If you live in Newton, you’re likely a homeowner — and your home’s value likely has risen dramatically in the past decade. Many longtime residents now have more than $1 million in paper net worth, much of it tied to their home’s appreciation. Naturally, people want to protect that investment…
Posts published in “Housing”
When three contiguous parcels (206-208 Concord Street in Lower Falls) were put on the market at the same time, Lower Falls resident Tori Zissman began to worry about the possibility of a developer tearing down the existing homes to make way for a new, larger project. Zissman, who had long admired…
At a meeting on Monday, February 9, the City Council’s Zoning and Planning Committee reviewed the status of potential projects proposed under the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD) zoning ordinance, following a request by Ward 2 City Councilor Susan Albright for twice-yearly updates. Nora Masler Colello, the City’s chief of…
A new zoning ordinance regulating the maximum frontage of a residential building is scheduled to take effect on March 1. It was passed by the City Council on October 20, 2025. The ordinance pertains to what is called the “Residential Facade Build Out Ratio,” which is the ratio of the…
Concerned about how a proposed 234-unit multi-family development in Nonantum would impact traffic, parking, and affordability in the city, dozens of people showed up to speak at the January 28 Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) meeting. Adam Lunin, a Newton resident who lives near the proposed project, said he is…
Across the United States, affordable housing has become a defining crisis of our time. Rising costs, limited supply, and growing economic segregation are reshaping where people can live, work, and raise families. The consequences are no longer abstract: they show up in workforce shortages, longer commutes, declining school enrollments, and,…
Join renowned housing policy researcher and Newton native Amy Dain as she reviews the first wave of VCOD projects in her talk —“Two Years of VCOD: Where Are We, and What’s Next?” at Congregation Dorshei Tzedek (60 Highland Street, West Newton) & on Zoom on Thursday, March 19 at 7PM.…
The December 21 Boston Globe editorial (Fewer Meetings, More Housing) criticized Newton for taking 18 years to approve the plan for Riverside. This shows how little the Globe understands Newton’s Riverside development. The real story is how quickly Newton moved to review and approve the latest plan for Riverside. The…
Vertical construction is underway at the Northland development on Needham Street, Northland Founder and Chairman Larry Gottesdiener said in a January 12 statement. The real estate firm recently secured $220 million in financing from JPMorgan Chase & Co. for this next step in the construction process. The first phase of…
Newton For Everyone will screen a short film, Does “Luxury” Housing Help or Hurt the Unhoused?, on Thursday, January 29 at 7PM in the Nordic Hall of the Scandinavian Living Center (206 Waltham Street, West Newton). With popcorn! Register here. We often talk about the need for housing that is…