We applaud the Lynn Planning Board for giving the Housing Production Plan, “Housing Lynn: A Plan for Inclusive Growth,” a strong push forward with its 5-0 vote on Tuesday approving the plan.
The vote clears the way for the plan to be submitted to the state Department of Housing and Community Development. It follows the Sept. 2 City Council vote that saw eight councilors approve the plan (with Council President Darren P. Cyr and Ward 2 Councilor Richard B. Starbard voting “no,” and Ward 1 Councilor Wayne A. Lozzi absent for the vote).
Researched and under review with community input for 22 months, “Housing Lynn” is an overarching plan for solving a local housing problem that ranks, in our view, among the major challenges facing the city.
The Plan benefited from guidance from Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development (LHAND) professionals who have a proven local track record in neighborhood renewal.
Metropolitan Area Planning Council experts representing Massachusetts’ lead municipal planning agency also offered advice on drafting “Housing Lynn.” A January 2021 deadline for comment was extended to April to accommodate the wide spectrum of people seeking to comment on the plan.
LHAND Executive Director Charles J. Gaeta noted in a spring opinion piece published on this page that between 2015 and 2018, median rent for a two-bedroom apartment went up 27 percent, and the median home sale price went up 34 percent in Lynn.
“In 2020 alone, the median rent jumped 15 percent. The City’s median rent in 2020 was $1,910, which is more than the median rent statewide. Now, Lynn is the sixth most expensive city for housing in the Boston Metro area,” wrote Gaeta.
Every city resident should be alarmed by those statistics starkly illustrating the difficult, even desperate, challenge faced by people struggling to afford a place to live in Lynn.
With its inclusionary zoning, affordability trust fund, and other proposals like establishing a housing stability office, “Housing Lynn” provides a road map for city leaders to ease the local housing affordability burden.
As Gaeta wrote, the plan is a chance for Lynners to “…once again step up and support each other in crisis.” The Planning Board ‘s vote and “Housing Lynn’s” endorsement by a majority of councilors demonstrate the wisdom of his words.
