A regular participant here had requested the we start a thread on Boston College’s deal to purchase the 24-acre home of Congregation Mishkan Tefila and Webster Woods on Hammond Pond Parkway in Newton.
Here is a link to the Globe article from early last month as well as the TAB’s report. And here’s a column by Eric Reenstierna that appeared in the TAB.
This transaction requires serious oversight by local elected officials. Based on the information available to date, I am neither in favor or opposed. I live close to BC, and generally consider them a very good neighbor. But the fact that they could potentially use the Dover Amendment to build dormitories on this site, necessitates very close scrutiny by the city. City officials should seek an agreement with BC that clearly outlines their plans for the site and restricts their development potential.
I believe that there is a deed restriction on the CMT property that it be used for educational or religious purposes.
What would be helpful to know is if the development plan would encroach on current green space.
@MLBelleville – follow the link to the column by Eric Reenstierna in the TAB, which says it will encroach on the green space.
I got an email on this from Ald. Vicki Danberg last night. Alderman Baker has docketed an item for discussion.
“Alderman Baker (and others) requesting discussion of possible City acquisition of land, or rights therein, located west of Hammond Pond Parkway, which land was formerly owned as public open space by the Metropolitan District Commission until conveyed into private ownership in 1953, and which abuts existing Newton conservation land.”
I don’t know what approvals the trustees of Mishkan Tefila need from the City of Newton, but why sell to BC? They already have huge tracts of property in Newton and Brighton. They pay a very low PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) to our city. How about talking to Lasell, Mount Ida, or Pine Manor? How about bringing in the B’nai Brith housing project that was rejected for Austin Street? There are options to sell to a religiously affiliated or educational institution. Why BC? Andover-Newton Theological Seminary and Hebrew College are also in the neighborhood.
I’m sure BC has the big money that MT is looking for. It’s a huge piece of land. There are deer in the forest behind MT. Do you suppose their habitat will be destroyed? I am interested in seeing the buildings and land re-purposed, but I’m not a big fan of Boston College.
Hmm, and what will occur with public access to the caves behind there? Will the Webster suddenly become the private reserve of partying BC students? Umm.
I am getting the Trust for Public Land involved to potentially raise the money to purchase the woods purchase of this property from BC.
Wednesday’s Zoning and Planning Committee meeting was promising. Alderman Lisle Baker presented the Mishkan Tefila property’s history and the current situation. Turns out that this parcel was identified as a target for “Acquisition of a Conservation Restriction by gift, purchase or negotiation on the following whole or partial parcels” in the 2014-2020 Open Space Plan. The committee debated the issue and ultimately passed a motion requesting “His Honor the Mayor to work to preserve the recreation and conservation character of 300 Hammond Pond Parkway.”
Tomorrow (Saturday) a tour of Webster woods has been organized for Aldermen and other concerned citizens.
Anybody interested should meet at the end of Elgin St shortly before 9am.
This is just an inquiry for information: who decides who the buyer is? Can MT sell to the highest bidder or is the city given special consideration?
@Jane: It’s privately owned property with a deed restriction that it be used for religious or educational purposes.
Can the city override the sale to BC or just limit what they can do with the land?
Why would the city be able to override a privately owned property being sold to a qualified buyer?
And I think it was the owner who sold the land to MT who established the deed restriction.
@Jo-Louise – Actually the deer that were in the deer park have passed on.
Mike Striar asked a good question, that has not been answered yet: Could BC use the Dover Amendment to develop the property?
If so, there is a greater urgency for the city to get involved.
What… The deer are gone? They’ve “passed on”? I wonder what happened to them? They probably all died peacefully in their sleep.
I still don’t understand how the city can get involved with the sale of private property when the seller has a buyer in hand. Am I missing something? I hope so.
@Jane – the city always has the power of eminent domain.
Of course! Had totally forgotten about that.
Point of Information: the “deer park” is/was across the street from CMT and should have no relation to this transaction (I last saw deer there in 2001 and also wondered what happened to the herd)
Newton Conservators has a good overview of the property as well as some interesting background on the original sale. (There is a much longer story, including redlining and a $1 sale on the other end) The conservators drawings show both of the main trails going through CMT property. Based on the rough maps usually available, I had always assumed they were on the edge of conservation property.
As we discussed at last Wednesday’s Zoning and Planning Committee meeting, the Law Department is reviewing the city’s options. Community Preservation Act funds could be used to purchase the land or a portion of it, or a conservation restriction that would limit development on the site and preserve the natural areas. This is not unprecedented, as the Board has voted to bond the purchase of properties in Kessler Woods and near Crystal Lake in the past using the CPA Fund. Hopefully, within the next few weeks and months, the city’s options will become more clear.
The Friends of Webster Woods are asking the congregants of Mishkan Tefila to vote against the sale of their property to Boston College on Oct 18. This is because the neighborhood, a national land preservation organization and the Newton aldermen are very much in favor of raising funds to purchase a conservation restriction on the woods portion of their property. Such a conservation restriction will help enable CMT to have the necessary funds to build an energy efficient and more appropriately sized building on their current site. The neighbors and abutters to Webster Woods are also very supportive of this endeavor and one neighbor has already pledged $1million dollars towards the purchase of this conservation restriction.
Please ask people you may know at CMT to vote against the sale of their property to BC on Oct 18. A vote against this sale is a vote for keeping CMT where they are and a vote in preserving Webster Woods.
Thank you
@Jeff,
Is this the mechanism here http://www.mass.gov/dor/local-officials/dls-newsroom/ct/conservation-restrictions-and-real-property.html ?
If I understand correctly it would allow the temple to remain in place and retain full ownership of all of the land. A permanent deed restriction would be put on the conservation area, and in return the city / state would financially compensate Mishkan Tefila for that restriction, which would be plenty enough for them to renovate or rebuild their existing facilities.
If so this seems a perfect solution. I should imagine if BC are willing (or have) put together a much stronger package then that would make their future intentions of the site perfectly clear.