LYNN — In an effort to showcase the city’s plans for life science growth and development, the Economic Development and Industrial Corporation of Lynn (EDIC) partnered with the Mayor’s office to host a trolley tour of the city to around 50 biotech companies Friday morning.
City and state officials met over coffee and breakfast sandwiches with the biotech companies at a tent pitched near the former ferry port on the Blossom Street extension at approximately 9:00 a.m.
In July, the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council (MBC) upgraded Lynn to Platinum status under their BioReady program, which rates municipalities on their level of readiness to host biotechnology facilities. MBC uses a four-tier rating system: bronze, silver, gold, and platinum, to rank municipalities’ infrastructure capacity and zoning practices.
Mayor Jared Nicholson, Rep. Daniel Cahill, Lynn EDIC Director James Cowdell, MassBio CEO Joe Boncore, and Massachusetts Life Sciences Center CEO Kenn Turner, delivered brief speeches on Lynn’s plans for growth, and the ways in which Lynn can foster a welcoming environment for life sciences companies and organizations.
“We have about $100 million worth of infrastructure projects in the pipeline,” Nicholson said. “State and federal money that is transforming our city and our roadways, how we get around to make it easier for us to move people to move goods, to improve quality of life, and really to show all of you that we really mean it when we say we’re ready to grow.”
Turner, in a final speech after EDIC James Cowdell presented a slideshow of Lynn’s numerous transportation, park, and workforce development opportunities, vowed his support to Lynn’s goal of biotechnology development.
“We are going to do everything that we can Mr. Mayor, in my office, under my leadership to support everything we can,” Turner said. “Know you have a partner in me, and a partner in the city, and a partner in the state. We are going to drive success in life sciences in Lynn.”
Three different trolley tours — one guided by former mayor Thomas M. McGee; the others, by EDIC’s Operations Manager Bill Bochnak and Associate Planning Director Lauren Drago, departed the ferry port, stopping at six undeveloped lots in the city, including the 40-48 Central Square lot, zoned for a 10-story building, The Christies Site at 17 Lynnway, and The Fastenal building at 218 Broad St.
As he took his seat as a trolly tour guide, McGee discussed Lynnway development and commuter rail electrification. He said, in an interview, that he was pleased with the way the Nicholson administration worked to tackle development and infrastructure.
“Nicholson really hit the ground running from day one, we got a lot of work in my administration, but he just jumped right in with the development team and really built on the work we did, and this is this is a piece of it. I’m really excited,” McGee said.
When landowner Charlie Patsios guided a tour of the former General Electric gear plant on the Lynnway, which spans over 60 acres, he said that the waterfront property, zoned for mixed use, with a 20-story height restriction, could make for a gateway development from Boston to Lynn. Given the fact that the site lies on a commuter line stop, he said, the property, if utilized, could transform into a site similar to Spectacle Island.
Rep. Cahill said that through a mixture of housing, transportation and workforce development, Lynn could be not just a site for life sciences development, but a home city for workers.
“What I think is also unique, aside from all the development and all the state and federal funds that are going into transportation projects in this area, is that not only could you go your business here, but your workforce could also live here,” Cahill said. “We’re having a robust development process right now in the city in the downtown particularly. We’re seeing tremendous growth and there’s a lot more housing units coming online, so you will be able to work and live in the same place.”
Anthony Cammalleri can be reached at [email protected].