Grant to aid Lynn Central Square
Central Square in Lynn should be looking a bit brighter.
New sidewalks, curbs, fences, lights, landscaping, and road improvements are planned for the Gateway Artisan Block, a key area of the square, with $830,000 in state grant money given to Lynn last week.
Improvements will be made along Spring, Broad, Exchange, and Union streets starting in the spring. The grant is the first state money for the Gateway Artisan Block, an area Lynn hopes will draw artists and arts-related businesses to downtown. In recent years, Lynn has used $1 million in federal Community Development Block Grant money to install sidewalks, period lighting, and an antique clock in Central Square.
"This [money] will allow us to accelerate what we've already started," said Hal McGaughey, development director for Lynn. "It will go a long way toward helping us achieve our goal of drawing artists to Lynn."
Lynn Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. noted the state money comes as more than $35 million in private dollars being spent to turn old downtown office buildings into artist lofts, retail stores, and restaurants. "We are confident that through these efforts we will create a downtown that will offer exciting housing opportunities," Clancy said in a statement.
The Lynn grant is part of $114 million in funding the state is making available for "smart growth" developments across Massachusetts. Smart growth encourages housing and business development around public transportation or roadways. The Gateway Artisan Block is just blocks from the MBTA commuter rail station in Central Square.
Eastern Bank aidsSalem businessesFor a second year, Eastern Bank is the Corporate Buddy for the Salem Main Street Initiative Development Program. The bank made a $10,000 contribution to support business development in downtown Salem. Eastern traces its roots to the founding of the Salem Savings Bank.
The Corporate Buddy program, used in Main Street cities across the country, is a two-way street. The corporate partner and Main Street program agree to help each other grow. Eastern, for example, helps with fund-raising and marketing, with the goal of making Salem Main Street self-sustaining.
In return, Eastern gets a seat on the Main Street board. Pete Kaznoski, vice president of small business banking at Eastern, is this year's representative. Salem Main Street staff agree to introduce Eastern to downtown businesses that might not know of the bank, which has $5 billion in assets. Eastern, the state's largest independent bank, also is mentioned in Main Street promotional materials.
"We do help them," said Deborah Greel, executive director of Salem Main Street. "But we're the real beneficiaries. Eastern is a very large bank with a lot of resources."
Joe Bartolotta, an Eastern spokesman, said the bank takes its role as Corporate Buddy to heart. "It's part of our commitment to Salem, which is a very important market for us. . . . We have a long history there."
Eastern Bank grew from the merger of Salem Savings and First East Bank of Lynn in 1981. Although the bank recently sold a downtown office building, Eastern has four retail bank branches in Salem.
Home Depot opens40th Mass. storeIt looks like itis just off Route 128 in Wakefield. It's really in Reading. But there will be no turf wars when the Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement chain, cuts the ribbon at 6 a.m. Thursday at its newest store in Massachusetts.
The 132,000-square-foot store, built on a capped landfill, is Home Depot's 40th location in Massachusetts. Key features include a tool rental center, a special home decor area, and an 18,000-square-foot outdoor garden center.
DatebookThe Lynn Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual golf outing and barbecue tomorrow at Gannon Municipal Golf Course in Lynn. A shotgun start is scheduled for noon. Proceeds support the chamber's programs for business owners in Lynn, Swampscott, Nahant, and Lynnfield.
Kathy McCabe can be reached by e-mail at kmccabe@globe.com.
