Massachusetts has long been creative in repurposing old schools and factories into senior housing, and now, it looks like a portion of Lynn’s former Union Hospital is about to make a similar transition.
Lynn City Council unanimously voted Tuesday to approve a zoning ordinance amendment for the site of the closed hospital. The amendment will allow for the reuse of the front portion of the hospital for senior housing units and the rear portion, the hospital’s back parking lot, for age-restricted, detached single-family homes, according to the Lynn Item. The senior housing section will have up to 150 units, and at least 15% of the housing will be set aside for low-income seniors
The purpose of the zoning change is to follow up on recommendations from the Union Hospital Re-use Planning Study, managed by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council. The study found that most residents indicated a preference for housing for those aged 55 and older.
There are 25 senior living communities of various types in the city of Lynn, which is about 11 miles northeast of Boston, and many have waiting lists.
