7 Comments

1. 

   fignewtonville on February 7, 2017 at 3:58 pm

   That was my garage…anyone know what happened to Sammy?

2. 

   Paul Green on February 7, 2017 at 6:23 pm

   Finally! Can’t wait to see this finished. Right project, at the right time in the right place.
   On deck; Austin St and Upper Falls. Keep em’ coming… Congratulations to all involved.
   Come see what we got cooking over here on Needham St; Burger joints, a back store, health offices…. Want a tennis racket or a set of skis? How about a bike? We got em’ all and much more. Newton is filling out like a teenage weightlifter on steroids. A growing retail and housing tax base means increased revenue for the city. Smart Growth indeed. Very exciting!

3. 

   Jerry Reilly on February 7, 2017 at 8:41 pm

   Ding, ding, ding – Phrase of the week award goes to Paul Green for “like a teenage weightlifter on steroids”

4. 

   Jo-Louise Allen on February 8, 2017 at 6:50 am

   Somewhat unrelated to the ORR block, but very close by on Walnut Street, does anyone know what happened to Shoe Horn? Did the owners retire or was the rent increased to some astronomical figure? I drove by last night, and was shocked to see an empty Shoe Horn store with for lease signs posted.

5. 

   fignewtonville on February 8, 2017 at 8:47 am

   I didn’t realize Shoe Horn went out of business. I knew the bank did next door.

   Generally I’ve been told rents in Newtonville are very high.

   Paul: Your metaphor is apt for Needham Street. That area cries out for better zoning/planning. what a hodge podge of the good and the bad. Grew too fast and not with adequate adult supervision.

6. 

   Harry Sanders on February 8, 2017 at 9:55 am

   Shoe Horn owners were in their 80’s and couldn’t see opting for either the 5 or 10 year lease, which brings one to recognize the competitiveness of lessors in certain villages. The ville’s vacancy rate on a yty has been steadily increasing. Storefronts remain empty for multiple years. The savvy lessor recognizes the wave and reduces the per square rate. But even so that does not appear to be working.
   Marketability of storefront will continue to slide, rents will adjust, if occupancy doesn’t increase to establish or justify higher rents MU4’s will increase. A new chief executive should have an understanding of supply & demand, private sector commercialization strategies, and an embracing utilization of e-commerce efficiencies.

7. 

   Andreae Downs on February 9, 2017 at 7:52 am

   I’ll be interested in whether the underground gas tanks were leaking and need remediation.