Fantastic, and a high turnout too! I’m convinced that the proposal makes reasonable trade-offs given multiple competing interests. I personally believe a No result would have almost certainly harmed the majority of stated objectives of both camps.
Moving forward, I’m particularly excited about the major contributions to bike infrastructure in Newton, the largest Passive House development in Massachusetts, the blended 65% AMI units, the parkland thanks to buried parking, the new retail, and yes, the splash park and the electric shuttles free in perpetuity. All with a predicted annual fiscal impact (including school costs) at least $1M net-positive for the city according to Counselor Auchincloss.
Thank you, Newton city Counselors for your long and hard work negotiating this deal, and the Yes voters who also made it so.
Really glad that anti-housing activists weren’t able to overturn the well-considered process and vote of our City Council.
This whole travesty should never have happened, the idea that we should be collectively voting on the individual permit of a specific land-owner is incredibly problematic. I hope that element of the Charter is changed going forward.
Jackson joe
on February 21, 2022 at 9:10 am
And now the backroom deal has come out into the open. 400 more units across the street were a done deal a long time ago. Gridlock city
Rick Frank
on March 4, 2020 at 5:40 am
And meanwhile, we have a place for seniors to downsize to coming up this summer!
The website is very welcoming to that age group! Take a look!
Actually, objectively- I should be happy. In reality the higher quality apartments at trio newton ( much higher that Austin Street) will probably raise the value of my single family home substantially.
More for me. :
Ca-Ching.
Although, the trump /corona recession might find a bit of a tough sell this summer. We will see.
NewtonMom
on March 4, 2020 at 7:33 am
I am glad that so many people came out and voted for the local question. WTG.
Bugek
on March 4, 2020 at 7:54 am
Rick,
The management company chosen by Trio is well known and runs many luxury buildings in the northeast.
I Definitely expect rents to be on the higher side here. Have friends who have lived in many of their buildings, very well run but the only downside is the aggressive rent increases evey every single year
Rick Frank
on March 4, 2020 at 8:42 am
@bugek one of the things that jumps out to me on their website is the emphasis on common areas – game room, bar (?), chef kitchen(?).
Does this work in real life?
Who’s going to clean and maintain all those common spaces, and do the young couples ( who I presume have busy jobs to afford it) really have tome to make use of it? The pike is 100 dB right across the street so outside bbq etc is going to be somewhat unpleasant.
A couple of exercise bikesMaybe – but a pool table? Really ? I know it’s marketing but still…
Bugek
on March 4, 2020 at 9:41 am
Rick,
I can only comment on the buildings I’ve seen. The common areas are rarely used as usually ppl are busy working. Lots of nannys use the children areas since both parents usually work. Its good because its rarely crowded.
This setup is very popular with busy professionals. Although the price will have to be much lower than Boston to make up for the poor rail service. I see this being popular with existing Watertown, waltham renters when their kids need to start school.
We wont know until 5 years when the zoned schools show enrollments. Hope the city has a contingency plan that doesnt just involve modulars
Rick Frank
on March 4, 2020 at 10:01 pm
I really don’t see those as family friendly – they seem to be marketing to the dinc crowd from the web site.
I also read in the TaB today a letter saying that the 3 bedrooms in west newton on Dunstan are going to go for 6750 a month. Yikes. That’s crazy.
The main concerns I have are 800 Units=800 Cars At Minimum, but if each unit ends up having 2-3 cars it means 1,600-2,400 Cars At Maximum being added to the Needham Street, Winchester Street, Oak Street, Walnut Street, Beacon Street, Christina Street, Tower Road, Rt. 9 Neighborhood Areas. Hoping there is an traffic mitigation plan to address this pending issue, than hoping there will also be an plan for multiple ingress/egress access points for vehicles for Northland
Marti Bowen
on March 11, 2020 at 12:00 pm
Andrew, I understand your concern about having 800+ added cars, parking is restricted so there won’t be 2-3 cars per unit. The city council was concerned about that too which is why they put in place a novel transportation plan requiring a set number of trips per time period per day with million dollar fines to Northland for non compliance.
The state is putting $30 million toward a reconstruction of Needham Street, including reducing ins and outs from the retail and restaurants already there to alleviate the congestion caused when a driver is waiting to turn left against traffic, synced traffic lights to keep traffic moving and raised, protected bike lanes to encourage other modes of travel, etc. Yay! No need to hope!
Fantastic, and a high turnout too! I’m convinced that the proposal makes reasonable trade-offs given multiple competing interests. I personally believe a No result would have almost certainly harmed the majority of stated objectives of both camps.
Moving forward, I’m particularly excited about the major contributions to bike infrastructure in Newton, the largest Passive House development in Massachusetts, the blended 65% AMI units, the parkland thanks to buried parking, the new retail, and yes, the splash park and the electric shuttles free in perpetuity. All with a predicted annual fiscal impact (including school costs) at least $1M net-positive for the city according to Counselor Auchincloss.
Thank you, Newton city Counselors for your long and hard work negotiating this deal, and the Yes voters who also made it so.
Back to work, everyone.
Really glad that anti-housing activists weren’t able to overturn the well-considered process and vote of our City Council.
This whole travesty should never have happened, the idea that we should be collectively voting on the individual permit of a specific land-owner is incredibly problematic. I hope that element of the Charter is changed going forward.
And now the backroom deal has come out into the open. 400 more units across the street were a done deal a long time ago. Gridlock city
And meanwhile, we have a place for seniors to downsize to coming up this summer!
The website is very welcoming to that age group! Take a look!
https://trionewton.com/
Actually, objectively- I should be happy. In reality the higher quality apartments at trio newton ( much higher that Austin Street) will probably raise the value of my single family home substantially.
More for me. :
Ca-Ching.
Although, the trump /corona recession might find a bit of a tough sell this summer. We will see.
I am glad that so many people came out and voted for the local question. WTG.
Rick,
The management company chosen by Trio is well known and runs many luxury buildings in the northeast.
I Definitely expect rents to be on the higher side here. Have friends who have lived in many of their buildings, very well run but the only downside is the aggressive rent increases evey every single year
@bugek one of the things that jumps out to me on their website is the emphasis on common areas – game room, bar (?), chef kitchen(?).
Does this work in real life?
Who’s going to clean and maintain all those common spaces, and do the young couples ( who I presume have busy jobs to afford it) really have tome to make use of it? The pike is 100 dB right across the street so outside bbq etc is going to be somewhat unpleasant.
A couple of exercise bikesMaybe – but a pool table? Really ? I know it’s marketing but still…
Rick,
I can only comment on the buildings I’ve seen. The common areas are rarely used as usually ppl are busy working. Lots of nannys use the children areas since both parents usually work. Its good because its rarely crowded.
This setup is very popular with busy professionals. Although the price will have to be much lower than Boston to make up for the poor rail service. I see this being popular with existing Watertown, waltham renters when their kids need to start school.
We wont know until 5 years when the zoned schools show enrollments. Hope the city has a contingency plan that doesnt just involve modulars
I really don’t see those as family friendly – they seem to be marketing to the dinc crowd from the web site.
I also read in the TaB today a letter saying that the 3 bedrooms in west newton on Dunstan are going to go for 6750 a month. Yikes. That’s crazy.
Can anyone confirm that?
To learn more about the now approved Northland Newton development, please visit: https://www.northlandnewtondevelopment.com/
The main concerns I have are 800 Units=800 Cars At Minimum, but if each unit ends up having 2-3 cars it means 1,600-2,400 Cars At Maximum being added to the Needham Street, Winchester Street, Oak Street, Walnut Street, Beacon Street, Christina Street, Tower Road, Rt. 9 Neighborhood Areas. Hoping there is an traffic mitigation plan to address this pending issue, than hoping there will also be an plan for multiple ingress/egress access points for vehicles for Northland
Andrew, I understand your concern about having 800+ added cars, parking is restricted so there won’t be 2-3 cars per unit. The city council was concerned about that too which is why they put in place a novel transportation plan requiring a set number of trips per time period per day with million dollar fines to Northland for non compliance.
The state is putting $30 million toward a reconstruction of Needham Street, including reducing ins and outs from the retail and restaurants already there to alleviate the congestion caused when a driver is waiting to turn left against traffic, synced traffic lights to keep traffic moving and raised, protected bike lanes to encourage other modes of travel, etc. Yay! No need to hope!