ITEM FILE PHOTO
The old Marshall Middle School.
By BRIDGET TURCOTTE
LYNN — The former Marshall Middle School could become a 100-unit senior housing building.
The city’s Request for Proposals Committee discussed proposing a zoning change for the neighborhood that encompasses the former middle school on Porter Street.
Clint Muche, Lynn’s deputy building commissioner, recommended changing the property to R3 zoning, which would allow for single- and double- family homes, row houses, and apartment houses. Special permits can be issued to allow assisted living facilities, mixed use, and hotels.
City Council President Darren Cyr said he would only make a recommendation after holding multiple informational meetings with residents who live in the neighborhood over the next few weeks.
“We first need to have those neighborhood meetings to make everybody aware of what we want to do with the site and explain the potential positive impact of the site,” Cyr said. “If the neighborhood is not on board, there’s no sense in going forward with the zoning. But they can look at an empty, dilapidated lot and building or we can try to rejuvenate it.”
Cyr said he envisions a minimum age requirement for the housing to be either 55 or 62 years.
The building has the potential for about 100 one-bedroom units. There are 150 existing parking spaces with room for additional parking and green space, he said.
King’s Beach Towers, a senior housing development on Eastern Avenue, has a waiting list of more than 300 people, said Cyr. About six years ago, the area was zoned R3 and an additional age-restricted housing complex was constructed across the street, which now has its own waiting list, said Cyr.
“We are trying to get the most from that property with the least amount of impact,” Cyr said.
The city’s Ordinance and Rules Committee discussed a plan on Tuesday night that would charge property owners an annual trash disposal fee that could raise as much as $2 million annually.
Under the proposal, the fee would apply to any unit that is not owner-occupied. For example, owners of a single-family home who live in the dwelling would be exempt. But landlords of two-, three-, four-, five- and six-family homes who live in the house would be charged for those units they do not live in. Out-of-town landlords would pay the most.
Owners of apartment buildings with more than six units are responsible for their own trash removal, so those commercial property owners would not be affected.
Peter Caron, the city’s chief financial officer, said the plan would not close the budget gap entirely but that it would bring in more revenue than other solutions.
“All the things out there in discussion will not substitute this — not even close,” said Caron. “I can say with confidence that if this doesn’t pass, there will have to be budget reductions.”
Councilors Buzzy Barton and Peter Capano argued that it was difficult to vote for something without knowing exactly how much money it will generate.
The City Council will hold a public hearing on the proposal to implement a trash fee in July.
Bridget Turcotte can be reached at bturcotte@itemlive.com. Follow her on Twitter @BridgetTurcotte