LYNN – The Planning Department held a meeting Monday to update community members on future plans for the city’s South Harbor Implementation Plan (SHIP).
SHIP was created in 2023 to articulate the infrastructure investments needed to support future development in the South Harbor neighborhood to help create job and housing opportunities.
There has been much progress made and planned with SHIP so far, such as additional apartment units, office and retail space, extended ferry service, and the opening of Harbor Park. However, the planning committee also shared a major obstacle the city is facing when it comes to future waterfront redevelopment.
Gas and electric company National Grid owns several areas of land in the neighborhood, including the former Boyd Potato Chip property. It has been demolished, and it is currently being leased to a contractor where construction materials are stored.
“That is not a very positive use for the community on many levels,” said Planning Director Aaron Clausen during the meeting.
The Planning Department has also been unable to convince National Grid to give them permission to paint a mural off the large LNG tank located off the Lynnway. This is a potential investment that Clausen described as a “celebration of the arts and cultural dynamic that we have here in the city.”
“Over the years, we’ve had proactive meetings with National Grid, but generally nothing comes out of those interactions,” Clausen said.
As for next steps to implement SHIP, the Planning Department is weighing multiple land acquisition strategies.
They are looking at maybe acquiring public ways as properties redevelop, possibly negotiating sales with property owners, or potentially utilizing an urban renewal or economic development plan.
“We feel like we’ve done everything we can on the city side to move this forward, so it feels like it’s time to come to the community to get a sense of whether they want us to be going forward,” Associate Planning Director Lauren Drago said.
Meeting attendees who voiced their opinions made it clear that there is firm support for the City to act aggressively in order to continue progress on the waterfront.
Clausen and Drago emphasized that community engagement can play a significant role in the process and suggested community members reach out to representatives about stockpiling, overgrown weeds, or crime issues.
“All that goes into analysis and our documents moving forward,” Drago said.
Clausen added, “If they see that there’s a strategy, and they know that the community is invested, and that gets articulated through the mayor and the council, that’s important.”
More information about the South Harbor Implementation Plan can be found at lynnincommon.com/ship
