John Hilliard reports in the Boston Globe that a group of residents have sued to block the NewCal Senior Center project.
A group of Newton residents is asking a Middlesex Superior Court judge to block the city from spending money on a proposed replacement for the Newton Senior Center, and order a city commission to reconsider whether the existing property should be protected from demolition.
The Senior Center, which was built in the late 1930s as the Newtonville Branch Library and converted into its present use about three decades ago, is being eyed by city leaders as the future home of the Newton Center for Active Living, which would serve as an upgraded home for its senior services.
In a 24-page complaint filed May 23 by more than a dozen Newton residents, the plaintiffs argued the project would destroy a historic building and an adjoining public park that had been upgraded using taxpayer-funded Community Preservation Act funds.
“The City’s planned demolition and park conversion… would result in the loss of one of Newton’s most iconic buildings,” the court complaint said.
“They also argued the project should not impact a public park in front of the building.”
If that’s a park, Old Cold Springs is rainforest. It’s a patch of grass, and highlights how ludicrous the entire senior center debate has gotten. It’s time to just get it done.
There are always obstructionists and “sore losers”. A lawsuit was filed over Austin St. It failed. I’m sure the same outcome will occur with the Senior Center. All it does is waste taxpayer dollars and enrich the private legal firms involved.
@Jim. I like that. If Webster Woods is Newton’s largest forest, why can’t Cold Spring Park be Newton’s largest rain forest?
For what it’s worth, the City of Newton made a survey in 2021 of all Article 97 protected land (In Perpetuity or Limited), and from that map, it looks like the Senior Center wasn’t categorized by the City as protected.
https://www.newtonma.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/72130/637616961816600000
Caveat: I’m not a lawyer or an expert, and I found this using Google.
If people were going to create a list of “Iconic Newton Buildings” what would be on it? I ask because a few years ago when talking about the “branding” of Newton, a few of us were trying to decide what image you would put on a brochure that would say “Newton” or provide some visual that would help people understand what the city is and what it means. When those “best city” lists come out there is usually a picture of a random Victorian that shows up.
I’m curious. To anyone who has lived here for a while, what buildings/ locations/ structures qualify as “iconic”?
My list may include City Hall, the Masonic Temple in Newtonville, the train station in Newton Centre as well as the stretch of Union Street.
The Pillar House was the best example of an iconic structure during my years here. It marked the gateway to our city from the north. Seen by hundreds of thousands every day. Long gone now, for better or worse.
“Historic preservation” is a subjective science. One person’s history is another person’s obstacle.
Allen House and Jackson homestead.
The old Newton Centre branch library too, Chuck.
Also, the remaining classic school buildings, including Ward, Weeks, Warren. They needlessly destroyed Cabot, imo.
As for the Senior Center, I still don’t think it is a great location and the old Newtonville library is vintage and I guess “sort of” iconic… but suing to preserve it is just a nuisance. And the new design looks pretty good.
From the mayor’s email newsletter …
We are moving forward to build a new senior center at the site of the current one at 345 Walnut Street, in Newtonville ….
This summer we will be moving forward with the design development phase of the project where conceptual plans will start to become more defined. Very soon we’ll start to take everyone on a 3D tour of the interior of the building as we breathe life into this incredible project.
We are on track to break ground next summer, with completion of the project anticipated in the summer of 2025.
Some residents have filed a legal challenge. The complaint has been reviewed by our Law Department. We’re confident that we are in full compliance with the law.
The Walker Center is worthy as one of the most historic sites in Newton. It is replete with women’s suffragists and women’s historical events since its founding in 1868. Ever since its origins the focus has been promoting peace across America, and throughout the World. The Walker Center held numerous events promoting peaceful pursuits since I first moved in the neighborhood. I met an older woman who resided in a room at Walker Center after her husband died and sold their family home on Grove Street — a few hundred yards south. And that Walker Center property sets in the Historic Neighborhood of Auburndale. A home across the street is dated 1847. So, I have often envisioned how exactly that area looked in a relatively new nation at that mid-19th century moment. Peace,
They didn’t think twice about a larger building taking up a significantly larger area of green space at Albemarle.
Politics is supposed to be the Art of the Compromise. And having written the report, after numerous public hearings, on the 28 Austin street project, and living in Newtonville since 1959, I have found a group of people who are adherents the the politics of Joseph Stalin.
Not a step back. No compromise. Delay delay delay. And in the name of democracy, we tolerate the law suits that have affected projects in Newtonville, cuz individual rights. When do we talk about community obligations? I’m growing tired of the entitlement of these people who have lost court case after court case and contributed nothing to the betterment of Newton.
“the Art of Compromise?” Someone hasn’t followed the process that at the 11th hour decided to replace this historic building with a behemoth of a structure that will be totally out of character in that neighborhood. Which proponent plans to have a blow up poster of the new building in the middle of their living room? Will you Jack?, Chuck?
pillar house
can be seen in lincoln
moved to a homeowners lot
and rebuilt
best french fries EVER!!!!!!!
Well, the courts are the civil way to solve disputes.
As my attorney reminds me, we could solve our disputes with a duel at 20 paces like the good ole days.
But there are fewer places with enough space for that these days. And it’s out of fashion.
It’s a pity we don’t have a “loser pays” system of civil litigation, like in the UK, Canada and many other countries. That would cause litigants to think twice before filing these sorts of lawsuits.
Tim, personally I don’t support a system where the loser has to pay all the time. You shouldn’t need significant assets to access our court system.
Suits like the one in question are fairly common, especially in cities like Newton. Folks with means tend to file for relief in court when they don’t get their way. It doesn’t come as a surprise, as I believe this is a pattern for any type of change that occurs in Newtonville at this point. I wonder if the CVS project will have a similar lawsuit.
I’m on record with a preference to keep the building as it is right now, and to site Newcal somewhere else. I think the current building would be better served as a different use than a senior center. But I also realize a lot of people didn’t agree with me, and sometimes you don’t get your way in civic decisions. I wasn’t a fan at all of the “hybrid” approach, namely keeping the main historic building and then tacking on an addition. To me, it felt like in trying to please everyone, we pleased no one. But just my personal opinion. I’ll miss the pocket park for sure, as I have found memories of eating ice cream with my kids there, and it was nicely landscaped. Life moves on.
As for the recent lawsuit, from what I can read, it seems to hinge on the pocket park being protected under MA law due to CPA funds as parkland, and the incorrect application of law by a member of the historic commission. Considering that the vote was not close, I’m not sure it helps to kick it back to the historic commission. And I think the CPA funds causing protections as parkland is a stretch, and the facts don’t seem to support that conclusion. But a novel argument.
My prediction would be that the lawsuit doesn’t lead anywhere, and that a delay strategy for development doesn’t work as well with a city as it does with a for profit developer paying carrying costs on the land/building. Hopefully it will be resolved quickly either way.
I will say that I think Newtonville overall has been transformed for the better over the past decade, despite the various lawsuits. I know that a small group of Newtonville residents strongly disagree with that statement (and consistently sue to keep it the same), but I know I’m not the only one that disagrees. Sometimes change is good, if difficult and time consuming to accomplish. While I may not love this particular project, I’m sure one day I’ll be using the Senior Center if it is sited here, and if they are going to build it, I hope it is well designed and much used.
@fig: Only 214,832 words this time!! Getting better!
I love fignewtonville’s long, thoughtful, and articulate posts. I like them way more than short and snarky insults. That’s just me.
Why thank you Jerry! But no concern on my part regarding Frank’s word count or comments. It made me chuckle actually. And I could always use the reminder to be a bit more succinct. (But you know me, I’m just striving for something other than the participation trophy… ;-) )
Newton seniors need an updated facility. Yes do enlarge the present facility to serve the seniors and improve the entrance and parking. This NewCal structure is meant as a new athletic facility for all ages plus administrative offices for the recreation Dept. What a mistake to demolish the existing building in Newtonville for a facility that should go adjacent to the new pool at Albemarle Park. Josh Morse is fed up with the entire project at this point. He wants to move on to other venues. However NewCal is poorly sited with a flawed design. It needs to be relocated.