City approves 29 story hotel by Mark Development
It took less than 12 months from when Mark’s Development Robert Korf first proposed this new hotel until it received city approval.
City Council approves Washington Street Vision Plan
In its final act of its 2018-19 term, the Newton City Council approved the Washington Street Vision Plan by a 17-6 vote Monday. The plan allows for buildings in some limited locations to potentially be up to six stories high. But its important to note that is just a...Islington Road neighbors recognized
The Boston Globe named the folks who live on Islington Road in Auburndale as a runner up in its Bostonians of Year issue.Obama was president, Brexit approved and Warren was mayor when this happened
One of the common arguments we’re heard signature gatherers are using as they look to overturn the Newton City’s Council’s 17-10 Northland vote is that the city has rushed this project without hearing from the public.
Nothing, of course, could be further from the truth. Even before the Land Use committee held 15 public meetings, there were dozens and dozens and dozens of community meetings, not to mention the months-long Needham Street Vision process, which included a wide cross section of community members.
In fact this project has been in front of the city for so long that Barack Obama was president, the Brits has just approved Brexit and David Price was pitching in his first season as a member of the Red Sox when then Mayor Setti Warren introduced this project back in 2016
Of course, since that 2016 community kick off event, this project has been substantially reduced in scope from 2 million to 1.1 million square feet, thanks to some tough negotiations by our “listening to the public” city leaders. The number of
Newton’s next ban? How about fossil fuel?
Just weeks after Brookline voted to ban the installation of oil and gas pipes in new buildings as well as in extensive renovations of existing buildings, Jon Chesto at the Globe reports that some Newton City Councilors want to do the same thing.
Here’s two excerpts from Chesto’s article:
Opponents representing various business development constituencies argue that this piecemeal approach to energy regulation will simply drive up construction costs and hinder economic development, while achieving minimal environmental benefits. They say the electricity-powered alternatives to natural gas, such as heat pumps, are more expensive and less effective.
[Newton City Councilor Emily] Norton, a former Sierra Club leader who oversees the Charles River Watershed Association, said she’s not really concerned about the impact on economic development. Instead, she’s
Mayor: 261 complaints received about unshoveled sidewalks
From Mayor Fuller’s most recent email newsletter… We made it through the first storm under the City’s new ordinance requiring home owners to shovel the sidewalk in front of their homes within 24 hours of when the snow stops falling. It was a first for...BC board won’t participate in program funded Charles Koch Foundation
The international studies academic advisory board at Boston College has decided it will not participate in a new security studies program that would provide public speakers, undergraduate workshops, a post-doc program, a Ph.D. program and training programs because it...Why we voted for Northland
The three Newton City Councilors representing Ward 5 submitted the following column to the TAB and have shared with constituents via email.
We are the three Newton City Councilors representing Ward 5 including Newton Upper Falls. We are writing to explain why we voted for the Northland Newton Development and why we are opposed to the proposed referendum. We urge you NOT to sign the petitions being circulated.
We voted for the Northland development because we believe it is an excellent plan which will greatly enhance Newton Upper Falls. In our discussions with Needham Street neighbors over the last 10 years, we have found no one who thinks
City Council to elect its president on Thursday
The newly elected and returning Newton City Councilors that will take office on Jan. 1 will elect its president, vice president and president emeritus in a caucus on Thursday Dec. 12. Current Council President Marc Laredo and Ward 2 At Large Councilor Susan Albright...How might three Northland 40Bs impact Newton’s school population?
One of the top concerns we’ve read on this blog and heard in public meetings leading up to last week’s 17-7 Northland approval, came from residents worried about what the project’s impact would be on Newton’s school population (despite an...
Thank you, Newton
The 23-acre Northland Newton Development (NND) represents an aspirational opportunity to create a national model of affordable housing, environmental sustainability, historic preservation, public parks and open space, transit demand management, accessibility,...