- Charter Development Affiliates
- State & Local
- Lynn, MA
Project Overview
Charter spearheaded the transformation of more than 30 acres of under-utilized industrial waterfront, including a former landfill and MGP (Manufactured Gas Plant)-impacted parcels, into Lynn Harbor Park, a resilient public waterfront destination.
From concept through completion, Charter guided the project: developing the vision, aligning stakeholders, navigating complex permitting and regulatory frameworks, and managing implementation. The result is a public park that not reconnects Lynn residents to their shoreline for the first time in generations, offering safe recreational space, restored natural landscapes, and a climate-resilient edge along the harbor
Site Conditions & Challenges
- Industrial legacy: Decades of landfill use and industrial activity left the property environmentally impaired, with MGP-impacted soils, buried waste, and aging landfill caps.
- Permitting & regulatory complexity: The project required coordination across Massachusetts DEP Solid Waste, MCP/21E, Chapter 91 Waterways, and Designated Port Area (DPA) obligations.
- Coastal and climate risks: The waterfront location was vulnerable to storm surges, sea level rise, and erosion, demanding resilient shoreline design.
- Physical & logistical constraints: Multiple parcels and overlapping site histories made early planning and project structuring particularly challenging.
Charter’s Role
- Concept Development: Charter envisioned an Environmental Public-Private Partnership (EP3) framework to transform a liability into a community asset, balancing remediation, resiliency, and recreational access.
- Permitting & Regulatory Navigation: Acting as lead facilitator, Charter assembled technical teams, structured submissions, and coordinated reviews across overlapping state and local agencies.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Charter partnered with the City of Lynn, MassDEP, EOEEA, and Coastal Zone Management, while also engaging directly with the community through outreach, signage, and transparent communications.
- Program Management & Execution: Charter managed landfill cap repairs, soil stabilization, earthworks, and shoreline improvements, ensuring that design and construction met regulatory standards and public expectations.
Project Delivery
- Landfill & Cap Repair : Restored and stabilized the 21-acre existing landfill to ensure long-term integrity and safety.
- Remediation of MGP Parcels: Implemented in situ soil stabilization techniques to treat contaminated soils without extensive excavation.
- Mass Grading & Earthworks: Imported and placed ~540,000 cubic yards of engineered fill to reshape the terrain for park features and resiliency.
- Permitting & Compliance: Successfully secured approvals across all required state and local frameworks, paving the way for future waterfront redevelopment.
- Coastal Resilience: Designed and installed shoreline protections and elevation strategies to defend against 100-year storm events.
- Community Integration: Ensured the project vision and park features reflected the public needs and the City’s long-term master plan.
Outcomes & Benefits:
- Delivered a public waterfront park that converted contaminated industrial land into a safe, resilient community resource.
- Eliminated environmental liabilities and restored degraded shoreline and upland habitats.
- Enabled the City of Lynn’s 245-acre waterfront master plan, opening the door for new public and private investments.
- Enhanced climate resiliency, protecting the community against storm surges and sea level rise.
- Strengthened partnerships between public agencies, private stakeholders, and the community through the EP3 model.
