ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
From left, James Marsh, Brian LaPierre, Jeff Weeden, A.J. Saing, Peter Olsen, Dianna Chakoutis, James Cowdell, Tim Leonard, Jennifer Lawless, Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy, John Olson, Teresa Sarno, Sean McCarthy, Eileen Jonah-Daly, MaryJane Smalley, Leslie Gould and Carol Curley celebrate the grand reopening of 33 Central Square.
BY DILLON DURST
LYNN — It took Jennifer Lawless a year to find a home.
But the 36-year-old photographer said she was thrilled to find an affordable condominium in the downtown.
“I was really attracted to the outside,” she said. “It’s a really cool looking building.”
Lawless was among the first occupants of the former Arnold Stationery Building at 33 Central Square that has been converted into eight condos for artists..
The 10,896-square-foot building had been vacant for years and was purchased by the Economic Development and Industrial Corp. in 2011 for $140,000. The nonprofit redevelopment agency and the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development transformed the five-story building into loft-style condos.
Previously an office supply building, the developers gutted the interior and turned the 113-year-old building into housing. The property’s exterior was also renovated.
Lawless said her monthly mortgage payment is about $850. Not bad, considering a comparable apartment would cost more than $1,000.
In addition to Lawless’ unit, two others have sold and three more buyers are expected to move in next month.
The remaining units are listed on the MLS Property Information Network for $125,000. They include fully equipped stainless steel and granite kitchens, soaring ceilings, exposed brick, hardwood floors and expansive windows.
James Cowdell, EDIC’s director, said the agency invested $1.5 million into the project and turned the condemned eyesore into what he called a “beautiful building.”
“It’s a lot of money,” Cowdell previously said. “But it’s an investment. We’re taking a blighted building and we’re turning it into something everybody’s going to be proud of.”
The Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy and Councilor at-large Brian LaPierre, among others, opened the building Thursday with a ribbon-cutting.
Kennedy said the units were “absolutely beautiful” and will be sold very quickly.
The listing agent, Eileen Jonah-Daly said it’s a great feeling when she can put someone in a previously unoccupied building who will invest in the neighborhood. She said it also helps the city’s efforts to revitalize downtown.
“The fact that EDIC stuck with us and stayed dedicated to transforming this building means everything,” she said.
LaPierre said he’s excited to see the building being put to good use, and noted that having new properties on the tax roll will be good for the city.
Dillon Durst can be reached at [email protected].
