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Critics said it would never happen. Neighbors were less than optimistic.

But last Wednesday another milestone was reached as the Lynn Housing Authority & Neighborhood Development celebrated a historic groundbreaking at one West Lynn site and ribbon cutting at another.

It marked an important day for the city's housing market.
The day started with a groundbreaking at the former Empire Laundry site on Myrtle Street, where five single-family homes are under construction. The groundbreaking was especially significant because the land was once heavily contaminated by industrial waste.

The homes will be sold to first-time homebuyers and four of the five will be affordable housing. The Lynn Community Development Housing Corporation (LCDHC), an agency that partners with LHAND, has teamed with the City, the Economic Development Industrial Corporation (EDIC/Lynn) and the Conservation Law Foundation to redevelop the former brownfield site.

The redevelopment of the Empire Laundry site is being hailed as a national model for the Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Redevelopment Initiative. It is a unique project because industrial property is being used for a residential development.

Construction of these homes marks the culmination of a five-year effort to redevelop this site, which was used for a laundry facility from the early 1900's until 1993, when the property was abandoned. The City foreclosed on the property in 1996.

In 1997, EDIC/Lynn was awarded a $200, 00 grant as part of the Environmental Protection Agency's Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot Project. In January of 1998, the first of a series of community meetings was held to discuss the best reuse of the 36,000 square-foot site. From the beginning, the sentiment favored a residential project.

In March of 1998, the EPA found hazardous materials above and in the ground. With funding secured by U.S. Rep. John Tierney, a Salem Democrat, an EPA Emergency Response Cleanup was undertaken.

In 1999, EDIC/Lynn was awarded $420,000 by the EPA to establish the Brownfields Cleanup Revolving Loan Fund. Demolition of the building began in July of 2000 and in August, EDIC/Lynn was awarded an additional $100,000 by the EPA for the Pilot Program.

The kickoff for the redevelopment activities was held in September of 2000 and the cleanup continued for the next year. When it was complete, it yielded 2,423 pounds of solid waste, 324 gallons of liquid waste, and 163 bags of asbestos-tainted material.

In October of 2001 the City Council conveyed the property to the LCDHC and in January of 2002 Mayor Edward J. "Chip" Clancy Jr. signed the deed. Project Manager Peggy Phelps of LHAND said construction began in August and is scheduled for completion in March of 2003.

Local state and federal officials were on hand Wednesday for the groundbreaking. EDIC/Lynn Executive Director Peter M. DeVeau and LHAND Executive Director Charles Gaeta noted the important role the neighbors played in determining the ultimate re-use of the site.

"The city of Lynn and the Lynn Housing Authority should be commended for their vision in transforming the former Empire Laundry into a site that will benefit both the lucky residents who will call this address home, as well as the neighborhood and the environment," said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England office.
Clancy called it a "landmark day in transforming this site" and offered credit to Ward 7 Councilor Rick Ford for "working with the neighbors to make this come to fruition. Because of the neighbors' confidence in him there wasn't a scintilla of doubt that this could be done."

Tierney said the Myrtle Street project is an "example of how citizens step forward and take control of something in the community and turn it into something that is good."

After the Myrtle Street event, the LCDHC held a ribbon cutting for four new homes on Boston Street, between Marion and Mall Streets. The homes were built as part of the Infill Housing Program, which was started in 1979. Phelps served as project manager while Brandi Walker of LHAND handled the application process. More than 200 applicants sought to purchase the homes, which were sold to first-time home-buyers, with tow set targeted for affordable housing.

"These homes have added new life to an old neighborhood," said Phelps, crediting DPW Commissioner Michael Donovan and Lynn Water & Sewer Commissioner Michael Donovan and Lynn Water & Sewer Commission Executive Director Stephen Smith with playing important roles in the development. The DPW widened the corner of Mall and Boston Streets to make the area safer for vehicular and pedestrian travel.

The new homeowners who were selected to purchase the houses are: Sandra Boehm, Sokhom Khel, Pov Sao, Nhon Huyn, and Mauk Hayat and Bushar Kausar.