A Movie Theatre At MarketStreet? It's Up To Lynnfield Voters

Thinking about going to a movie this weekend? If yes, where are you headed? Woburn is an option. How about the IMAX at Jordan's in Reading? Or head North to the Liberty Tree Mall.

But if voters in Lynnfield say yes to Article 23 of the town warrants, there could be another choice. MarketStreet wants to add a luxury boutique theatre next to Gaslight. According to the warrant it would have no more than 800 seats, no more than eight screens, and premium seating with "enhanced" food and beverage service.

The article is one of 29 that will be voted on at the April 24 town meeting at the middle school. If you're not sure the added traffic a movie theatre would bring is worth it, Lynnfield residents can attend an April 4 meeting at the Al Merritt Center when a presentation will be made to selectmen by National Development Managing Partner Ted Tye.

This isn't the first time a theatre has been proposed for MarketStreet. At the 2009 town meeting a proposal to add a theatre fell 17 votes short of passing.

The website yesonmarketstreettheater.com list a number of benefits to residents.

Question: Doesn't this just pit some neighbors against the rest of the Lynnfield community that would like to have a theatre?

Answer: That is not the intention. MarketStreet has worked for all of Lynnfield and has been a good and responsive neighbor to our direct abutters. We believe that it is important and appropriate to lay out our plans for the remainder of the buildout of the center. The zoning approved in 2007 contemplated that if and when changes were requested they would have to go back to the Town Meeting for approval. This is an opportunity for Town Meeting voters to make a thoughtful and informed decision about whether or not a theater should be allowed at MarketStreet. We encourage you to vote YES!

With one month to go before the town meeting, there's plenty of time to decide if you like their answers to that question and many others.