ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Joseph Mulligan, from MassDevelopment, during his tour of downtown Lynn.
By THOMAS GRILLO
LYNN — Joseph Mulligan is betting on the transformation of the city’s central business district.
On a recent weekday morning tour of an empty downtown, he easily rattled off data including the city’s population of about 100,000.
“Where is everybody?” he asked. “The real issue is why would anyone come downtown? A lot of people come for medical or social services, but what are the things to do while they are here?”
Getting that question answered is one of the reasons why Mulligan will devote the next three years to working in the city. He is one of three transformative development initiative (TDI) fellows hired by MassDevelopment, the state’s economic development and finance agency, who are working in Lynn, Haverhill and Springfield to improve their downtowns. The fellows, who are experienced in city planning, community partnership building, real estate and economic development, will work in collaboration with local partnerships.
In Lynn, Mulligan’s mission is to turn the downtown into an attractive residential, retail, arts and diverse restaurant scene for the region.
“You go to places and they are bombed out shells of their former selves that have been further humiliated by traffic engineers who have driven six-lane roads through the middle of them,” he said. “But Lynn has a remarkable amount of beauty and one of its greatest assets, though we would never know it, the Atlantic Ocean, is right there.”
Mulligan, who spearheaded Boston’s $100 million revitalization efforts in Roxbury’s Dudley Square under former Mayor Thomas M. Menino, is the right person for the job, according to Jason Denoncourt, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton’s economic development director who is also focusing his energies in Lynn.
“He brings a wealth of knowledge of experience and all of his recommendations are founded in best practices from cities all over the country.” he said.
Among Mulligan’s downtown recommendations, so far, include improved access to the MBTA’s parking garage, adding retail to the vacant space at the base of the garage, constructing market rate housing, and creating a mix of retail, arts and restaurants that make it the place to be.
At least one of the suggestions has already happened. Last weekend, the first ever “Rock the Block” party drew crowds to the downtown. As part of its mission to enliven the city’s cultural community, the Lynn Cultural District organized the celebration of local art, entertainment and business. The festivities included live entertainment by Crystal Pan Jammers, students at the School of Rock and dancers from Cultura Latina Dance and displayed work of local artists.
“That kind of event enlivens the place,” he said. “If we can attract people who have never been to Lynn before who say they’ve been told to be careful walking around Lynn because there are perception issues, they are likely to come away asking what is everyone talking about? It’s a beautiful place.”
But there are lots of other issues that won’t be so easily fixed.
He doesn’t understand why Lynn is not filled with Millennials who are priced out of the Cambridge or Boston real estate markets.
“Lynn is not on their radar,” he said. “The fun stuff, the things that they live to do like bars, restaurants, nightclubs, they’re in Somerville.”
The MBTA garage is one of the lowest occupied of all the T’s properties with less than 25 percent filled. The reason? He said there’s no sign on how to enter or a giant universal “P sign” with an arrow. The entire first floor of the facility that was made for retail and could enliven the area is empty.
“I would argue a private operator would be incentivized to fill the garage and to do repairs,” he said.
On pedestrian safety, there are no lines painted anywhere on the streets. Markings for pedestrian crossing are rare and there’s no indication that bikes are welcomed.
“I’m focused on the downtown district,” he said. “What you need is more expendable income in this downtown district to support retail, restaurants, nightlife and entertainment.”
Thomas Grillo can be reached at [email protected]