The Barn Family Shoe Store will be moving down Washington Street to Washington Place in Newtonville, Mark Development announced Tuesday.
Washington Place is currently under construction and a date for the move was not announced.
News of the Barn’s eventual move was announced at a City Council Land Use Committee meeting during which Mark was seeking a change in its special permit. The special permit included language banning a bank on the property. The developer is petitioning the council to change the order and allow a bank. In return Mark was willing to commit that 25 percent — or 10,000 square feet — of the project’s total commercial space be devoted to what’s called non-formula retail, which is essentially local retail or restaurants (in contrast to national chains).
The Barn’s 8,000 square foot space at Washington Place would not be counted as part of the 10,000 non-formula space, meaning that just under half of Washington Place would open with local/non chain businesses. The bank would occupy less than 3,800 square feet of the total project.
Land Use approved Mark Development’s request Tuesday. It still needs full council approval.
It’s hard for me to know if that# a good trade off or not…
But good for the shoe barn that they have a new home.
Rick, probably depends on whether the developer already had 10,000 square feet rented to non-formula retail, and if the restriction is for the first few years or going forward.
If the space is rented to the Barn, a large CVS, and a few restaurants and 1 bank, I’d be happy. The CVS moving would open up more space on the other side of Newtonville, and it moves a heavy parking user across the Pike to a location with Parking…
That said I could be wrong about the CVS moving. That was a rumor.
Great to see a local business moving into a development rather than another bank or spa, more of the same please!
@Jim except, a bank IS moving in. That’s the point.
Growing up as a kid back in the 70s The Barn Family Shoe Store affectionately known as ‘The Barn’ was thee place buy a new set of shoes in Newton just prior to starting a new school year. All the kids would talk about it and compare shoes. Outside of its new location, It’s good to see some things haven’t changed
Really glad to see this is going to happen. The Barn is an institution and will be welcomed with open arms to its new home in Newtonville.
And on a personal note, this is right around the corner from my house and I’m excited to be able to walk over.
Glad to see the Barn staying in Newton. I think that a small bank branch is a good trade off for almost 20,000 sq. ft. of local, non-chain retail in one of our newest developments. A good example of how city and developer can work together to achieve mutually beneficial goals.
3800 sq ft is not that small. Pretty large actually.
The problem is the precedent has been set. There’s no reason to assume that Mark Development won’t come back in 3 months and ask for another concession.
The perception is that the councilors are in the pocket of the developers. And as Steve Jobs once said, “perception IS reality”.
We have to change the council.
Maybe the Barn will get more patronage. Where it is currently located, lots of people probably don’t even know about it, that it exists, that it’s there. And then you really have to drive to it. So this could be good for them – and for Newton residents who need shoes. (And last I checked, that’s pretty much all of us…)
I agree with Rick. We need to change the council. The problem is several of the councilors are running unopposed.
@Bruce: It’s not too late. Would be candidates have another month to pull papers.
But I predict that any candidate who runs on one issue — including development or even the school curriculum — won’t get a lot of traction. Newton voters aren’t one dimensional.
I’m guessing it is not so easy to defeat most of the incumbents, Bruce. Susan and Jake have been challenged quite a few times now, and I believe they’ve won by quite a margin each time for example. This will be the first time Emily is challenged in quite some time, but she comes into the vote with a large advantage due to incumbency. And that is just Ward 2.
As I said to Matt, never everyone has your issues and their most important issues. And you can like many things about a candidate but still vote for change.
When are the debates going to be held?
Does anyone know what the language for the change allows? Is it to allow ONE bank, THIS bank, or to remove the banks restriction entirely? I assume the language of the permit would be the rule going forward (unless another change was requested). So removing the bank restriction leaves the door open for multiple banks at some time in the future. That’s an important difference.
@Rick: This is not the first time in Newton history that a petitioner has asked to have a special permit amended. It happens. Many councilors, including President Laredo and Councilor Achincloss (who had proposed the original bank ban but ultimately supported the change) asked some pretty tough questions last night. There’s no reason to assume that there’s any precedent set here.
More importantly, I believe Mark Development is offering something in exchange that is really positive for Newton’s small businesses owners who struggle to survive in the Amazon era. In fact, it’s something that could be a model going forward as part of our new zoning code.
I urge the full council to support this proposed special permit change.
@Melissa: The language that was discussed last night was not final. But they were discussing one bank no larger than 3,800 sq ft. in exchange for 10,000 sq. feet of non-formula retail (and the Barn would never be part of that 10,000 sq. feet) in perpetuity.
Off topic, but…
A City Council seat should not we won by default. Ever! It should have to be won at the ballot box each and every time. Which is why I believe the words “None of the Above,” should be on all local Newton ballots. It would give voters the opportunity to reject a candidate who runs unopposed. The power to determine representation belong exclusively in the hand of the voters.
[And wouldn’t it be hysterical to see half of these City Councilors lose to “None of the Above”?]
@Melissa Brown – Only one bank (they have one in mind already), the exact wording of the request is “allow modification of Condition #34 to allow the petitioner to lease commercial space to not more than one commercial bank with a total square footage not to exceed 3,800 sq. ft. at 845 Washington Street and 245 Walnut Street”. If I’m recalling right there will be tweaks to the definition of “non-formula” to be more stringent and also additional wording to ensure that the space that The Barn takes can’t be counted towards the 10,000 sqft of non-formula space in the future before it goes to the full council.
I forget, why is the Barn moving from it’s current location?
Hahaha. Amy Sangiolo never forgets anything!
@Greg and @Patrick, thanks for clarifying the language.
Allowing one bank, of limited size, in exchange for codifying support for local businesses does sound like it’s good for our community. I can support that.
Amy, could it be because it was a commercial tenant and it didn’t own the property, and it was sold? Same developer, of course, which I’m guessing is your point. I believe they also helped Newtonville Camera find a new home. Would you have preferred they not rent to the Barn?
I’m all for discussing what is best for Washington Street, but I can’t say I ever thought of the Barn’s original property as worth saving. Down a small street and split between two sides?
I have my complaints about Washington Place, but the fact that my shoe store is now closer and easier to shop at isn’t one of them.
If the Barn is upset by all of this, I’ll happily adjust my thinking.
I think Amy just likes being the wry voice of skepticism. She also loves rhetorical questions. I love long winded paragraphs with lots of words.
Her style is actually quite appealing in its brevity.
Oh right! Thanks Figgy and Greg for reminding me. They were displaced because the very same developer that is asking for a waiver to a condition to their special permit – which by the way – kind of proves the point made by naysayers and those who don’t trust government – that the special permit and it’s city council order conditions mean nothing. I am glad that the Barn will remain in Newton and sad that Newtonville Camera had to move to Waltham. But….the City Council is proving the point made by those who feel disenfranchised by their city leaders – special permit city council “protections/conditions” are meaningless.
Thanks for the reminder!
Your welcome Amy, but I think you kinda buried the lead. The Barn didn’t own its space. If this developer didn’t buy that plot, another surely would have. So…again, is the Barn complaining? Feeling mistreated? Haven’t heard a word about that…s
As for the city council consenting to the change, I’m assuming your statement means you never voted for anything similar, namely a change to a permit. I’m no fan of banks, but there was at least a fig leaf of a trade off, and I’ll judge the total commercial space on its totality. Getting some cool local shops would make me very happy.
One of the real benefits to both projects in NEwtonville is that it expands the retail landscape, especially Austin Street. Lots of potential for new shops. Rents may even drop a bit in the older spaces…
If we end up with a bunch of nail salons and banks in both spaces, I’ll be the first to admit that isn’t the best. But I doubt that will be the case…
Local – non-formula retail all sounds nice but what does that really mean in terms of the rental cost per square foot ceiling and how is this category really defined and monitored in the beginning and over-time? What are the parameters? Would a local-non-formula regional spots with less than 10 locations like b-good, clover food labs, bonme qualify? Really local small-businesses with one or two locations like a boutique card or gift shop, book shop have very different capabilities to pay rent than the former. 10,000 sq feet is not a lot of retail to trade off for more banks.
So is it in writing? Newtonville Camera was also supposed to move into Washington Place. Sounds like a PR move to me. :/ Loving the apologists for the developers laying down the red carpet for them(@Greg, @ Fig). Same as it ever was….
I love supporting small businesses, but for only local retail I worry about it being a bunch of niche boutiquey places that are impractical and expensive to the average consumer. If we want to push people to drive less, we need businesses where people can walk to run their everyday errands. Otherwise people will still be driving to Watertown to go to Target or ordering off Amazon.
Banks with community rooms that are available for small meetings are pretty handy, even beyond banking. Customer service amenities seems to be the new trend in bank design.
For me, the goal of having a healthy, ideally-mostly-self sufficient blend of stores and services in larger developments means more walking and less driving.
A bank aligned with that goal seems workable.
Many banks also donate quite generously to local nonprofits in ways that are really meaningful to those organizations and their missions.
That’s not too say that the over-saturation of banks in our village centers isn’t a problem. It is because banks occupy store fronts that might otherwise be rented by a variety of other businesses.
But in this case what we have is an offer that guarantees 10,000 sq. feet for local merchants in exchange for a 3,700 sq. foot bank (not counting the Barn’s 8,000 sq. feet).
That’s a good deal for our local businesses and Newton shoppers and diners. I urge the City Council to take it.
@Greg “asked some pretty tough questions last night”
Oooh, that makes everything better. Tough questions. Laughable.
It’s what makes people cynical of all politics- from local to national – when our government is more responsive to businesses than the people.
I hope the barn can move there, but as was said NVille Camera was also supposed to move there so until it happens it’s all talk.
I don’t know where this idea that Newtonville Camera would move back to Washington Place came from but I’m pretty sure it couldn’t have been owner Paul Roberts. It would never make sense for him to move his business twice (once to a temporary location, if such a location and short term lease could be found, and then back to Washington Place after construction), especially a place that has a lot of expensive inventory, needs good security, etc.
Roberts, btw, was a very BIG supporter of this project, even though it meant displacing his business because he believed it would be good for Newton;s economic vitality.
I haven’t had a chance to ask him, but I suspect he’d support this non-formula retail concept too. In fact, it’s very much aligns with his often-stated desire to see commercial spaces dedicated to local businesses.
This proposal is good for local merchants.
@Bryan
If you live near Washington Place, the shoe barn is walkable now. Why not walk there now? We often walk to West Newton Cinema even in the winter, which is comparable from where I live. Not every place is going to be a short walk
I don’t think it is correct that Newtonville Camara was supposed to move there. That would have meant at least a 12 month closure. I think the deal with Newtonville Camara was that they were assisted finding new space. Perhaps they were told they could move back at a good rate but I can’t see why they’d want to move twice in 3 years….
I will absolutely miss the ambiance that is The Barn. I have shopped there for longer than I can recall and I always enjoy walking in to the old store. And as far as it being hard to find….not so sure about that! If it was so hard to find, it never would have stayed in business all these years!
It is very hard to find. Even the owners acknowledge there are challenges with the current location. My attitude is, if the Shoe Barn is embracing the move and excited about it, so am I. They are a great local business and will be an excellent addition to Newtonville.
PS – Rick – I bike there now. Actually need to stop in soon for another pair of canvassing shoes. But it would be nice to have such a great shop even closer, and hopefully in a place more people will see.
Sorry Bryan…..”very” hard? I’m just not buying that. I’m sure a shiny new Barn store in Newtonville will be lovely. What it will lack is the charm that the Barn has always had.
I’m sure there are challenges with the current location. But again, I can’t help but point out that The Barn has survived quite nicely for a LONG time….so the challenges, whatever they are, seem to be minimal.
We have too many Banks of America here
Santanders pop up like weeds
A forty-third Citizens bank will appear
Is that what Newton needs?
I think that no one visits them
They sit empty and quiet all day
The tellers inside are condemned to reside
In those temples of urban decay
So close her bank!
Shut down thine!
Shutter them all
Except for mine!
My bank has seventeen Newton branches
We’ll close sixteen for good
All the old people who used them
Can come to my neighborhood
Now you’ve heard the advice
From this site’s wisest poster
I’m going next door
For a loan and free toaster
I will have to admit that I’m not a local, shopper much now that my kids are grown. We used to get their sport shoes at the barn, but I buy my own tennis shoes direct from Nike or tennis express. The barn never had a good selection of tennis shoes. I’m fortunate that a size 11 standard width fits perfectly. I suppose that’s a bit of a specialty.
I buy jeans shirts and casual,online, the only clothes I buy locally are suits from Eastern Clothing in Watertown, and that’s every 5 years.
I never go to the bank anymore. I deposit checks with my phone, I pay bills online. At my office, I use an online postage meter and printer so I never go to the post office. All payroll is now required to be done online so I don’t have to go to the bank for that. I don’t really know why there’s so many bank offices around.
I think Washington Place and other mixed use will have a hard time ( hence already he’s going for a bank ). Retail is getting hit hard. Restaurants are tough as they have a high turn 9ver rate ( it took a long time to get something stable where the Brewery is. And, people are not going to want to rent above a restaurant because of the noise and the smell. Notice, when the “Street” over at Chestnut Hill mall went 2 floors, legals moved upstairs, and the other restaurants moved upstairs and the cottage closed. Can anyone point me to a building ANYWHERE in Newton that has a “luxury” apartment right over a restaurant?
I’m not happy about it, but retail is largely dead. Probably should try to fill the rest of the space with medical offices.
City Council votes tonight (again) on whether to allow the bank. This is the email I sent to councilors:
And here is the letter from Mr. Buchbinder I referred to: http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/98706
The reason for the second vote is that, after the petition was rejected at the City Council last month, and Councilor Crossley mistimed her request to change her vote to No so she could be on the winning side and move to reconsider, Councilor Kalis, who had voted against allowing the bank use, was prevailed upon to move for reconsideration, the next day, out of public view. (Motions to reconsider are allowed up to 24 hours after a vote, I believe, but only by someone on the winning side of the vote.)
Merits of Julia’s argument aside, I am surprised and disappointed that a candidate for City Council would address her potential peers in this way. I feel this letter could have been stronger, more persuasive, and contributed to better deliberation and policymaking had it stuck to facts and well expressed opinions.
I don’t see how its tone sets the stage for a more effective future City Council.
Julia’s comments are perfectly appropriate to the situation at issue—both in tone and manner.
Lessons in etiquette not needed.