No segregated luxury housing on the Lynnway. We want inclusive development.

Lynn Redevelopment, LLC (North Andover, MA)- Arthur Pappathanasi and Louis P. Minicucci, Jr., Managers

Unaffordable rent is a huge problem in Lynn. But Lynn Redevelopment, LLC is planning to build 348 luxury apartments on the Lynnway for people from other areas, with not a single one affordable to working class, low- to moderate-income Lynn residents.

We demand changes so that the project benefits current Lynn residents too: we want inclusion of some affordable apartments, better access to the waterfront, good wages for related jobs, and space for local small businesses.

The current design eliminates a public park that was supposed to go on the site, and has no space reserved for retail. This could turn into a segregated enclave for out-of-towners with money.

The developers are going to make a lot of money on this project. It has received support from our city and state governments and involves millions of taxpayer dollars. The plans should be adjusted so the project truly benefits all of us.

We do not oppose development. We want to see our city grow and improve. But new development will only be good for the people of our city if it takes our needs and concerns into account and does not push out current residents.

From East Boston to Brooklyn to the Bay Area and beyond, we have seen development cause gentrification, evictions, and displacement. People have been forced out of their own neighborhoods. We don’t want that to happen here.

We call on the developers of this project to commit to:

  1. most importantly, make 20% of the apartments affordable to low- and moderate-income Lynn residents (taking into account that incomes in Lynn are lower than incomes in other area cities/towns);
  2. designate some first floor space for retail, with priority given to small, locally owned businesses;
  3. ensure that jobs associated with this project are accessible to Lynn residents and pay a living wage; that the right to organize is respected; and that construction is done with union labor; and
  4. improve waterfront access and usability so Lynn residents of all backgrounds feel welcome

Sponsored by
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Lynn United for Change
Lynn, MA

To: Lynn Redevelopment, LLC (North Andover, MA)- Arthur Pappathanasi and Louis P. Minicucci, Jr., Managers
From: [Your Name]

We are writing to you because we care about the future of Lynn, and we want your new development on the Lynnway to be something that current residents can welcome.

As you may know, unaffordable rent is becoming a huge problem in Lynn. Far too many people – homeowners as well as tenants – are having trouble keeping up with housing costs. Some longtime residents are already being pushed out of our city.

Yet you plan to build 348 luxury apartments on the Lynnway for people from other areas, with not a single one affordable to working class, low- to moderate-income Lynn residents.

Your design also eliminates a public park that was supposed to go on the site under our city’s Municipal Harbor Plan, replacing it with a “linear park” that seems to be just a pathway. And in the new version of your project there is no longer any space designated specifically for retail.

We worry that if you go forward with the current plan, your project could turn into a segregated enclave for out-of-towners with money. Many local people would oppose that kind of development.

We believe there is a better way. Your project can benefit our entire city by including some affordable apartments, by providing space for local businesses, by ensuring real public access to the waterfront, and by making sure related jobs are accessible to people from our city and respect worker rights.

We do not oppose development. We want to see our city grow and improve. But new development will only be good for the people of our city if it takes our needs and concerns into account and does not push out current residents.

From East Boston to Brooklyn to the Bay Area and beyond, we have seen development cause gentrification, evictions, and displacement. People have been forced out of their own neighborhoods.

We don’t want that to happen here. We don’t want Lynn’s character and identity as a diverse working class city to be lost. And we don’t want any of our beautiful waterfront spaces to become segregated areas for wealthy people from other places, with the rest of us shut out.

You have the ability and the responsibility to respond to these issues. You are going to make a lot of money from this project. It has received support from our city and state governments, and it involves millions of taxpayer dollars. We call on you to make this a development the whole city can support. Specifically, we call on you to commit to:

1. most importantly, make 20% of the apartments affordable to low- and moderate-income Lynn residents (taking into account that incomes in Lynn are lower than incomes in other area cities/towns);

2. designate some first floor space for retail, with priority given to small, locally owned businesses;

3. ensure that jobs associated with this project are accessible to Lynn residents and pay a living wage; that the right to organize is respected; and that construction is done with union labor; and

4. improve waterfront access and usability so Lynn residents of all backgrounds feel welcome.

We look forward to your response...

Sincerely,