In recent weeks, the Laredo Administration has resumed discussions about repairs to Bullough’s Pond dam that, under former Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, sparked tensions and ultimately went unresolved. Laredo Administration officials are now presenting a variety of potential options for dam repair that could have a range of implications for the…
Posts published in “Projects”
On May 26, the City’s Chief Operating Officer, Josh Morse, hosted an online community meeting on the possible consolidation of Ward and Underwood elementary schools. He presented the findings that led him to conclude the schools should not be consolidated, citing rebounding enrollment, site limitations and minimal, if any, cost…
On May 20, Northland celebrated the topping-off of the first new residential building in its 23-acre development at the intersection of Needham and Oak streets in Newton Upper Falls — and unveiled the new name of the community to arise there, anchored by the historic Saco Pettee Mill: the Pattern…
Boston-based real estate firm Beacon Communities LLC has solidified its plans for the commercial block 793-821 Washington Street in Newtonville. Beacon Communities purchased the property in April 2025 and applied for a demolition permit on February 4. The project? New construction of an all-electric housing development with all units designated…
On Monday, February 2, Ward 2 City Councilor Susan Albright raised a charter objection to the Public Safety and Transportation Committee’s recommendation to shorten the Newton Centre Plaza pilot to May 31. This effectively delayed consideration of that recommendation until the next City Council meeting. (The City’s Charter allows any…
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…
The Newtonville Area Council is conducting a survey of opinions and usage of the Washington Street Pilot changes made to Washington Street between Chestnut and Lowell Streets. The city recently finished changes on Washington Street – reconfiguring the street. The Newtonville Area Council is asking residents to share their opinions on…
The City Council’s Public Safety and Transportation Committee voted Thursday, January 21 to shorten the trial of the Newton Centre Plaza pilot in the Langley Road parking lot, as officials weighed strong public support for the space against concerns about parking and accessibility. Several Councilors, including Ward 2 City Councilor…
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…
Over the course of this fall, Newton Public Schools (NPS) presented its first comprehensive long-range facilities plan since 2019. This follows a Demographic Study and ten-year projection completed by Cropper GIS McKibben in late 2024, following the dissolution of the Underwood-Ward Task Force, which had been created by the previous…
On December 9, the Community Preservation Commission voted unanimously to recommend a $600,000 grant to the Suzuki School of Music toward building an accessible rear addition at 1615 Beacon Street. Approval depends on votes by the Zoning and Planning and Finance Committees and the full City Council in 2026. “When…