Council tables Liberty Street affordable-housing deal amid parking concerns for nearby soup kitchen

The Lynn City Council voted unanimously May 26 to table final approval of a development agreement for 57–61 Liberty Street after concerns that construction and the new residential use could disrupt parking needed by My Brother's Table and nearby downtown services.

The proposal from Atlantis Investments would add a 44-unit affordable building leased and operated by Elliot Community Human Services, and the development agreement includes 20 parking spaces on the Liberty Street lot to serve the project and adjacent uses. City officials said those 20 spaces were part of the negotiated deal, and the affordability covenant would be deed‑restricted and run with the property.

Still, council members and community advocates raised near-term spillover worries: multiple construction projects in the area and use by a temporary courthouse have already increased street parking pressure; councilors asked the mayor's office and parking-department staff to work with My Brother's Table to ensure its operational needs are protected. Mr. Smith from the mayor's office said Atlantis Investments committed to working with stakeholders and noted adjacent on‑street parking is generally free.

Attorney James Lammana (city clerk) and Mr. Smith said the developer estimated a roughly 12‑month construction schedule once work begins. Councilors asked for municipal alternatives, enforcement strategies and clearer interim arrangements during construction. Given the outstanding operational issues the council voted to table the agreement until the June 9 meeting to allow follow-up discussions with parking officials and the soup kitchen.

The tabling motion carried unanimously in a roll-call vote. Council members and staff said they plan to return with clarifying details about how the 20 spaces will be managed during construction and whether other municipal lots can be used as a short-term mitigation.