Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Council approves $3.1 million MassWorks grant to rebuild Stafford Street and support Mariner Mill redevelopment
Loading...
Summary
The Lawrence City Council voted to expend a $3.1 million MassWorks infrastructure grant to reconstruct Stafford Street, build sidewalks, lighting and stormwater work to support the Mariner Mill mixed-use redevelopment, which developers described as 148 affordable and workforce units plus community commercial space; the council approved the committee report and carried the motion after debate over parking and public‑safety impacts.
The Lawrence City Council approved authorization to expend a $3,100,000 MassWorks infrastructure grant from the state’s Executive Office of Economic Development to reconstruct Stafford Street and related sidewalks, lighting, parking and stormwater infrastructure supporting the Mariner Mill mixed‑use redevelopment.
Planning Director Daniel McCarthy told the council the grant covers design and construction of the public infrastructure at the northern city gateway, including a full‑depth street rebuild and stormwater work. “The grant is a $3,100,000 infrastructure grant,” McCarthy said, and he confirmed the city will not provide a cash match for the MassWorks award; Lawrence Community Works will provide the project match.
Representatives for the developer and Lawrence Community Works described the Mariner Mill project as a mixed‑use conversion with 148 residential units (a mix of studios through four‑bedrooms), about 50,000 square feet of community‑serving commercial space and parking to serve both residents and businesses. The applicant said the site will include roughly 137 spaces dedicated to residents, 30 dedicated to commercial users and 60 shared spaces (residential‑only overnight, available to commercial users during the day).
Councilors pressed the project team on parking, school impacts and public‑safety capacity. Councilor LaPlante warned that household car ownership can exceed one car per unit and said overflow parking into neighborhood streets was a concern. The project team and Lawrence Community Works said the development uses federal low‑income‑housing tax credit rules and other funding requirements that limit overcrowding and require annual inspections; Lawrence Community Works’ executive director said historically about three‑quarters of their occupants come from Lawrence and the organization uses lotteries and local preference when allowed.
The developer said the project has other public funding components: $750,000 in match from Lawrence Community Works, $825,000 in city HOME funds already allocated to the project, and a 40R district incentive estimated at $3,000 per affordable unit that will yield about $444,000 to the city for infrastructure needs. The developer also estimated current property taxes of the building at more than $50,000 annually and projected post‑rehabilitation taxes near $265,000 a year.
After questions and discussion the council voted to accept the committee report and approve the authorization. The motion was carried after a roll call that recorded one dissenting vote and otherwise a majority in favor. The council directed that construction procurement and oversight of the infrastructure work be handled through municipal procurement and bidding rules, and the MassWorks funds will be used solely for public infrastructure, not for the residential building itself.
The council’s approval clears the way for the MassWorks‑funded infrastructure work to proceed; project proponents said construction is anticipated to begin in mid‑2027 with site infrastructure completed closer to late 2027–spring 2028 to align with the overall housing construction timeline.
