Newton’s Economic Development Commission has docketed an item that would — for one year — require banks obtain a special permit to open on the street level of our village centers. The Globe reports today that Mayor Setti Warren is opposed and Alderman Viki Danberg thinks it’s a good idea.
What do you think?
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I am predisposed to disliking banks. Particularly the larger institutions like Bank of America. However, as someone who has two decades of experience owning and leasing commercial real estate, I must say that this is one of the most foolish, anti-business ideas that has ever been put forward in Newton. It should be called the Vacant Store Front Act, because that will undoubtably, eventually be the result. It’s astounding that a group known as the “Economic Development Commission” could possibly view this as a good idea. It is a wholly unnecessary and ill conceived intrusion of local government into an already heavily regulated private market place. Should this proposal pass, the only good result will be that we’ll know exactly who to blame for the deterioration of our village centers.
This proposal will make room for the head shops (pot stores) that Ruth Balser has in mind. http://village14.com/netwon-ma/2012/03/ruth-balser-sponsors-to-bill-to-legalize-marijuana-in-massachusetts/#axzz1xmlNrNbs
@Alderwoman Victoria Danberg: “It’s an opportunity to take a deep breath and think: What do we want now?”
At last, at last, at last, the Alder(wo)men want to think. – Exciting news!!!
Maybe, the City of Newton will replace London, UK as the World Financial Center – money is flying into the air of Newton – do not scare it off!!! Catch it!!!
@Hoss
Add in the increase in restaurant business around those establishments and it sounds like a win-win. 🙂
Wally — Let’s call Taco Bell and let them know there’s opportunity
Stupid. Whatever fills the space, employs people and pays rent and taxes. If its not a bank, it’ll be a nail or hair salon, or a yoga studio, or a restaurant, or a pot shop, or even, horror of horrors Rep. Balser, a slots parlor. Or maybe we should let the “area council” in formation (maybe) decide. But wait, if they do, would the enterprise be open to only residents of the “area”? Or if the enterprise was opposed by the area council, could it be open only to non-residents? It’s all so confusing.
I appreciate that the Economic Development Commission is taking steps to start a conversation about our village centers. And I certainly appreciate the concern. These are exactly the kinds of conversations our community needs to be having.
Brockton was recently sued for $68mm because the gov’t took steps to prevent a power plan from doing business. The suit names city councilors and planning committee members personally. (Brockton does not have lawsuit immunity for gov’t members) Why would not such a proposal be ripe for a similar suit?
@Hoss: Anybody can file a lawsuit against anyone for anything. Doesn’t mean it has merit or will be successful. Just because someone filed a suit against Brockton doesn’t tell us anything about whether or not the municipality had authority to do what it did. You’d have to look at the law to determine that.
I think what you mean to ask is does a municipality have the right to impose such a restriction?
Greg, I don’t think the business I referenced would hire one of the more prestigious (and expensive) international law firms to waste money on stupid suits. The lack of responses here is shocking though. If the restriction was against houses of worship (drive though a poor city and you see lots of them operating in storefronts), abortion clinics, or even sub shops and donut shops, Newton would be vocal about it. What kind of city is this that loves head shops but hates bankers? Remember that these two loosely related proposals are be people we elected. Buy pot, shun finance…. nice
Hoss– Just my layman’s opinion, but I don’t think there is any legal obstacle that would keep this bank zoning ordinance from passing. It’s an awful proposal though, and I disagree with Greg’s assessment about the community benefit of even debating it.
Since we’ve jumped topic a bit and introduced marijuana into this particular conversation, I do want to point out that there is a statewide ballot initiative this November to legalize marijuana. While I strongly support that initiative, Balser’s bill would be preferable, because it addresses issues like taxation and distribution in ways the ballot initiative does not.
@Miike: Just to be clear, I’m interested in having a conversation about what our villages should be in general and how we can achieve that.
@Hoss: Not sure where all these Newton-based head shops are that you keep referring to. Perhaps they need to join the Chamber of Commerce to help enhance their visibility.
Greg, I might do that if I could stand an org that would take me as a member. In the meantime, Newton is not a mall owner than can or should decide which shops can do business. A mall can for good reason legislate a one-bank per footprint. A municipality doing that is saying that new competition in banking is essentially locked out. Why locked out? Because banks do not always retain footprint for location-specific profit reasons. BOA and the few others maintain footprint to lock out competition. Bank of America should thank Newton for wanting to help them. Screw BOA in that regard
Mike Striar – I respect your support for the bills you are speaking about. We as a community can support this as well. But if we at the same time screw bankers that is limiting free enterprise where pot is opening enterprise. This is not consistent. That inconsistency would be more visible if Newton as trying to control pizza joints as other communities have tried. A property owner should be allowed to sell what they want to sell (in a properly zoned area). Period.
The Main Street Program developed by the National Trust for Historic Preservation is being used successfully in hundreds of neighborhoods and small cities across the country. It could a supplement or a substitute for the banking proposal. For more information on how it works, please visit my website at http://www.brianyates.org or http://www.preservationnation.org/mainstreet/.
The page on my website on the Main Street Program is listed in the topics on the left hand side of my cover page.
Alderman Brian Yates
Anyone got a link to the specific banking issue?
@Hoss– I believe we are in complete agreement regarding this zoning proposal. Bad idea!
Brian Yates has redirected this conversation to something very positive and productive. A few years back, Brian directed me to the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Main Street Program. This is one comprehensive framework we should at least look at to preserve and revitalize our villages by utilizing their rich history as a critical part of all development. This is a positive and useful tool that far transcends in value something as black and white as whether or not to ban or restrict banks in this or that village. As many have stated, this is unlikely to go very far. Brian’s focus is comprehensive, inclusive and historically minded.
I have 5 pt 6 friends from my old days at EPA in Washington who are community activists of sorts in several mid-atlantic and southern states. Three of them have used all or parts of the outline the Main Street Program has developed for use and they claim it was a helpful tool that minimized conflict and expedited consensus.
I’m not an expert but this framework seems tailor made as a planning and decision making tool for the existing and emerging neighborhood area councils.
I’m a member of the Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council and I hope Alderman Yates can help us look at this thing positively.