This document summarizes comments from a May 23, 2013 community forum about downtown Lynn. It includes quotes from forum participants about what they like about Lynn, such as its diversity, as well as ideas for improving downtown Lynn, such as bringing in more businesses, making it cleaner and more vibrant. The document displays photos from the event and comments written on paper and sticky notes about how to create a thriving downtown with jobs, activities, and a sense of community.

1. What You Said!
Check out what participants
at the May 23, 2013 Forum
had to say about What’s
Next for Downtown Lynn.
Photo by James K. Lindley

2. Were you
there?
This document is
a virtual
representation
of comments
This document
does NOT
represent
MAPC’s views
made at the
May 23, 2013
Open House
and shortly
but it will inform
our findings.
Event photos by
James K.
after. Comments
were collected
in quotes, on
brown paper,
Lindley and
Jenn Erickson.
For interactive
polling results
on Post-its, and
with dots.
and other info,
please visit
www.mapc.org/
downtownlynn.
Photo by James K. Lindley

3. 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

5. Lynn is a diverse community
with a lot to offer.
Build on the vision!

6. A diverse
community
Photo by James K. Lindley

7. “One thing I
like about Lynn
is that it’s
definitely a
diverse city.”
- Walnut-da Lyrical Geni
Photo by James K. Lindley

9. Photo by James K. Lindley

10. What surprises you
about this data?
The 18-25 yearold dropoff is
very surprising.
How quickly the
economic factors
improve beyond
Lynn’s borders
I agree
I LOVE THIS
STATEMENT!
Race or income
doesn’t matter if it
is done right for
all people. - K
How few residents
have a Bachelor’s
degree
Not all Latinos are
counted what
about
Guatemalans
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
Very interesting
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 978818-3334
¡Muy buena
información!
What do you know that
the numbers don’t say?
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.

11. “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.”
Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC
– Jon Feinberg, formerly of
Boston and Atlanta

12. “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
Photo by James K. Lindley

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

14. “The people of Lynn
are very friendly.”
– Jolene Kelly
Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC

15. “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
Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC

17. Photo by James K. Lindley

18. “WalkScore needs bicycle
data. People love to ride the
wooded corridor from Salem
Woods through Spring Pond
Woods to Lynn Woods.”
- Katerina Panagiotakis
Photo by James K. Lindley

19. Participants added points to
the assets map and placed
dots next to the photos to
show their enthusiasm for
some of the places selected.
22
23
25
24 23
26
31
18
27
17
32
21
19
20

20. Photo by James K. Lindley

22. Photo by James K. Lindley

23. “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
Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC

24. What other existing
amenities would you add?
17. Union/
Community Hall
18. North Shore
Community
College
19. Operation
Bootstrap
(agree)
23. Lynn Public
Library
29. Shopping mall
with restaurants &
brand clothes, shoes
24. RAW Arts
Gallery
30. A zoo
more
Lynn Haunted
House, Andrew
Alborn is scary
Upright Youth
Zone Mission
20. Cupcake
shop and
dog bistro
25. Pho Minh Ky 26. The Daily Item
Itemlive.com
Union St.
Christian Science
Church
Lynn Shore Dr.
21. GAR
Building
Yes!!
27. J.B. Blood
Your local news!
31. Union Street
Shops and
Restaurants
32. Salon
Lynn Shore
Reservation
Main Church
Revitalize
beach!
Kids zone just
for kids
Pelican Beach
Pub
Water Park for
Kids
Sand Bar Beach
Bar
Lynn’s food
shop
22. Post Office
28.
Lynnhappens.com
Please look at the
Lynn Historical
Resources Map as
well. Thanks - K
Flex shared
office space
Health – is it
possible to bring
more specialists to
Lynn?
Parking lots
More organized
activities on
Lynn Common!

25. “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
Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC

26. Meeting new
neighbors in
hallways of our
lofts
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes!
Studying English
at night
Downtown
Lynnway
Hardware stores 
Beden? = gone
Stationery stores 
Arnold Belkin = gone
Department stores =
gone
Arts After Hours
Musicals!!
Constantly seeing
friendly & familiar
faces while out &
about! Great
community.
Walkscore needs
bicycle data. People
love to ride the
wooded corridor from
Salem Woods through
Spring Pond Woods
to Lynn Woods. Also
need bike trails to the
sea & downtown. - K
Just love the
great
architecture
and arts “vibe.”
Market
Tell us about places,
or share a story
about a memorable
encounter you had
in Downtown Lynn!
YES
LOVE MY
NEIGHBORS!
Movies & events
@ LynnArts
Help Broad St.
w/ commercial traffic.
Rotary to draw
approach into
downtown via
Market St. - K
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!
Love the
diverse cuisine
YES
Broad
Join me in making this
happen and ourselves
and our kids
candidate Debbie
Plunkett, Ward One
Councilor
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.

27. “Lynn is the first place in 25
years where I’ve felt like I
lived in a neighborhood.”
- Jolene Kelly, Owner of Cakes by NeeNee
formerly of Arizona and 3-year resident of
Downtown Lynn
Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC

28. “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
Photo by James K. Lindley

29. Build on
the Vision!
Photo by James K. Lindley

30. “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
Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC

32. Photo by James K. Lindley

34. What does Downtown
need, and where?
No skyscrapers
Please fire Sasaki.
Their designs in Lynn
have been noncontextual or friendly
to Lynn. -K
DISAGREE – I think
the Sasaki plans are
brilliant! It is the kind
of thinking Lynn
needs.
Special financing &
leasing for people
who want to open a
storefront!
transport connection
Do not raise
buildings high
near waterfront
blocking rest of
city views.
••••
••••
••••
••••••••
nodes
••••
mix
residential/
commercial/
work
greenbelt around cities
1. Suffolk Courtuncontextual to
neighborhood, color
choices for same
material too ‘Disney’
-K
7. VNA-need retail
on ground floor this is
at a pivotal point:
gateway through
downtown, grand
street to city hall at
center of mass
transportation system.
Needs perception of
lively hood for
commerce, art and
intelligence at
gateway - K
5. K - Lynn Auditoriumentry doorway
appearance revisit,
used to have banners
flags on windows,
needs warm welcoming
2. Gateway residence
design on Washingtonnon-contextual design,
too ‘Cambridge style’
lower buildings please
and to make:
pedestrian friendly. tie
into Diamond District
better, not block view
of others, parking,
massing too much,
too connected &
institutional looking, too
much vertical in
massing/ bad
proportion, dislike
colors - Katerina
Permitting is not
restrictive enough to
open for public process
and hearings, as
typical in other towns.
-K
Ditto, special
support for
people who want
to open storefront
businesses.
Please do not only
listen to developers.
But open pre-permit
process to help
developers understand
community. – K
More restaurants
Streets cleaner
Waterfront industry:
wind farming, vertical
crop farming, utilize
clean air & prevailing
winds for energy.
Make Lynn
“Green City”
Jobs! Jobs! Jobs!
Existing business
on Washington St.
not recognized by
plan.
Redesign &
update downtown
RR bridge!
Also special
efforts to attract
Waterfront needs
strong businesses
to be open air.
and to fill unused
buildings.
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.

35. “We need
something for
folks to feel like
they can get
involved with.”
– Walnut-da Lyrical Geni
Photo by James K. Lindley

36. “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
Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC

37. “I want more skateparks in Downtown Lynn.”
– Woodson Mezidor, age 11
Photo by James K. Lindley

38. I’d like to see
a mall here.”
– Roberto Celestin, Jr., age 12
Photo by James K. Lindley

39. Any inspiration
from other places?
Theater and
acting class
~
Fix storefronts &
buildings
City ordinances
enforced for residents
& businesses to keep
things clean & kept up
Waterfront
dining! Urban
scene!!
Photos were found on these websites, clockwise from upper left:
1. Not available
2. http://www.terrain.org/unsprawl/20/
3. http://waterbuffalomilwaukee.com/
4. http://mindshapedbox.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/2513910758_017243e4e6_z.jpg
5. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blind_musicians_-_Mexico_City_downtown.jpg
6. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41522783
7. Not available
8. http://yarnchic40.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/photography-old-market-omaha/
That looks ok
Outside dining
Beautification
More green
space
|
ditto!
Yes! Yes!
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.

40. Photo by James K. Lindley

41. More people
More cleaning
 Yes!
Yes! Littering
is a problem!!!
Free off-street
parking for residents
to reduce traffic and
provide parking for
businesses
Density
& disposable
income
Security
•Less crime
•Less gang activity
•More community
volunteer opportunities
•Better schools!
& JOBS
Career training
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
Better traffic
flow
End the one
way maze
What does Downtown need to
ensure a thriving, vibrant,
economically competitive future?
More positive
images of Lynn
in the media
Renewable
energy
More malls and
shopping malls
Beach become
alive place not
dead how is now!
•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
More residents!
More parking
less traffic
Park benches
for reading and
waiting
We need people who
are passionate and
enthusiastic about the
city of Lynn. We need
a fresh perspective
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

42. “Lynn is nice because we have the
train, but it would be good to have
more businesses downtown.”
– Justine Celestin
Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC

43. “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
Photo by James K. Lindley

44. “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, realtor
Photo by James K. Lindley

45. How will you help?
I will _______.
Challenge
perceptions of
Lynn
Embrace
diversity
I will
participate in
my community
and volunteer.
Me too!
Centerboard!
Us too! Daily
Item &
itemlive.com
Help build on the vision!

46. “I love Lynn – I want to see it be
vibrant and thrive!”
- Teri Faulisi, Downtown resident
Photo by James K. Lindley

47. “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
Photo by James K. Lindley

48. “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
Photo by James K. Lindley

49. 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
Photo by James K. Lindley

50. “Come a little closer.”
- Walnut-da Lyrical Geni
Photo by Jenn Erickson, MAPC

51. “Lynn is in!”
- Jolene Kelly, owner of Cakes by NeeNee
Photo by James K. Lindley