It has been a busy year at Lynn City Hall.
As the end of the year approaches, Mayor Jared Nicholson shared 23 noteworthy accomplishments from his administration in seven key areas in 2023.
Housing
- Granted $2 million to three different projects, including one to create 30 new units by preservation of affordable housing, through the new Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
- Utilized $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the Eviction Prevention Project, assisting more than 100 tenants.
Education
- Set the budget for a new Pickering Middle School, feasible after a $30 million increase in Massachusetts School Building Authority funding for which the City advocated with partners, especially the state delegation.
- Lynn Public Schools added 90 new pre-K seats.
Economic Development
- Approved the South Harbor project for 850 units, with 10% affordable units, 26,000 square feet of commercial space, an 8-acre public park, and an anticipated $120 million in tax revenue over 30 years.
- Launched an innovative partnership with Mass Hire to offer Lynn residents the opportunity to obtain a commercial driver’s license for free, with 11 residents participating in the first session.
- Added adult education at Lynn Tech in automotive and welding (10 slots each) through the state Career Technical Initiative grant.
- Supported opening of a private shared commercial kitchen with 8,000 square feet of community kitchen space and equipment.
Infrastructure
- Approved the City’s first ever comprehensive plan, Vision Lynn, which won a regional planning award.
- Launched a new, more accessible, dynamic, and informative City of Lynn website – lynnma.gov.
- Made safety improvements at the Pleasant Street hub of senior housing through $200,000 in state grants.
- Authorized a state-funded extension of the Northern Strand Community Path ($11 million) and Broadway safety and traffic improvements ($6 million).
- Launched two new programs: a free textile-waste program and a curbside compost program. The City diverted more than 18,000 pounds of textile waste from trash, and 40 people have signed up for the free curbside compost starter kit program.
Finances
- Paid off $8.1 million in state deficit bonds, successfully retiring the state’s financial bailout.
- Earned an upgrade for the City’s financial rating from Moody’s (A2 to A1).
Quality of Life
- Spearheaded an innovative City initiative to canvass neighborhoods affected by violence with Lynn Police, Public Health, City Council, and others, visiting more than 200 homes.
- Announced the name for the Lynn Calm Team, the City’s new unarmed response team, and posted the program director position for it.
- Installed free, life-saving Narcan boxes at five open locations across the city with opioid settlement funds.
- Rolled out almost 100 Bigbelly trash receptacles at parks and lots around the city with decorative resident art, and 50 new barrels on city streets.
- Hired a language access coordinator to coordinate interpretation and translation services, and an additional Spanish interpreter in City Hall.
Transit
- The MBTA launched a successful ferry service with more than 9,000 commuters per month this summer.
- The MBTA opened the new temporary Central Square Commuter Rail platform nine months ahead of schedule.
- Built art installations at seven bus shelters around the city with the MBTA and partners.
