolia Contreras, EDIC Board Member
Jeff Crosby, New Lynn Coalition
Laura Gallant, Northeast Justice Center
Iveth Martinez, Pathways Inc.
Nicole Mcclain, North Shore Juneteenth Association
Jared Nicholson, Lynn School Committee and candidate for mayor
Lilian Romero, LEO Inc.
