ITEM FILE PHOTO
The Lynnway.
BY DILLON DURST
LYNN — So . . . is it?
A Page One story in Wednesday’s Item — “Is the Lynnway the ugliest street in America?” — brought lots of reaction online. It was picked up by the websites Reddit and Universal Hub, and the article was shared more than 100 times on Facebook, along with 69 comments on The Item’s account within 24 hours.
It seemed that everyone had and opinion.
“The point is that there is so much underutilized potential in that area,” wrote Dave Eulie. “Lynn is so fortunate to have so much waterfront. Capitalizing on that would benefit the whole city.”
Wrote Jude Silva: “I walk out my front door and can see the Boston skyline. If you think that’s ugly you have issues. There is more than one part of the Lynnway not just the businesses that bring it down. Let’s start attracting better clients to the area.”
Carolyn Sharp Nicholas wrote, “Sorry Lynn natives. It is the ugliest street in America with all that ocean frontage!!”
Boston Globe reporter Jon Chesto tweeted on Thursday that while the Lynnway might not be the ugliest street in America, it might be in Greater Boston.
An Item Twitter poll on Wednesday showed that out of 64 votes, 80 percent think the Lynnway is ugly.
There were those who said there are worse streets out there, citing paradises such as Newark, New York City, Detroit, Chelsea, Everett and Lawrence. Some saw Route 1 in Saugus worse than the Lynnway.
Concern was also raised over the presence of a wastewater treatment facility within the vicinity.
“Isn’t there a dump right there? Hard to see people moving into a place that promises to rival Boston’s waterfront if it smells like trash all the time,” wrote RuggerDuck8.
There were those who remain optimistic about the Lynnway’s future, though.
“It needs help but there are worse,” wrote Becky Suciu. “I do hope it someday wins the title ‘most improved street in America’ with the opening of views to Boston and access to the beach.”
Dillon Durst can be reached at ddurst@itemlive.com.