It has been a busy year at Lynn City Hall.

As the end of the year approaches, Mayor Jared Nicholson shared 23 noteworthy accomplishments from his administration in seven key areas in 2023.

Housing

1. Granted $2 million to three different projects, including one to create 30 new units by preservation of affordable housing, through the new Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
2. Utilized $400,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funding for the Eviction Prevention Project, assisting more than 100 tenants.

Education

3. Set the budget for a new Pickering Middle School, feasible after a $30 million increase in Massachusetts School Building Authority funding for which the City advocated with partners, especially the state delegation.
4. Lynn Public Schools added 90 new pre-K seats.

Economic Development

5. Approved the South Harbor project for 850 units, with 10% affordable units, 26,000 square feet of commercial space, an 8-acre public park, and an anticipated $120 million in tax revenue over 30 years.
6. Launched an innovative partnership with Mass Hire to offer Lynn residents the opportunity to obtain a commercial driver’s license for free, with 11 residents participating in the first session.
7. Added adult education at Lynn Tech in automotive and welding (10 slots each) through the state Career Technical Initiative grant.
8. Supported opening of a private shared commercial kitchen with 8,000 square feet of community kitchen space and equipment.

Infrastructure

9. Approved the City’s first ever comprehensive plan, Vision Lynn, which won a regional planning award.
10. Launched a new, more accessible, dynamic, and informative City of Lynn website – lynnma.gov.
11. Made safety improvements at the Pleasant Street hub of senior housing through $200,000 in state grants.
12. Authorized a state-funded extension of the Northern Strand Community Path ($11 million) and Broadway safety and traffic improvements ($6 million).
13. Launched two new programs: a free textile-waste program and a curbside compost program. The City diverted more than 18,000 pounds of textile waste from trash, and 40 people have signed up for the free curbside compost starter kit program.

Finances

14. Paid off $8.1 million in state deficit bonds, successfully retiring the state’s financial bailout.
15. Earned an upgrade for the City’s financial rating from Moody’s (A2 to A1).

Quality of Life

16. Spearheaded an innovative City initiative to canvass neighborhoods affected by violence with Lynn Police, Public Health, City Council, and others, visiting more than 200 homes.
17. Announced the name for the Lynn Calm Team, the City’s new unarmed response team, and posted the program director position for it.
18. Installed free, life-saving Narcan boxes at five open locations across the city with opioid settlement funds.
19. Rolled out almost 100 Bigbelly trash receptacles at parks and lots around the city with decorative resident art, and 50 new barrels on city streets.
20. Hired a language access coordinator to coordinate interpretation and translation services, and an additional Spanish interpreter in City Hall.

Transit

21. The MBTA launched a successful ferry service with more than 9,000 commuters per month this summer.
22. The MBTA opened the new temporary Central Square Commuter Rail platform nine months ahead of schedule.
23. Built art installations at seven bus shelters around the city with the MBTA and partners.