What's Next for Downtown Lynn? May 2013 Forum Recap

What You Said!

Photo by James K. Lindley

Check out what participants at the May 23, 2013 Forum had to say about What’s Next for Downtown Lynn.

Were you there?This document is a virtual representation of comments

made at the May 23, 2013 Open House and shortly

after. Comments were collected in quotes, on brown paper,

on Post-its, and with dots.

This document does NOT represent MAPC’s views

but it will inform our findings. Event photos by James K.

Lindley and Jenn Erickson. For interactive polling results

and other info, please visit www.mapc.org/downtownlynn.

Were you there?


How did you hear about this event?Please place a sticker on all that apply!

Facebook or LinkedIn

Blog or website

Email or e-newsletter

Saw a flyer Word of Mouth

Other

Lynn is a diverse community with a lot to offer.

Build on the vision!


A diverse community

“One thing I like about Lynn is that it’s definitely a diverse city.”

- Walnut-da Lyrical Geni


What surprises you about this data?

Race or income doesn’t matter if it is done right for all people. - K

What do you know that the numbers don’t say?

I LOVE THIS STATEMENT!

Doing it right means thinking about race,

income, privilege, and the structures that

disproportionately affect some more than others.

I agree – race matters“black” “white” barely

captures all the cultures/races, here

¡Muy buenainformación!

The 18-25 year-old dropoff is very surprising.

Some punctuation and language was changed for clarity. In this example, most participants wrote directly on the brown paper, so the yellow and green do not signify before and after as in other examples.

Very interesting

I agree

Not all Latinos are counted what

about Guatemalans

How quickly the economic factors improve beyond Lynn’s borders

How few residents have a Bachelor’s

degree

I know Lynn is coming back and will be a thriving business and residential community as it once was! I want to be an active

participant in making this dream a reality Debbie Plunkett Candidate for Ward One Councilor 978-818-3334

Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC

“I’ve lived in Lynn for two years. I didn’t know what the city was all about when I came here, but now I love it here. I’m originally from the south, and so I’m used to a lot of diversity. Here, there’s just a great mix of people. I didn’t find that in Boston. I felt Boston was more segregated than the south when I first got here.”

– Jon Feinberg, formerly of Boston and Atlanta

“I want to see Downtown Lynn bridge the divide among various racial and ethnic groups. The barriers are astounding. Knowing the data of who lives here feels empowering and compelling!”

– Sarah Jackson, Downtown resident and business owner


With a lot to offer!Photo by James K. Lindley

“The people of Lynn are very friendly.”– Jolene Kelly



“We’ve lived here 10 years. I own a house in Lynn. I know there are a lot of good restaurants, but I didn’t even know we had a museum down here.”

– Justine Celestin

“WalkScore needs bicycle data. People love to ride the wooded corridor from Salem Woods through Spring Pond Woods to Lynn Woods.”

- Katerina Panagiotakis


23

1927

21

22

24 2325

2620 17

32

18

31

Participants added points to the assets map and placed dots next to the photos to show their enthusiasm for some of the places selected.


“This area is awesome, yet we have this issue where people don’t go downtown. Some folks in other parts of Lynn don’t feel like they have a reason to come downtown. We need more business down here, and more variety.”

– Walnut-da Lyrical Geni

I would like to see more “mixed use”development with retail, office, and residential.

1 2 3 4 5

68%

26%

0%3%3%

1. Strongly Agree2. Agree3. Not Sure4. Disagree5. Strongly Disagree

What other existing amenities would you add?

31. Union Street Shops and Restaurants

Main Church

Revitalize beach!

Please look at the Lynn Historical

Resources Map as well. Thanks - K

Lynn Shore Reservation

Christian Science Church

Lynn Shore Dr.

25. Pho Minh KyUnion St. 27. J.B. Blood 28.

Lynnhappens.com

21. GAR Building

Yes!!

24. RAW Arts Gallery

26. The Daily Item Itemlive.com

Your local news!

23. Lynn Public Library

20. Cupcake shop and dog bistro

22. Post Office19. Operation

Bootstrap17. Union/

Community Hall

Upright Youth Zone Mission

Kids zone just for kids Water Park for

Kids

Lynn’s food shop Parking lots

More organized activities on

Lynn Common!

Lynn Haunted House, Andrew Alborn is scary

30. A zoo

Pelican Beach Pub

Sand Bar Beach Bar

Flex shared office space

Health – is it possible to bring

more specialists to Lynn?

29. Shopping mall with restaurants &

brand clothes, shoes

more

32. Salon

18. North Shore Community

College(agree)


“I came to the Open House because my son lives here, and the community has always been very helpful to us. It’s great that Lynn has good public transportation and health services.”

– Leonardo Albornoz, via Spanish-language interpreter

I came here tonight because:

1 2 3 4 5

10% 14%

28%

3%

45%

1. I want to start a business or renovate a property.

2. I want to get involved in neighborhood activities.

3. I am really excited about Downtown’s future.

4. I want to meet new people.

5. I want to participate in a civic process.

Tell us about places, or share a story

about a memorable encounter you had in Downtown Lynn!

Lynnway Mar

ket

Broad

Help Broad St. w/ commercial traffic.

Rotary to draw approach into downtown via Market St. - K

Arts After Hours Musicals!!

Constantly seeing friendly & familiar faces while out & about! Great community. YES

LOVE MY NEIGHBORS!

Love the diverse cuisine

Movies & events @ LynnArts

Meeting new neighbors in

hallways of our lofts

Just love the great

architecture and arts “vibe.”

Studying English at night

Downtown

Hardware stores Beden? = gone

Stationery stores Arnold Belkin = goneDepartment stores =

gone My parents (age 70) share memories of downtown! 4 movie theatres, tons of shops, restaurants!

Walking the downtown streets until midnight safely! I have been in Lynn my whole life and it’s a fabulous city.

We just need to work together as a community and restore our downtown!

Join me in making this happen and ourselves and our kids candidate Debbie Plunkett, Ward One Councilor

to Lynn Woods. Also need bike trails to the sea & downtown. - K

Walkscore needs bicycle data. People love to ride the wooded corridor from Salem Woods through Spring Pond Woods

YesYesYesYes!

YES

Some punctuation and language was changed for clarity. In this example, red text is used for illustrations and to indicate when it appeared as though more than one participant commented on the same item.


“Lynn is the first place in 25 years where I’ve felt like I lived in a neighborhood.”

- Jolene Kelly, Owner of Cakes by NeeNeeformerly of Arizona and 3-year resident of Downtown Lynn

“My parents, who are in their 70s, share memories of Downtown! Four movie theaters, tons of shops, restaurants, and walking the downtown streets until midnight!”

- Debbie Plunkett, candidate for Lynn Ward One City Councilor


I would like to see more shopping, eating and entertainment options in Downtown Lynn.

1 2 3 4 5

75%

19%

0%0%6%


Build on the Vision!



“I’ve been a resident for three years, and already I’m seeing a renewal and changes in Lynn. It has gotten a lot cleaner Downtown. One the things I’m seeing is that people are coming here from the outside. Long-term residents always say that nothing ever changes, but new residents are creating a grassroots environment.”

- Jolene Kelly, Downtown resident and owner of Cakes by NeeNee

I would like to see more residential development in Downtown Lynn.

1 2 3 4 5

44%

31%

0%3%

22%


What does Downtown need, and where?

Please fire Sasaki. Their designs in Lynn have been non-contextual or friendly to Lynn. -K

7. VNA-need retail on ground floor this is at a pivotal point:

2. Gateway residence design on Washington-non-contextual design, too ‘Cambridge style’ lower buildings please and to make:

1. Suffolk Court-uncontextual to neighborhood, color choices for same material too ‘Disney’ - K

pedestrian friendly. tie into Diamond District better, not block view of others, parking, massing too much,DISAGREE – I think

the Sasaki plans are brilliant! It is the kind of thinking Lynn needs.

No skyscrapers

Redesign & update downtown

RR bridge!

More restaurantsStreets cleaner

Special financing & leasing for people who want to open a storefront!

Existing business on Washington St. not recognized by plan.

Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!

Ditto, special support for

people who want to open storefront

businesses.

••••••••••••

••••

••••••••

transport connection

greenbelt around cities

nodesmix

residential/ commercial/

work

Waterfront industry: wind farming, vertical crop farming, utilize

clean air & prevailing winds for energy.

Permitting is not restrictive enough to open for public process and hearings, as typical in other towns. - K

Waterfront needs to be open air.

Do not raise buildings high

near waterfront blocking rest of

city views.

Keep waterfront industrial/ entertainment mix. We need avenue.

More residential here will draw crowds away from existing homes in Lynn. Keep similar to South Boston/ Salem Willows.

Also special efforts to attract strong businesses and to fill unused

buildings.

Please do not only listen to developers. But open pre-permit process to help developers understand community. – K

Make Lynn “Green City”

Needs perception of lively hood for commerce, art and intelligence at gateway - K

5. K - Lynn Auditorium-entry doorway appearance revisit, used to have banners flags on windows, needs warm welcoming

too connected & institutional looking, too

much vertical in massing/ bad

proportion, dislike colors - Katerina

gateway through downtown, grand street to city hall at center of mass transportation system.

“We need something for folks to feel like they can get involved with.”– Walnut-da Lyrical Geni



“It would be great if Lynn had more doctors and specialists so that older residents wouldn’t have to go all the way in to Boston for care.”

– Leonardo Albornoz, via Spanish-language interpreter

“I want more skateparks in Downtown Lynn.”– Woodson Mezidor, age 11


I’d like to see a mall here.”– Roberto Celestin, Jr., age 12


Any inspiration from other places?

Theater and acting class

~

Beautification

Outside dining

Yes! Yes!

Waterfront dining! Urban

scene!!Fix storefronts &

buildingsCity ordinances

enforced for residents & businesses to keep

things clean & kept up

That looks ok

More green space

|ditto!

Community arts !!!

Some punctuation and language was changed for clarity. In this example, red text is used to indicate when it appeared as though more than one participant commented on the same item.

Photos were found on these websites, clockwise from upper left:1. Not available2. http://www.terrain.org/unsprawl/20/3. http://waterbuffalomilwaukee.com/4. http://mindshapedbox.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/2513910758_017243e4e6_z.jpg5. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blind_musicians_-_Mexico_City_downtown.jpg6. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/415227837. Not available8. http://yarnchic40.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/photography-old-market-omaha/

What does Downtown need to ensure a thriving, vibrant,

economically competitive future?

More people

Free off-street parking for residents to reduce traffic and provide parking for businesses

Density & disposable

income

Better traffic flow

I would like to see flex office space like Officio in Boston. Then, people who work at home could get out of their houses and walk to work

Security and marketing

More cleaning Yes! Yes! Littering is a problem!!!

Security

•Less crime•Less gang activity•More community volunteer opportunities•Better schools!

Career training

& JOBS

End the one way maze

More positive images of Lynn in the media

Renewable energy

•Good attitudes•Keeping the city clean•Finding ways to attract & support successful businesses

Making sure youth are engaged,

supported, encouraged,

educated, etc.

Green Community Stretch Code

We need people who are passionate and enthusiastic about the city of Lynn. We need a fresh perspective

More malls and shopping malls

Beach become alive place not

dead how is now!More residents!

More parking less traffic

Park benches for reading and

waiting

and people working together to bring Downtown back to the successful city it once was with plenty of

business, shopping, and growth! – Deb Plunkett, candidate for Ward One


“Lynn is nice because we have the train, but it would be good to have more businesses downtown.”

– Justine Celestin

“There’s room for improvement. We need more arts and culture here. The artists are out here, but they don’t have a community that caters just to them.”

- Walnut-da Lyrical Geni


“I would love to see Downtown Lynn even more revitalized. I very much want to see Lynn thrive. I would love to see more successful businesses and filled properties.”

- Susan Kerr, realtorPhoto by James K. Lindley

Help build on the vision!

How will you help?I will _______.

Embrace diversity

Challenge perceptions of

Lynn

Us too! Daily Item & itemlive.com

Me too! Centerboard!

I will participate in my community and volunteer.

“I love Lynn – I want to see it be vibrant and thrive!”- Teri Faulisi, Downtown resident


“I have been in Lynn my whole life and it’s a fabulous city. We just need to work together as a community and restore our downtown! Join me in making this happen for ourselves and our kids.”

- Debbie Plunkett, candidate for Ward One City Councilor


“The people of Lynn have a great willingness to experiment. There are lots of interesting organizations working hard to create a more representative vision for what Lynn is all about.”

– Jon Feinberg, 2-year Lynn resident


The city has been great at studying itself. Now is the time for real change. …Together we can achieve powerful things for this great place we all love so much.”– Corey Jackson, via DowntownLynn.com


“Come a little closer.”- Walnut-da Lyrical Geni


“Lynn is in!”- Jolene Kelly, owner of Cakes by NeeNee


What's Next for Downtown Lynn? May 2013 Forum Recap

Government & Nonprofit

Transcript of What's Next for Downtown Lynn? May 2013 Forum Recap