Lynn, Lynn, the City that's . . . In?

When you consider the comparable benefits of Lynn -- ocean beaches, commuter rail, access to highways, a public golf course, open space -- there's no denying this industrial city, once known for its shoe factories, ''offers tremendous value and plenty of perks," said Renee Buck of Coldwell Banker, Swampscott. ''I think Lynn is still the last best deal on the North Shore."Buck said that in the last six months the median sales price of a single-family Lynn home was $280,000, compared to $440,000 in neighboring Swampscott. And the city's Diamond Districtparticularly, which is full of grand Victorians and handsome Colonials, many with water views,
is seeing ''a lot of increased interest," she added.

This stately Colonial was built in 1908 and was broken into three apartments in the 1980s.It is being marketed as either a single- or multi-family. Today, the large main area of the house has three bedrooms, and each small rental unit has one.Original details include decorativemahogany woodwork in the dining and living rooms, carved columns, wainscoting, book cases, a double layer of crown molding, a mahogany library, and red fir floors.While the 1980s renovation kept interior staircases intact and doorway passages easy to break through for reuniting the
house, it will take work to return the home to its early elegance.

Kitchens are outdated, and layers of paint have been applied over some of the woodwork and much of the grand bridal staircase. And most of the backyard has been covered in asphalt for parking. The home is just a quarter-mile to Lynn Beach, said Buck, who is the property's listing broker.