LYNN — Mayor Jared C. Nicholson provided a comprehensive update on current and future projects in the city, touching on several categories, at a meeting of the Lynn Business Partnership Wednesday morning at Lynn Public Schools headquarters (the former Eastern Bank on Market Street).
Speaking about education, Nicholson discussed progress that has been made to alleviate overcrowding and improve the quality of existing facilities, noting that almost half of the 28 school buildings are more than 100 years old.
The new Pickering Middle School, which is under construction, will solve the overcrowding issue at the middle school level, Nicholson said.
With Frederick Douglass Collegiate Academy moving to Market Street from North Shore Community College and the new City Arts and Sciences Academy opening in the Fecteau-Leary building on North Common Street, Lynn Public Schools is creating space equivalent to a new high school, Nicholson said.
LPS is adding approximately 200 seats at Lynn Tech to address the growing demand for vocational education that is combined with a college-prep curriculum.
The number of full-day pre-kindergarten seats has quadrupled, resulting in no waiting list for those seats for the first time in many years.
Nicholson spent the most time talking about development, starting with the Samuels project at the South Harbor site, which at $450 million represents the largest private investment in the history of the City.
There will be 850 housing units with 10 percent reserved for affordable housing and 26,000 square feet of retail. A groundbreaking is expected next summer.
When it comes to economic development, “the real focus is on people and getting them ready for jobs,” Nicholson said. he noted that the City has added adult-education seats at Lynn Tech, from 20 in 2023 to 72 this year for those interested in acquiring skills in automotive tech, plumbing and welding.
“There are $150 million worth of infrastructure projects in various stages and in the pipeline,” said Nicholson, who was joined at the meeting by several City department heads. Lynnfield Street and Blossom Street Extension have been completed, while those in progress include Broadway, Washington Street at Central Avenue, and Hanson Street off the Lynnway.
Major upgrades of the Lynnway, Western Avenue, and Essex Street are planned over the next five years, Nicholson said. He spoke about efforts to connect the downtown to the waterfront, including the extension of the Northern Strand bicycle and walking trail down Market Street and across the Lynnway to Nahant Beach.
In addition to the Northern Strand extension, the ongoing Market Street project will improve the walkability of the street and include sidewalk upgrades and new traffic signals that should help traffic flow more smoothly. A wayfinding project will result in new signage in the downtown, making it easier for residents and visitors to navigate.
The City is waiting for the MBTA to finalize plans for the redevelopment of its parking garage across from North Shore Community College, while the state Department of Conservation and Recreation will upgrade Heritage State Park.
The Lynnway project, which is in the planning stages, will add access points designed to make it easier to get to the waterfront. “Everything we do on the Lynnway we see as benefitting downtown,” Nicholson said.
The City recently opened Harbor Park, a transformative public space built on former industrial land and a municipal landfill along the waterfront. The park spans 30 acres and includes nearly two miles of walking paths, a new recreational area with basketball and pickleball courts, and an outdoor amphitheater with seating for up to 150 people.
Discussing public safety, Nicholson referenced a flare-up in gang violence in 2023 and steps the City took in response, including tripling the number of youth summer jobs.
An expanded police presence in the downtown, the use of security cameras in public spaces, the formation of the Lynn Calm Team to deal with non-violent, mental-health issues, and improved lighting on bridge underpasses are among the initiatives to enhance public safety.
In the area of transportation, Lynn is seeking to establish itself as a regional transit hub, according to the mayor. He mentioned the electrification of the MBTA commuter rail as a critical future project, as well as improved bus transportation by having a dedicated bus lane on the Lynnway.
The commuter ferry that runs from Blossom Street Extension to Long Wharf in Boston is enjoying increased popularity. In 2024, one ferry trip was filled to the capacity of 148 riders. Last Saturday, there were three inbound voyages filled with that number of passengers.
The City is trying to make the case to the MBTA to operate the ferry year-round, Nicholson said.
At the end of the presentation, Nicholson and his team answered questions for members of the LBP, an association of senior executive officers of the top two dozen firms in the city that has been operating since 1992.
