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…
Posts published in “Projects”
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…
The MBTA gave an update on the Newtonville Commuter Rail Accessibility Project on December 11 at City Hall. The new station’s $50 million funding is fully committed, including $7 million from the Federal Government thanks to Congressman Auchincloss. The project is anticipated to be completed by early 2029. The project…
The recent approval of the Riverside project highlights an issue in how Newton approaches major developments. Rather than beginning with a clear, city-centric vision for what would best serve our long-term economic, social, and environmental goals, the process began — and largely stayed — with what developers proposed. Public debate…
As Marion Pollock stood among the throngs of residents taking their first look inside the new Cooper Center for Active Living on December 5, she beamed at the beautiful, accessible public building named after her mother. The City named the facility for Audrey Cooper for her service to residents over…
On December 1, the City Council approved three remaining items needed for Mark Development’s project to proceed adjacent to the Riverside MBTA station. The project needed approval of a revised special permit and two zoning changes, and if these were not approved by the end the current City Council’s term…
Newton’s Land Use Committee held its first hearing Tuesday on Mark Development’s proposed revision to its approved development planned at the Riverside MBTA station. Reflecting market movement away from commercial development, the revision would reduce office space and increase residential units from 550 to 750. The meeting included presentations from…
On request from the Newton Highlands Area Council, the Newton Department of Public Works (DPW) held an Open House for residents to view the current version of the Newton Highlands Village Enhancement Project. The open house took place late in the afternoon of September 11 in the meeting room at…
In her August 21 email newsletter, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller urged City Council leadership to hold a vote to approve the City’s project to repair the Bullough’s Pond dam at the Council’s upcoming meeting on September 2. However, City Council President Marc Laredo has said that, given the City Council’s normal…
At 11AM on August 21, the property at 283 Melrose Street in Auburndale — formerly home to the Turtle Lane Playhouse and currently home to a failed real estate development — was slated to be auctioned off live. However, one hour earlier that morning, the property’s current owner — Turtle Lane LLC…