LYNN — The city plans to seek input from the community on what types of housing development it would like to see at a municipally-owned lot located between School and Ellis streets.
This input will be solicited during a March 23 virtual forum, which will be hosted by the City of Lynn and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). The MAPC consulted with the city and Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development (LHAND) to create the city’s housing-production plan.
The project, dubbed School Street Redevelopment in the “Housing Lynn” plan, is aimed at bringing affordable housing to a city-owned site in the downtown. Work on this initiative began in February and is expected to conclude in September.
During the community-driven visioning process for this lot, the city and MAPC will engage the community in establishing residential development priorities for the site, which will lead to a call for proposals from prospective developers.
Jeffrey Weeden, LHAND planning and development manager, said the public forum is the first step in a long-term plan for the School Street project. It will provide residents with the opportunity to ask questions and provide input, he said.
“The lot was owned by the city and we are trying to find out from the community how to get something out of its use,” said Weeden. “We want to hear from the community what they envision there and take back the public input there for any future projects.”
A site-analysis plan will be conducted, followed by an exploration of three development scenarios based on feedback from the community.
Weeden said LHAND will then issue a request for proposals (RFP) to interested developers. MassHousing, an independent, quasi-public agency charged with providing financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts, will help to draft the RFP, he said. The recommended proposal will be sent to the City Council for approval.
Principal Planning Director Aaron Clausen said the city’s Planning Department will be managing the project. This redevelopment effort will serve as a test run for the city’s housing-production plan, which was approved by the state in the fall of 2021.
“We have been doing outreach for this project,” said Clausen. “The important thing to keep in mind is that this project is a direct result of the Lynn housing-production plan.”
Housing Lynn aims to produce more affordable housing in future developments. The plan encourages the city to seek development that would set aside 10 percent of its units as affordable.
Karina Oliver–Milchman, chief of housing and neighborhood development for MAPC, said her planning agency is happy to continue working with Lynn. She said MAPC plans to host additional public forums for future projects in Lynn.
“School Street is a unique opportunity to use a significant publicly-owned site in a smart growth location to address housing needs and provide community benefits,” Oliver-Milchman said. “We look forward to working with the city and community to bring more affordable housing to downtown Lynn.”
Those who wish to participate in the meeting can register at mapc.ma/lynnschoolstreetforum1. Spanish interpretation will be available.
