The kick off community meeting for the Washington Street Corridor vision plan is happening Tuesday, May 1 at 7 p.m. at Second Church on Highland Street. To learn more go here. And of course you can share your vision here in the comments section as well.
What’s your vision for the Washington Street Corridor?
by Greg Reibman | Apr 30, 2018 | Washington Street Corridor | 51 comments
I don’t think it’s realistic to expect Washington Street to become a new Davis Square or anything. It’s too long, for one. For two, our village squares are the better opportunity as focus locations for walkable, transit oriented development.
I think housing and SOME retail would be great. We have plenty infrastructure in place to support more condos and apartments there at reasonable price points. The express bus system is a criminally underrecognized option for commuting for example.
Mayor Fuller spoke of being “All Age Friendly” as one of her priorities, I think would go a long way to making Newton more friendly to ages 21-30, which it currently is not.
I just hope it doesn’t end up like Watertown, which has a lot of under-filled, overpriced luxury apartments and un-leased retail spaces in various spots.
Once north side residents begin to understand the impact of the
Austin St. development, then we may see a more comprehensive public response to dense village housing development in
Newtonville and along Washington St.
The future of retail is generally bleak, the only ones that can survive would be decent restaurants, activities for children and nail salons perhaps a hotel
Perhaps newton can carve out a niche in wework office style spaces
I would like a more aesthetically pleasing Washington Street. It would be cool to be able to walk or bike from, say, West Newton to Cabot’s when the weather is nice, and have it be more pleasant than it is now. Whether that’s because there is retail/apartments along the way or trees or a combo, I’m not sure. But coming from West Newton, right once you get past the block with the old Shing Yee, it’s not a very nice walk.
I’m with MMQC. At first, I was among the skeptics regarding reducing Washington Street to three it lane with the middle lane being a turn lane. But when I watched the video, I totally got. I like the way it allows for some green space in the middle. And the reality is that traveling east on Washington is a bit of a hassle if you are in the left lane and there are cars turning left. I like the idea of a boulevard feel. I’d also like to see wider sidewalks with lot of room for al fresco dining
As someone who lives a block in from Washington Street, I can tell you that no one is going to want to sit outside along Washington steeet because of the pike noise. Better include a tall sound barrier in your plan. We have to close the windows in the summer to listen to the television. And we are a block away. The idea that there would be benches on the walnut street bridge is laughable. Go stand there for a few minutes. You’ll want to leave. Same goes for the new Orr block. Maybe they’ll have a restaurant with seating on the side away from the pike. Forget facing the pike. You won’t be able to talk. That’s why I’ve said they should build OVER the pike. A ) cuts the noise B ) rejoins the village after the pike slashed it in half….
I’d love to see an easier bike ride along Washington Street. I agree with Rick that as it’s configured now, sitting outside along Washington Street next to the pike can be difficult. But if we had, say, a layer of buildings and/ or sound walls to act as a buffer it would go a long way.
Ideally Washington Street should be about moving people in a much more human-centric way. If you want to go from W. Newton to Newton Corner quickly by car, the Pike offers a good way to do that. Washington St. should allow for bikes, buses and local traffic. It doesn’t need the 4 lanes it has now, not with another 6 right next to it.
I’d like to see protected bike lanes and/ or room for buses. A number of transit agencies have talked about running regular electric cars on the commuter rail lines, and there is an existing spur that could connect to Riverside, so while we’re dreaming it would be nice to have that as well.
Chuck, between West Newton and Newtonville there’s no real estate to buil on. That’s pretty much true all the rest of the way to newton corner, with a few small buildings across from Whole Foods being the exception. That’s why there’s so much noise from the pike. You’d have to build over it. Ok that’s difficult but – What would Elon Musk do?
I live in Newtonville and I would never take the pike as a way to go from west newton to newton corner. The circle of death in newton corner is enough to make me avoid that. Anyone who knows the area takes Washington Street and to go South you cut over by the fire station / ymca to get to Center Street…
As for bikes, well, I’ve got nothing against them, and used to bike to work when I worked on Western Ave and could take the bike path which at that time I had to pick up at Galen street….
But, the winter weather here is just too much for anyone but the most die hard biker to put up with. I don’t see it as a viable alternative. When I see more bikes at newton city hall than cars I’ll start to believe it. Again, planners and transportation people should lead by example.
There’s now a bike lane on walnut street that is hardly ever used…I don’t even see high school kids biking to NNHS – probably bc they have too many after school activities and such.
Anyone remember when the green line used go through oak square to newton corner and down Galen street? I do. But the “visionaries” back then tore it all out.
I agree with those who are hoping for a more walkable, bikeable Washington Street. My wife and I love to take long walks from our home in Newtonville down to West Newton or Newton Corner in the summer, and it could certainly use some rethinking to make that trek more appealing.
However, the most important thing I hope the community gets out of this is an opportunity to give thoughtful feedback as to how this street is designed and the adjacent property is zoned. The community needs a chance to put aside fights over individual projects and hopefully create a broadly supported, unified vision for the corridor.
PS. There are far too many accidents on this stretch of road, particularly near us at Lowell Ave & Washington St, which is a dangerous intersection.
Rick Frank, I commute from Nonantum often walking down to Newton Corner and I’d much prefer my current 30 minute Express Bus ride from Newton Corner than to sit on the green line for an hour from Newton Corner. (I assume it would take a similar amount of time, probably longer, to the 57 + green line from Kenmore). The destruction of old trolley systems was indeed a travesty, but in this particular case, the bustitution yielded a superior alternative.
Of course what I’d really like is a rapid transit service that stops in Newtonville (or Newton Corner) on the current Worcester Line.
Building over the turnpike would be awesome! Eliminate the noise, create buildable space including dedicated bike and running lanes away from the rest of traffic. Think how successful Rose Kennedy Greenway has been!!
DING, DING, DING. Village14 Word Of the Week award goes to yuppie scum for “bustitution”
Yuppie scum
I can understand that, but the service provided to all the residents along the way would be useful, rather than just a point to point express bus downtown. No reason you can’t have both.
I think that building over the pike is doable around certain sections where the sides are tall enough i.e the pike is low enough, to provide the needed transition between the two divided sections of the village. Probably very difficult to do. Air rights over the pike, ventilation for the exhaust ( hey but maybe we won’t have to wipe the soot off of our window sills as often )as well as reductions in asthma, and other ills associated with being so close to the pike would be a huge cost but a huge benefit as well. I don’t think people realize how much particulate exhaust still comes into the air from the pike. Tons per year I’d speculate. It gets so thick on our outdoor windows you can scrape it off with a putty knife. And we over here are breathing that stuff in. And, as I said, the noise is so bad our front porch is not pleasan5 to sit on, and if we ever sell, it will be in the winter when the windows are closed.
The goal of a road design should be to get vehicles where they need to go ASAP. This new design just further slows already slow traffic, especially in the West Newton Corner area. The high accident rates aren’t because of 2 lane wide (or 4 lanes) roads. The accidents happen because people don’t know how to drive correctly. The lax driving tests in America is the cause. Poor reaction time mixed with the inability to drive (not just operate) a vehicle.
The new Pike toll just made the cheapskates drive on Washington rather than the pike.
Roger, Some roads have deliberate slowing ( speed bumps etc) so that people can have a reasonable time to react to a sudden pedestrian walking out in the street, or a car pulling out of a driveway, etc. When people drive faster than the situation allows, the reaction time is limited. The goal should be efficiency and safety, emphasis on the safety, in my opinion.
Rick, I’d counter that we already have both the express bus and local stops option. The 57 bus is probably superior to street-running green line between Watertown Yard and Kenmore in most regards except capacity.
I always find it amusing when people complain about the circle of death as being a traffic nightmare. It is, certainly.
But if you believe that more lanes leads to better traffic flow, then Newton Corner should be one of our best roads. It has 4 (or more) lanes all headed in the same direction.
“t has 4 (or more) lanes all headed in the same direction.”
That would be instantaneous direction, to be precise.
@Rick you make an interesting comment about “seeing” kids biking to Newton North or that the Walnut St. bike lane is not used. As someone who uses it and sees many others use it, I have to disagree.
In fact, there was a picture posted on this very blog of the bike racks at Newton North which are regularly parked up so much that kids are locking to fences and trees. My son bikes all winter in all weather, and he isn’t alone.
It’s true that there fewer cyclists in inclement weather (all cyclists have their lower threshold) but they exist.
I believe that a lot of people simply don’t “see” the cyclists, either because they aren’t looking or they move through an area at a rate of speed that doesn’t allow them to see the numbers of cyclists that come through. When they pool at a place like Newton North it becomes apparent that cycling is a primary form of transportation for many kids.
You’re probably correct. When I leave the house it’s probably sometimes to early ( 6 am) or too late ( 9 am) so I probably miss seeing them. So I am mistaken, and glad they’re making use of the bike lanes.
First of all: Re air rights development over the pike.
A couple of years ago I did a couple of sketches showing a low rise development over the pike at Newtonville ,.. the object of which was to reunify the north and south sides of the village center. This most certainly would make for a more marketable Orr Block development. ( One wonders who would want to occupy an apartment with a view of the noisy turnpike ). Crystal Lake maybe,.. a golf course OK.
This turnpike decking, to really be effective in village reunification, would require that the rail bed be lowered a few feet and a mobility challenged access to a new rail station be developed. The rail bed lowering would help to get a visual connection north to south. Currently Walnut Street has quite a hump that should be eliminated.
A second issue that should be up for consideration in the planning for Washington Street is the cities massive unfunded debt situation amounting to over $1 Billion ! We know that commercial properties are taxed at twice the rate as residential, and that dense residential development does not pay for the cities expenses for services and schools. Wouldn’t it be wise , if we are intent on adjusting zoning, to mandate commercial / office building development instead of residential?
And third , wouldnt it be smart to line the north side of the turnpike for its entire 4 to 5 miles passing thru our city, with a solar energy farm to supply / pay for the cities energy needs.
Blueprintbill
I do like the idea of a solar farm and there must be state and city tax credits which could help fund it.
The reality is there is not enough demand in Newton for commercial real estate.. office buildings or stores… no developer would take this risk.
Todays demand is strictly residential because of schools and close commute to Boston.
Does Newton have an aggressive plan to attract tech, biotech to Newton.. n squared isnt attracting really any first tier companies (trip advisor doesnt look in good shape)
I’ve been trying to think of out of the box options for the Pike. For example: A laticework with a garden? Large art installations? Solar Panels? Things that could be done relatively cheaply because they don’t need to carry a large weight load yet would significantly improve the aesthetics and potentially environmental impact of the pike.
@Bugek,
“No developer would take that risk”,.. why do you care ? We don’t owe him/ them a profit. We pay our taxes and we deserve protection by our leaders.
If commercial development was their only alternative I wouldn’t bet against it.
Nature abhors a vacuum. If an office building (s) were to be built they would not stand empty. Not on this corridor.
It’s a superior artery to Needham Street and it would be more attractive,.. especially if the utilities were mandated to be under grounded.
Access and egress to and from the pike only enhance the possibility.
Blueprintbill,
I would love nothing more than more office spaces in Newton.. but the reality is that companies are not lining up to seek space in Newton
They all want to be in Kendall and downtown… which is a shame because Newton’s population meets the educated work force these companies are looking for.
I suspect its the difficulty of getting into a Newton office building using public transportation which is holding us back…
Time to dangle crazy tax credits to top tier companies?
I keep hearing that building over the pike doesn’t pencil out financially.
But how about building over the commuter rail?
It could:
– block the pike noise.
– provide funding for accessible commuter rail stations.
– provide a surface for a south-facing solar array.
-provide a “utilidor” corridor to consolidate our old leaking gas/water/sewer pipes so we don’t have to dig up Washington St. every few months & seed potholes.
Here are some rough numbers for a solar array at one of the CR stations:
http://newtonstreets.blogspot.com/2013/07/a-solar-sound-barrier-at-auburndale.html
@Bugek: “Does Newton have an aggressive plan to attract tech, biotech to Newton.. n squared isnt attracting really any first tier companies (trip advisor doesnt look in good shape)”
The Economic Development Commission will be unveiling a draft Economic Development Strategy TONIGHT at 7:00 p.m. at Newton North High School, Film Lecture Hall, Room A111, 457 Walnut Street. You can find more info at:
http://www.newtonma.gov/gov/planning/lrplan/econdev/econ_strategy.asp
If this comment string proves anything, it is that boy do we need some experts to weigh in here. I’m very glad the city hired folks to discuss this and help us plan, because we are in dire need of folks who can back up their B.S. with actual facts and real world pricing.
I have some knowledge of solar panels and installations. I also have some knowledge of air rights, costs to build over highways, costs to build over train lines, undergrounding, utility easements and the like. I’m not an expert, but I know enough to know that it is important for the good folks planning the redo of Washington Street directly address the possibility of building over the Pike and the train ASAP.
I’ll say it again, based on my actual knowledge:
1) Building over the Pike and the Commuter Rail is very expensive.
2) Air Rights aren’t free
3) Air rights developmental timeframe is measured in decades
4) Boston has struggled with this for decades. Decades.
5) Boston hasn’t made it work since the Pru.
6) Size makes it work. Think 10 plus stories. Think 30 stories. Think hotel. Think large scale office. Think luxury condos.
7) It took us 8 plus years to do Austin Street. And the CITY ALREADY OWNED THE PARCEL.
8) It is very difficult to build over a highway. Lowering grade for the commuter rail is…challenging.
9) Every time we talk about Washington Street, lots of folks dream about the Pike being fixed. I’d love that. But I live in a world where ROI matters, where capital stack and lending matters, where no one who knows anything about real estate and development that I know of thinks it is possible to do in Newton, where the city can’t even figure out how to repair the roads and sidewalks, where we can’t even figure out development on terra firma without the help of an expensive consultant and without years of discussion.
10) Solar panels sound great. But they are best used on solid ground, clear site lines, with limited real estate costs. There are federal and state credits, but they are being greatly reduced in value. You want to put it in parking lots or on a roof? Great, although marginal. You want to build a big array in an empty field near power lines? Much better. You want to spend millions for siting and increase your ongoing maintenence by building over a highway or train line? Umm…no. Just no. Not unless you want to make it a municiple project that makes no return on investment and is basically designed for PR reasons vs. energy independence or green reasons.
It is lovely to dream about the impossible. The Pike hurt Newtonville and cut it in half. I’d love to stitch it back together. But I’m also well familiar with the use of the impossible plan to avoid the doable plan by folks who really want to see no plan.
I love solar energy. But let’s recognize that cost to build is a huge factor in a market where solar panels are cheap and easier locations abound.
So I ask the good folks at Principle Group to start to gather information on what is possible and impossible and make it very clear what the experts think. And then post it here so I can reference it every few weeks.
@Bugek – Bingo. Kendall and downtown are popular with the in-demand STEM talent because if you live and work in Boston a car is legitimately optional. Everything you need is either within walking distance or public transit. Comparatively if you live and work in Newton you’re probably still going to need a car, and if you don’t live in Newton you almost certainly need a car to commute in. It also doesn’t help that the CR has no outbound trains during the morning commute.
While Boston is hardly cheap it’s easier to afford than Newton, has vastly more employment options plus the bonus of not needing a car to get around most of the urban core. This is a great city for families and people who want to commute into Boston, don’t want to live in the urban core and can afford the price of entry. Not as great for younger workers who don’t need the school system and can’t afford to buy into the city, which in turn makes it less appealing for the types of employers the city is trying to get.
Patrick
One could argue the majority of job growth in Boston is fueled by tech..
Newton should be smart and to its strengths… i would give away gigantic tax credits to top tier tech giants to open satellite offices here. Pitch it as a way for employees with kids to be close to work and have a yard and great schools. AND yes, these employees can afford 1million dollars for a home, they are very well compensated
@Bugek: “Newton should be smart and to its strengths… i would give away gigantic tax credits to top tier tech giants to open satellite offices here. Pitch it as a way for employees with kids to be close to work and have a yard and great schools. AND yes, these employees can afford 1million dollars for a home, they are very well compensated
There are some folks who believe we are rapidly losing our “strength” because the “yard” is fast disappearing with all of the teardowns and McMansions and the schools – who have not yet been repaired – need to be to keep up with the enrollment demand.
So where do the folks who sell their homes go?
Newton has a responsibility to its residents to maintain a stable and growing tax base otherwise property taxes will sky rocket and city employees pensions will be at risk.
If that means catering to rich employees to open corporate offices, then so be it.
If we banned tear downs, it will not keep prices low. Rich folks will still buy because of the good schools and location. They will still bid up the prices and then gut renovate to the studs and add an extension to the back or increase the attic height
Some people folks want to sell and move to Florida, some want to stay… you cant please everyone We are bordering Watertown, Waltham, Brighton.. not exactly ‘hours’ away from Newton.. and there is always the accessory oridnance
@Roger “The goal of a road design should be to get vehicles to where they want to go ASAP” NO. The goal of a road design is to serve the needs of those using it. Road users include drivers, bicyclists, pedestrians, people in wheelchairs, people on buses, people having a cup of coffee or sitting on a bench, drivers parking, etc. The desire of someone in a vehicle to move “quickly”through cannot take precedence over these other uses on a street. Only highways get to prioritize speed of vehicles over everything else. Are we looking to create another Mass PIke? And if we are interested in moving people quickly through, SOV is the least efficient way to do so.
Regarding hi tech salaries. I think people over estimate the amount engineers are getting paid.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/04/14/how-the-salaries-of-software-engineers-have-evolved-over-the-past-20-years/#793de82a1cbf
Salaries have been relatively flat, have increased some over the last few years, with some founders and so called “superstars” making above 200,000 a year – but those are outliers.
But basically to get a million dollar mortgage you’re talking about upper management at least- salaries in the mid 200000
So the younger software engineers are likely to stay in Kendall square where the bars are open later and all their friends are there.
The older software engineers salaries peak at +- 150000 if they move to management can get closer to 200000.
Once again I would like to point out that a large part of the affordable housing problem had to do with stagnant wages over 20 years, even for engineers and hi tech.
Colleen is right.
“Once north side residents begin to understand the impact of the
Austin St. development, then we may see a more comprehensive public response to dense village housing development in
Newtonville and along Washington St.“
First, “north side residents” has no clear definition even among self-proclaimed northsiders. Some use it as north of the pike and others as just ambiguous. The Austin Street development is south of the pike but also in Newtonville not far from my house.
Once these so-called northsiders see the vitality this project and the Walnut Street enhancements bring to Newtonville, a more comprehensive endorsement of development in Village Centers may be seen.
It’s always informative to read Fignewtonville’s comments. I agree.
“because we are in dire need of folks who can back up their B.S. with actual facts and real world pricing”
Indeed. I much prefer B.S. backed up by facts.
“Once these so-called northsiders see the vitality this project and the Walnut Street enhancements bring to Newtonville, a more comprehensive endorsement of development in Village Centers may be seen.”
Or not.
The problem with a 2 way bike lane on one side of the road is snow removal. Who’s going to do that in the winter? Talk to the residents of Cambridge where that exists and you’ll get an earful.
Marti,
Definitely agree north side will see much vitality, but really hinges on the success of retail.
One issue which may be adversely impacted is school over crowding.. its quite likely north side schools will be known for excessive overcrowding… we wont know for several years
Bugek, school overcrowding could be an issue but not a developement killing issue. There will always be issues.
Because school crowding became an issue in Newton, two schools in horrendous shape have recently been replaced with new larger, more effective schools, one is under construction now and others are planned.
PS: Another reason not to surplus or sell more city property and buildings as a lesson learned when school buildings were sold decades ago without foresight.
Newton recently purchased Aquinas to help offset school crowding but is considering selling the police station in West Newton.
Newton Centre’s municipal parking lot was surplused years ago but now ridiculous parking solutions, not being able to move to another metered space or return to a lot the same day, are being presented to offset the lack of parking.
I support the redevelopment of Washington St. That being said, I’m also concerned about its impact on the surrounding area – very specifically on school enrollment at L-E, H-M, Franklin, and Burr – the four elementary schools north of the Pike. No matter how the “northside” is defined, these four schools will absorb the increase in enrollment from this redevelopment. Overall capacity will need to be addressed and should be part of the planning process of this project.
I’ve not heard the most recent estimate for the number of units planned for the complete stretch of Washington St., but on the list of issues being discussed, the impact on these four schools is notably missing. So my vision of Washington St. would include a plan for an increase how the city will address school enrollment.
One thing I’m a little worried about is building vacancies. It drives me crazy to see those storefronts on Elm still vacant after several years. I’m generally very pro-development and would like to see more shopping and restaurants throughout the corridor with maybe apartments on top, but I’d hate to see a long stretch of empty storefronts because they can’t find enough tenants. (Or tenants willing to pay a too-high rental price)
Ok, a few things.
1) Rick, I think lots of folks on blogs make statements that sound good but aren’t based in fact. I’d say everyone has their own brand of B.S. (i.e. an argument), but if I come with facts and experience, maybe my B.S. is a little more useful. Blog posts in my view are to persuade and influence debate.
2) Building vacancies are always a concern MMQC, but I’d argue that they are a concern if there is a flaw with the overall market. For instance, there were a ton of business that went under on Route 9 once the Pike came to be. The market wasn’t there because the cars now zoomed past. The Newton market seems strong to me in many ways. The obvious concerns are (i) parking and (ii) the Amazon effect. On (i), I think density does help that, but clearly parking needs to be part of any Washington Street rebuild. I think Newtonville has a temporary parking issue until Austin Street is rebuilt. West Newton needs a parking solution. One (ii), that’s a real problem, and caused the death of many stores in cities around the U.S. We get about 4 packages shipped to us every day. Convenient? Heck yes. But that is 4 local store visits, and a coffee and donut stop we no longer make. (I like coffee and donuts, don’t judge me). But here is what I DON’T worry about. Tenants never showing up. Empty retail in a target rich environment like Newton is a problem mostly of a disconnect between landlords and tenants on rent. Lots of empty storefronts are burning of prior leases. Some are landlords willing to hold for a great 5 year tenant. Some are landlords who are silly and think their unit is special. But the market long term deals with that. Supply and demand tends to take hold, rents get lowered, and life moves on.
3) Jane has a good point about the schools, but one that requires some clarification. I believe that the new school zones they floated to Cabot have some kids coming from North of the Pike. In my view, this isn’t just an issue for the Northsiders, but also for Cabot and the surrounding schools below Cabot. This to me is one of the reason we’ve built capacity at Cabot and Zervas and Angier. Because we can shift the zones to account for more kids. TO A LIMIT. We can’t just build and build units and then overwhelm our schools. But there is some flex now in the system. I also have a theory that as housing prices rise, fewer kids are going to our local schools. If you can afford a 2 million dollar house, I think you are more likely to send your kids to private school, of which there are many near us. I’m not a fan of that, but thinking of some of the wealthy folks we know, seems like a lot of them have pulled their kids or never sent their kids to NPS. So in short, I agree with Jane, with those two points providing a bit of nuance that maybe only I care about.
4) Rick: Two lane bike lanes can definitely deal with snow removal. We just have to budget for it. The city can’t just build the bike lanes and then ignore them. Boston figures this out on major roads, so can we. I do agree with you on stagnant wages, but the problem is bigger than that.
5) Rick: On a personal level, you’ve stated before you live near enough to the Pike to hear the noise. Wouldn’t some development along Washington street, with shops and pocket parks, be a long term benefit to your home? I think it would certainly improve long term values. How is the status quo better for you? That is not an attack, I’m really interested in how you’ve come to your positions.
Look, Washington Street could clearly be a lot better. If you don’t live near it, it is mostly a pass-through or cut through. But to those of us near it, who walk to Cabots and Trader Joes, and those of us who use West Newton and Newtonville, there is real potential to make it something more. There are going to be serious trade-offs. But some of this is also out of our hand because the land is being purchased and change is coming regardless. If we work together to take a more uniformed approach, a lot of good can come of this. Not all of us will agree that the good outweighs the bad. And if you live on top of a major change, like Rick does, I can’t promise that the good WILL outweigh the bad, and such a determination is personal anyway (one persons good could be another person’s traffic issue or shadow issue.)
Cheers to all. I hope to see a crowded house at the Walnut Street Improvement meeting next week. These things go hand in hand!!
I agree with much of what Fign’ville said, with one exception. The most recent enrollment report (November, 2017) states the following:
“The Newton Public Schools system-wide K-12 enrollment has increased this year, marking the thirteenth year in a trend of rising enrollments with 1,482 students (13%) added from 2004 to 2017. The initial years of growth from 2004 – 2009 brought 339 students to the system. The next five years through 2014 added another 896 students to the district…Since 2015, enrollment has grown another 242 students”
As I said, I’m all for adding new housing along Washington St., but the reality is enrollment is increasing so school capacity needs to be part of the planning process.
Jane:
That good information to have. I would imagine that at some point the trend breaks, but hard to argue that hundreds of new housing units won’t add to that. I think my point about flex space still holds but at some point you burst at the seams. I’m not sure how many kids we’d need to add to get to that point. I’d also say that some degree of growth isn’t the worst thing in the world either.
@ Alicia.
If the goal was to keep traffic off of Washington St and onto the Pike, the new toll would not have been added. Tolls are premiums. It wont be 15 cents forever.
Fig – I wouldn’t mind the growth at all because it has the potential to provide housing for a larger demographic (seniors, workforce housing, people from a wider diversity of backgrounds)
People move to Newton primarily for its location and the schools, so we need to keep that in mind. Clearly the transportation/parking/modes of getting from point A to point B are attracting a lot of attention on V14, so I’m just here to remind people that the school enrollment and capacity need to be addressed as well. Nothing more than that.