In January 2019, we ran an article highlighting the role that street art can play in aiding the nefarious forces of gentrification, oftentimes set into action by greedy corporate land developers. We told this story specifically through a lens focused on the role that the new Beyond Walls mural festival has played in a rapidly transforming Lynn, Massachusetts. This article, admittedly, focused quite heavily on rhetoric from citizens who oppose the wealth beginning to trickle into Lynn, and by extension, resent the festival. Many of these citizens are associated with the organization Lynn United for Change, headed by Isaac Hodes. The article did not include thoughts from the founder of Beyond Walls, Al Wilson.
Wilson reached out to us shortly after the story was published to express his regrets about not having an opportunity to share his side of the story. He explained that he and his staff at Beyond Walls have “been working hard to address issues that the community of Lynn has identified as needs.” Wilson elaborated that these needs “centered on more lighting and more art to increase: walk ability of downtown Lynn, business for local mom and pop shops and safety (via lighting underpasses and sidewalks).”
To this end, Wilson stated, “For two years we operated as a purely volunteer effort but now, based on Union and Art focused foundation support, we are incorporating as our own non-profit. We work very hard and believe our work is very impactful and positive. We believe in inclusionary housing and Union Labor.”
Wilson stated that the Beyond Walls team has enacted initiatives in pursuit of a better Lynn. In his email, Wilson wrote, “Based on the strains on the City, at our cost Beyond Walls plowed and shoveled all of the sidewalks and lots near the underpasses last winter (allowing our lighting partners, IBEW 103 to aid us in install of the 600 of dynamic underpass lighting-something the Union did In-Kind). We’ve participated and led trash pickups, meal giveaways and raised money for flood victims.”
Beyond Walls also launched a crowd-funded project supported by MassMutual to fund their initiative to create a “a multi-use marine terminal, art gallery and park” that would support their mission to “activate space to strengthen our communities.”
From an ideological standpoint, Wilson said he and his organization believe “we need more development of all kinds of housing in Lynn, be it traditional low income, workforce development, veteran housing and market rate. Beyond Walls’ fiscal partner has been Neighborhood Development Associates (NDA), the non-profit arm of the Lynn Housing Authority. Since 1979, NDA has developed much of the low income and subsidized housing in Lynn. Not mentioned [in SAUS’s January article] is their Gateway North Development that just came on-line: 100% occupancy, 72 units, 89% traditional low income, ground floor retail, 100% Union Labor.” He stated that this working relationship has given him facts to believe that “more low income housing has come to Downtown Lynn than existed prior to our work.”
In a video chat with Street Art United States (SAUS) that took place in February 2019, Hodes and his colleague Celinet also acknowledged that the city is suffering from a budget crisis. A July 9th status from the organization points out that one of the new luxury developments in Lynn, supposedly slated to increase the city’s tax revenue, received a $2.5 million tax break from the Lynn government. Celinet noted though, that the burgeoning influx of wealth intended to revitalize the city is “not good if existing residents can’t afford to stay.” Together, these two representatives of Lynn United for Change emphasized that they’re not fearful of growth and development, but they are worried about the type of development taking place in their city. According to them, the organizations spearheading development in Lynn are envisioning “the ideal citizen rather than the existing citizens.” The tension between these two “citizens” is an incredibly sensitive topic.
Hodes sees Beyond Walls as the inadvertent embodiment of an ill-intentioned push forward.”I don’t think they intend for it to be a tool for gentrification,” Hodes explained, “but that’s the way it functions.” He pointed out that the promotional language surrounding the street art festival “directly parallels those of real estate interests” with phrases like “disposable income” and “vibrant city.”
Ultimately, Hodes concluded our conversation by explaining that it’s difficult to determine the tipping point in gentrification. Who’s to say if the changes that Lynn is undergoing would have taken place without Beyond Walls? However, he did point out that “you can’t be a neutral force on a moving train.” All organizations involved with the city’s betterment need to actively support the community and oppose blatant gentrification. “It would be really cool,” Hodes mused, “to see how art can empower and partner with the least powerful people in the city rather than the most power.”
It seems that the primary conflict between Wilson’s Beyond Walls and Hodes’s Lynn United for Change lies not in their hopes for the city’s future identity, but in their perceived solutions to its affordable housing crisis. While Hodes believes it’s the city’s duty to ensure longtime residents can find reasonable places to live, Wilson thinks that the infusion of new money from new residents holds the missing key. Wilson wrote, “The lack of finances and social need in the City is staggering. We need more taxes to support the schools, trash removal, road work and all other aspects of what’s needed to run a city …The taxes from this development and the disposable income of the residents in that building are in desperate need in downtown. We’ve seen numerous ground floor businesses fail since we’ve been doing our work. Those business owners have all shared with us that they failed from a lack of people living in and visiting downtown Lynn.” He also states that the controversial units in the North Harbor/Beacon Chevy site constitute incremental housing because they do not displace anyone. However when speaking with SAUS, Hodes expressed extreme suspicions about this claim.
While we are fortunate to live in a society where individuals are allowed the opportunity to hold and express differing opinions, it is only through cooperation and collaboration that problems are actually solved. These conflicting forces within a rapidly changing Lynn clearly share a common passion for the city’s well-being. In an effort to better understand Hode’s concerns, Wilson did tell our editor Sami Wakim that he would like to meet with the community organizer. He presently feels that Hode’s heckles meetings and makes demands without any willingness to open communication. Until a dialogue takes place, both parties will likely remain unsatisfied. The city will likely suffer the loss of not benefiting from their joint passions, as well.
