MBTA Follow up meeting, Lynn MA: September 14th

Lt. Commander Lenehan has organized a follow up meeting on September 14th to discuss safety and security at the MBTA commuter rail station in Lynn, MA.

Below is his message. Hope to see many of you there!

Good afternoon, all.

Chief Puska of the North Shore Community College has secured a room for us all to meet in at North Shore Community College. It is T105 and is located on the Market Street side of the Lynn Station parking garage. The room can hold 35-40 people which should meet our needs. I would request RSVPs so that we become aware if our attendance may begin to strain capacity.

I have listed the meeting start time as 7:15pm as there is an outbound train that arrives at Lynn Station at 7:06p.m. This will afford an opportunity for anyone who takes that train to attend the meeting.

I hope to see you all there. Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend.

Why is gentrification a bad word?

I would like to make it quite clear why I do what I do to help Lynn and help my neighborhood....gentrification!

Several years ago when I bought in Lynn it was based on the hope that Lynn would begin to gentrify and that over time I would see my investment grow. I just want to be honest and put it out there that I don't care about trees, rocks, birds, turtles, or living in the past. I want development. I would like development that isn't a Hispanic church, hair braiding salon, or bodega. At this point I don't care if it is a Starbucks or a Hard Rock Cafe. I don't care if it is a Target or a Economy Hardware... I just want development. When did the word "diversity" become synonymous with low income. Can't we be both diverse AND have real development.

I guarantee I am going to annoy a few people with this post but I really don't care. I also do not mean to belittle the efforts of those who wants to save trees. If that is important to you then I applaud your efforts. If historic preservation is your priority then go for it. But for me I want to see my property value increase so that at some point (before I am 65) I can sell my condo and move on to the next chapter of my life.

I realize the economy sucks and we are experiencing one of the worst recessions since the Great Depression but that does change the fact that I am so tired of waiting for some real development to come to downtown Lynn.

Some great photos of Lynn, MA

It is nice to see other MA residents out enjoying the beauty of Lynn's shoreline.

Check out this post:

http://terranovadesign.blogspot.com/2010/08/lynn-massachusetts.html

Thou shalt not saith the right wing!

There seems to be a lot of conversation at City Hall, in the press and amongst us bloggers regarding the debauchery that is "adult entertainment". I appreciate the comment left by mediaseth on DowntownLynn.com's post.

I just don't understand why America is so uptight about sex and the human body. I have done a fair amount of travel and have seen the following:

1) In Copenhagen a storefront window of a tattoo/piercing parlor are pictures of women's vaginas showing the work of the parlor.

2) In Berlin gay men lay naked sun bathing on a warm summer afternoon in the middle of the park.

3) In Prague the 11 PM news weather report begins with a naked man or woman walking onto set who then begins to get dressed based upon what clothing is appropriate for the following day.

4) In Montreal gay or straight lap dances are a dime a dozen (and done so in the nude).

5) Do I need to say more about the Red Light District in Amsterdam. Scantily clad women adorn storefront windows alluring passersby.

6) The train stations in Austria have porn magazines sold as you enter and exit the station.

7) Gay marriage is legal in several of these countries (Evan Spain as Catholic as it is!)

I can go on but I think that's enough. Somehow, SOMEHOW these other counties aren't falling apart. Families aren't being destroyed, economies aren't collapsing, and God isn't sending a plague of locusts upon them. These ultra liberal if not socialist countries seem to be doing OK.

God Bless Paranoid America!

Adopt Central Square - Lynn, MA

Hello residents and business owners of Central Square:

Would a small donation to adopt Central Square be worth it to keep it clean and landscaped? For a few hundred dollars a year the island with the clock can be maintained all year. A few more dollars and the island in front of Turbine can be turned green with flowers as well. The entire square can be kept looking fresh and clean and it is not out of our reach.

With all the residents and businesses in the square we have the resources to make this happen. For probably about $20 per resident/business there would be enough funds to accomplish this for the year.

Currently, the disastrous Mayo group has a sign in Central Square. Instead of promoting this incompetent organization how about we adopt Central Square and change that. Is there a business or organization that would like it's name listed for all who pass to see? This is within out power to make happen. I for one would be happy to donate $20 to the cause.

Who's in??

P.S. This can be done anywhere in Lynn. If you want to help adopt a street, an island, a grassy area to improve how it looks we can make this happen all over the city!

Park(ing) day - Love this idea!

Let's do this in Lynn!

http://parkingday.org/

Lynn, MA Condos - Partnering with realtors

The residents of Lynn can be a great resource for realtors who are showing properties to potential buyers. Not only could current residents help potential buyers who are considering Lynn as their home they can even help open up minds to buyers who may not have been considering Lynn in the first place. I know that before I moved to Lynn I spoke to a few residents to get a feel for the downtown and that helped me in my decision making process.

Below is a comment from my realtor:

"I think this is a great effort on your behalf to increase traffic to your building. I will certainly try to direct any future buyers to your building. I think it is a great area to live in and love your blog. You should send your blog to all real estate offices in surrounding cities."

So to all you Lynn residents - Reach out to your real estate professionals who helped you buy your condo and offer to help them as they help you. They can help direct more traffic into Lynn and you can be a resource to share with potential buyers the great community that we have.

Sloan Machinery Lofts - Lynn, MA: Resident Profile

A local Sloan resident happily invited the world to check out this cool and hip condo. Below are some pictures along with some commentary on life in Lynn.

LE:
Why did you move to Lynn?

Sloan:
I wanted to live in an affordable loft condo near the ocean and near some kind of public transportation, and I wanted to live in a diverse community. I used to work in Lynn, so I was somewhat familiar with the area as well.

LE:
What do you love most about your home?

Sloan:
I really love my neighbors!! I have made some great friends right here in the building that are all very caring and wonderful. As for my individual condo, however, I love the high ceilings, big windows, and the exposed brick.

LE:
What do you love most about living in Lynn?

Sloan:
I really love all that Lynn has to offer: the ocean, culture, art venues, live outdoor music, great restaurants, Lynn Woods, public transportation, great people, lots of city events, a local CSA farmer's market, and it's very close to Boston. Lynn is the whole package! I'm surprised that more people don't live here.

LE:
How has living in Lynn/your condo changed the way you live?

Sloan:
I don't think living in my condo has changed the way I live, but it has made me realize that I love living in a community that comes together to make things happen. The one thing that has been true about Lynn since I moved here is that the community is really a community; people come together to celebrate and to take action. I really like that.

LE:
What are your hopes for the neighborhood?

Sloan:
I hope that more people will move to Lynn and recognize its beauty and all that it has to offer. I also hope that more businesses will open up in the downtown. Overall, I would like things to keep moving in the direction that they're moving.

LE:
What advice/thoughts do you have for potential buyers considering a condo in DTL?

Sloan:
I would encourage them to come to Lynn on a Friday night and to have dinner at the Blue Ox or Tatiana's, and then have after-dinner drinks and dessert over at Turbine. Get a sense of the area and the downtown residents by visiting Lynn Arts and the Little Gallery Under the Stairs. Wake up early on a Saturday morning, and have breakfast at Capitol Diner; if it's nice out, you can sit outside on the deck! Take a walk on a Saturday afternoon through Lynn Woods or bike through it! Sit on Lynn Beach and watch people walk, run, and roller blade by. Listen to the many different languages spoken as you sit there. Volunteer at RAW Arts and be inspired by the local student artists there as they prepare for college. Visit other downtown residents who have made the move to Lynn from other communities, check out their condos, and spend a day with them to get acclimated to the area. I really have no other advice than to just come to Lynn and embrace all that it has to offer.

Notes from resident's meeting with Jamie Marsh

Last night the residents of Lynn, MA met with Jamie Marsh at his office. It was great to see new faces join us as our community continues to grow!

Below are some discussion points/comments:

1) Covered trash cans in Central Square - It is possible that we could replace the open trash bins with covered trans bins to prevent wind from blowing trash out into the streets.

2) The weeding and mulching of Mt. Vernon Street and Central Square has really helped! Much less trash, including cigarette butts, is being thrown into the tree beds. It appears the broken window rule applies here!

3) If there are any projects that people would like to see happen (clean up for example) please contact Jamie Marsh. He has indicated that summer workers/community service workers are available to help get things done. Do not hesitate to reach out!

4) Adopt a Block/Street/Median/you name it! We can definitely grow this into a more formal initiative. Either through local volunteerism or for a modest fee we can adopt areas of the city to help keep clean and provide landscaping. More on this to come! (If you'd like to be involved help organize this please contact me)

5) The City of Lynn has received a Sustainability Grant approved by the MAPC. This grant will help the city transform its vision for Washington Street into a executable plan. The funds will allow all the planning to be done to help move this one step closer.

6) Currently dredging is taking place along the waterfront to help prepare the site for development. Power lines will be completely moved by October. Additional grants are being sought after to help create pedestrian access from Market Street (Downtown Area) to the Waterfront.

7) The Beacon Chevrolet site may have some development happening. A recent project was proposed for retail/condo development. We may see some action in the not too distant future!

8) Broad street will be getting a make over. The median will be spruced up, tacky paint removed and landscaping will be done as well.

After the meeting we headed up to High Rock Tower. Jamie gave us a tour and we took is some fantastic panoramic views of the city. We checked out the telescope and got a glimpse of the craters on the moon. If you have not gotten up there GET there. It is so cool that we have something like this in Lynn.

A week in Lynn, MA - Random Thoughts

Listed below are my top 10 "Week in Review" thoughts a la David Letterman style:

10: What was Rafael Subero thinking when he inquired about a strip club which he later retracted. Don't we have enough whores and debauchery in Lynn? Apparently $20 can get you some relief around here.

9: Is the Daily Item run by a group of Chinese communists who censor our comments by the public that don't support their gloom and doom journalism? Not sure why my comments on one of their stories was never published.

8: Police foot patrols are awesome! Thanks Mayor Kennedy for making this happen. I watched 2 police officers on foot patrol break up a slap fest that could have gotten really ugly in Central Square between a group of classy women.

7: The recent "Adopt a Block" post was great! I have posted before on this topic and I hope we can do more of this.

6: While a horrible tragedy I do not agree with the lawsuit filed against the MBTA by the rape victim.

5: I am loving how much nicer Central Square looks post weeding & mulching. I'd love to Adopt Central Square with other interested folks to keep it looking green and clean!

4: Learned that City Fitness is interested in leaving Union Street to expand into a larger building on the Lynnway. I am interested to see how that works out and what will come in at their former location.

3: Senator McGee is a cool guy. I appreciate his dedication to Lynn and believe he will do the right thing for the city.

2: The Metropolitan Planning Organization is quite the convoluted organization. We need to show up and their public meetings and make some noise for Lynn!

1: Arts After Hours was a huge success. I can not wait for the next one!

Central Square Lynn, MA - A little face lift!

Central Square today got a bit of a face lift. With the help of Jamie Marsh, the ISD got to work and completed the weeding and mulching of the tree beds. It is quite an improvement from the overgrown weeds littered with cigarette butts and straw wrappers.

It will be much easier to keep this clean and fresh looking. Thanks to the guys who were out there getting this done!

Arts After Hours - My impressions

Uncertain how the first Arts After Hours event in downtown Lynn, MA would go I approached the evening with cautious hopes. It wasn't that I doubted for a moment that the art, music, and other festivities wouldn't be top notch but that people wouldn't show up.

With most events, meetings, and other local gatherings folks plan to show up but then a long day at work, last minute emergencies, kids, pets and other random life keep good intentions exactly that... good intentions.

I was pleasantly surprised that there was such a good showing. I saw lots of familiar faces as well as lots of new faces. The community really came out in support of the event. The weather was perfect. At least for me the cool evenings as summer winds down are sublime. The energy was vibrant, hip music, lots of chatter and mingling galore.

I think my favorite part of the entire evening was during the fire show. I enjoyed the show but it wasn't so much the show itself that left an impression. It was the energy in the air at that moment. I stood on the corner and spent half the time watching all the cars go by practically slam on their breaks to see what was happening. That buzz, that curiosity, that intrigue that the event created is priceless. Lynn is no longer the dead neighborhood that its reputation suggests. It is coming alive and last night was proof of that heartbeat.

The Item's update on the MBTA in Lynn, MA

The Daily Item ran this article on the MBTA:

http://itemlive.com/articles/2010/08/11/news/news08.txt

I think they are leaving out some important facts with regards to the positive changes that are happening such as the new security cameras for one.

Not sure why the reporters don't take the time to speak with the residents who are leading this cause.

Reminder - Downtown Residents Meeting 8/17

Don't forget next week: Residents meeting with OECD Director Jamie Marsh

Tuesday August 17, 2010

7:30 PM

City Hall, OECD Office, 3rd floor

We will meet with Jamie from 7:30 to 8:30 to discuss issues, questions, suggestions and the general status of DTL. Following the meeting (for those who can make it) we will head up to High Rock telescope with Jamie to check out the nighttime sky.

ALL DTL residents are welcome. It doesn't matter if you own or rent. What matters is that you care about our community and want to be part of the growing movement to revitalize Lynn, MA!

Lynn, MA - Waterfront and Downtown's Relationship

Lynn, MA can learn something from Seattle - how to connect the Waterfront to the Downtown area.

Below is an article in Dwell Magazine that can also be read here.

By the time you’ve climbed the gentle slope of Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park, you’ve passed through four classic Northwest landscapes—–valley, forest, meadow, and beach—–and been treated to staggering views of Puget Sound, the Olympic Mountains, and the city’s impressive skyline. Oh, yeah, and some pretty good sculptures by Alexander Calder and Richard Serra vie for your attention along the way.

Dramatic as the park is today, the site didn’t look very promising in 2001 when architects Marion Weiss and Michael Manfredi were hired to unite three disconnected parcels on the edge of downtown into a new setting for the Seattle Art Museum’s outdoor sculpture collection. Not only were the strips of land separated by a four-lane road and a railroad line, the drop between the residential neighbor-hood at the top and the waterfront down below was a daunting 40 feet.

Rather than try to link the three levels with stairs or bridges, the New York–based architects made the connecting structure into the park itself. A broad, continuous ramp slaloms across the nine-acre site, effortlessly unifying the three parcels and making you forget about that annoying auto and rail traffic under your feet. As with all good parks, people can enter from several different places.

Many U.S. cities are struggling with the very same problem Seattle faced: how to reconnect their downtowns to historic waterfronts cut off long ago by highways. The zigzagging Olympic Sculpture Park shows them the path to a most elegant solution.