Today’s Metro West section of the Boston Globe offers up some lessons for the Austin Street development. While a lot of the protests focus on the perceived loss of parking and the negative impact that may have on businesses, little has been said about the overall benefit of moving a number of individuals into a city center-like environment. As for the benefits:
Homes in suburban subdivisions are still in high demand. But town centers are increasingly being seen as an attractive alternative by some, especially young professionals and empty nesters, developers say.
With local roads and highways becoming ever more clogged by traffic, one attraction is easy access to public transportation, said Marty Jones, chief executive of the Massachusetts Development Finance Agency, which is working with communities to encourage new downtown housing.
The new multiple-unit projects being built in Natick, Waltham, and Wellesley are all within a short walk of commuter rail stations and bus lines.
During last week’s parking meeting I heard a lot of people get up and mention how long they’ve lived in Newton (and how long their families have been her). All that history is great, I love history. But we’re talking about the future of our city, not the past. We need places for our children to live, as well as our parents.
We are an inner-ring suburb and our businesses must compete with others in nearby cities. Take a look at Washington Square in Brookline, which has emerged as a key foodie destination, in large part because of its urban-like density even as it has an inner-ring suburban feel in the neighborhoods just off of Beacon Street.
We have a similar infrastructure here and we can have thriving downtown areas built on foot traffic that attract more than just banks. We just need to want it.
If people want high density urbanization, then why are they living in Newton. Why don’t they move to Boston, or Somerville, or Cambridge?
People can want a mix of low and high density. Newton has the advantage of being close to 128, making it easier to commute to certain places than it would be from Brookline, Boston, Somerville or Cambridge. It has better schools than all but Brookline and a low crime rate, plus isn’t over-run with college students if you don’t live near BC.
I don’t want high urban density like Somerville, but I do want enough density to support local village centers. Currently there is an empty store front on every block in Newton Centre. When we moved in 12 years ago, there were interesting and useful stores in NC. Part of the loss, no doubt, can be put down to internet sales. But rest of the loss is – once you get in a car, why shop local (except for take-out which can get cold).
Joshua, I don’t think it has to be either/or. Thankfully, we live in a community with a viable town square. Granted the Pike makes things more difficult for us. But from professional experience, a vibrant and happening town center, even if a suburb setting, can have a positive effect on the entire town suburb. We are never going to get to high urban density in Newtonville (not unless we make Mike happy and finally build over the Pike). But we can increase the density a bit, add some new commercial space, some new green space, maybe spruce up the village a bit, and keep enough parking to make the whole thing work. Life doesn’t have to be an either/or. We can add some density AND preserve the village feel.
I will say that the village shops seem to be turning over again. Galina (sp?) just closed due to retirement, Newtonville Pet is closing (which is really crappy, my kids loved it, and I shopped there for all things pet related), Comcast closed (no loss there), and Subway is on the path to eternal darkness for some reason.
This is an important story, thanks so much for posting this Chuck.
I fear many Newtonville residents have had the feeling that proposing a mixed-use project in their village was something of a unique concept. Some may have even wondered who might want to live in such a development?
But as this article reminds us, this is a trend that is happening nationally — including in communities near us — and that there really is a strong market and need among young professionals and seniors for housing inside our village centers.
And as Lucia and Chuck remind us, we really need more density in our village centers to support merchants there.
When I’ve lived in city centers, I became regulars on my local coffeeshop, my local bakery, my local bar, my local bodega, my local barber and my local CVS. Also my local ice cream shop. And Bank.
Now I spread all of that business out. With my car I go to Trader Joes, Whole Foods, various bars, a barber shop by work, a ice cream shop in Newton Center, etc. Walking does wonders for local buying. I started shopping at the pet food store more often when eating at Rox and Brewer’s coalition.
Couldn’t agree more with Chuck. The most charming villages are those with very compact, walkable centers that integrate housing and shops. Think of the quintessential postcard European village. Newton can and should be both urban in village centers and suburban outside of the village centers.
I agree too- we have a city with several village centers that can (and to an extent do) present that mix, with a walkable district.
Imagine what Newton Corner would be like if instead of the Cahner’s building we had housing mixed with local shops. I can’t imagine what that might ever be like: http://www.jonchase.com/#/the-fight-for-newton-corner/Nonantum_Block
(not that I am advocating for a return of the Nonantum block, but there is something to be said for that mix and that village center feel that we could have more of in many villages).
I’ll admit to wondering who would live in these condos, but then I was forced to think about the present trajectory of my life. We’re at a point where we’re thinking about what’s the best living situation for a single senior citizen so that we can see options that one or the other is living comfortably. After living with Mr. Fix-It for 34+ years, I can barely change a light bulb so I’d need a completely different living situation. A village bound condo may allow me to live independently for a few more years, with some friends around, easy access to necessary amenities, and activities at the Senior Center.
Now if the scenario were to be different – so to speak – Mr Fix-It will continuing fixing it and the deals off.