ITEM PHOTO OWEN O’ROURKE
The stretch of gritty roadway on Boston Street, from the Boston Street Car Wash to Taco Bell, is known for its littered parking lots, sidewalks, and gutters.
By THOMAS GRILLO
LYNN — Boston Street, one of the city’s fast food hot spots, could get a lot cleaner under a new plan that won’t cost taxpayers a dime.
The stretch of gritty roadway, from the Boston Street Car Wash to Taco Bell, is known for its littered parking lots, sidewalks, and gutters.
But in a deal brokered by Councilor-at-Large Brian LaPierre, Ward 1 Councilor Wayne Lozzi, and the Licensing Committee, the operators of a handful of retailers have agreed to hire a contractor to clean the street and the area’s parking lots weekly.
“Trash has been an issue and rather than going after businesses and blaming them, the idea was to ask them how to fix it,” said Ward 7 City Councilor John “Jay” Walsh, chairman of the Licensing Committee. “The businesses suggested they pool their money and hire a company to keep that corridor clean.”
The councilors had the opportunity to ask for help to solve the litter problem last week when McDonald’s, Wendy’s, Burger King, Dunkin’ Donuts, CVS Pharmacy, and Taco Bell appeared before the five-member panel to renew their license to operate late into the night.
“Typically, when there’s a problem, renewal is a good time to get it fixed,” said Walsh. “If their store is making lots of trash and they’re not keeping their end of the bargain, then maybe we need to review that arrangement.”
Under the terms of the deal, the six establishments were granted a 30-day extension to operate late night hours. In August, the panel will review the agreement and see that the action plan has led to improvements.
At the licensing hearing last week, Lozzi said he was very clear about how he would vote on extending late night hours.
“I told them I would not vote for extended hours unless they got together to clean up that Boston Street corridor and they agreed to do it,” he said.
The idea to get the food franchises and the pharmacy to help clean up the mess started last year when Ward 3 Councilor Darren Cyr worked with merchants after hearing complaints from constituents.
John Mello, the Dunkin’ Donuts franchisee owner who organized the retailers, declined to comment.
Thomas Grillo can be reached at [email protected].