Kouril Grieser: Apartments in the burbs are ‘reversing the American Dream’
I’m glad I wasn’t drinking a glass of milk this morning when I read Katheleen Kouril Grieser’s latest TAB column in opposition to the redevelopment of the Orr Block Building in Newtonville.
Because even in a year where political discourse has veered off into ugly directions, Kouril Grieser’s assertion that projects like the one businessman Robert Korff has proposed for the corner of Washington and Walnut Streets is “reversing the American Dream” is stunning.
If I understand Kouril Grieser’s position correctly (and, granted, she can be confusing) seniors, singles, young families, childless couples or anyone else who might believe an apartment in Newtonville close to transportation, a grocery store, a pharmacy, great restaurants, an arts center and other amenities would be a great place to live are — unbeknownst to them — “settling” for something less than the American Dream.
In addition, Kouril Grieser declares, those same misinformed apartment dwellers are ALSO “destroying the dreams of everyday Newton residents” who choose
State keeps saying Newton hasn’t met its 40B threshold. So why does the city keep claiming we have?
Various state agencies have continually determined that Newton has not met the 1.5 percent threshold that would provide a 40B exemption. So why does Mayor Warren’s Planning Department and ZBA continue to dispute that? Read Jonathan Dame’s latest story for Wicked Local Newton here.
TAB: More homes sold for over $2M than for under $600K
The TAB’s Jonathan Dame has the discouraging figures and a graphic to illustrate it..
In 2015, for the first time ever, more homes sold for over $2 million than for under $600,000.
Just 9 percent of homes sold for less than $600,000 – down from more than 32 percent in 2009. And only two homes out of 734 – 0.27 percent – sold for less than $400,000.
Washington Place developer offers two design options
Jonathan Dame reports for Wicked Local Newton.
The developer looking to rebuild the Orr block in Newtonville Tuesday night presented city councilors and the public with two new design options for its proposed mixed-use project.
The developer has a preference – and councilors appeared to have one, too – but Damien Chaviano of Mark Investment Inc. said his firm would be happy to build either.
Next Washington Place project public hearing this Thursday
The next City Council Land Use Committee public hearing on the Washington Place project is this Thursday Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. At the last hearing on Sept. 13, the developer presented new details on affordability. In addition to 15 percent of units being affordable to...Snout houses proposed for St. Philip Neri, ZBA this Thursday
The project at 1521 Beacon, listed in the Mayor’s housing plan as a target for medium/high density housing, has gone from the original 40B proposal with dozens of affordable units down to two homes and eight townhomes, only two of them affordable. This site was...Globe story about suburban tension over affordable house
From today’s Boston Globe, here’s a rather sobering article about the state of affordable housing in the greater Boston area with a look at some of the recent struggles in Newton and a not-very-flattering story about Setti Warren. Here’s an excerpt...
Is Setti Warren running for governor?
Check out this opinion piece by Newton Mayor Setti Warren that appears on bostonglobe.com (perhaps it’s going to be in tomorrow’s paper?). Headlined “How to make housing affordable,” our mayor writes about housing challenges for the shrinking...Private Waban club worries ‘renters’ might be able to ‘see’ children swimming
The board of directors at the private Windsor Club have sent this letter to it members calling for opposition to a proposed 40B development at 1615 Beacon Street (at the corner of Windsor Street) in Waban Center. I’ve highlighted three sections highlighted...Orr building developer unveils version 2.0
Developer Robert Korff presented a new proposal for the Orr building project in Newtonvile last week and Jonathan Dame of the TAB has the details. Initial plans were for one six-story building stretching from the intersection of Washington and Walnut streets down to...Rowe Street 40B project withdrawn by developer
Dinosaur Rowe LLC has withdrawn its permit application to build a 135-unit affordable housing project on Rowe Street in Auburndale and now says the property will remain in industrial use “for the foreseeable future,” Jonathan Dame of the Newton TAB...