NewTV’s election night coverage Tuesday began with a wide ranging interview with Mayor Ruthanne Fuller where she discussed Webster Woods, NewCAL, Newton Power Choice, Northland, Riverside and other developments (including breaking news about a residential tower at Chestnut Hill Square) and zoning (along with what types of development projects might be proposed in the future).
This same video also includes interviews with Gail Spector and a BU student journalist, School Committee member Steve Siegel, City Council President Marc Laredo and Councilor Cheryl Lappin, following by election results and analysis.
To listen to the Right Size argument in Newton is to hear a lot about the heights of buildings. Right Sizers living near the Northland property think it has too many apartments, while those over near Riverside fretted (until recently) that it had too few housing units...
Boston Globe columnist Jon Chesto explores an agreement between Mark Development’s Robert Korff and the Newton Lower Falls Improvement Association for Riverside Station. … Korff finally has a formula that the neighborhood apparently can live with, if not...
Mark Development has revised plans for its project at Riverside Station, reducing the project from 1,234,000 sq. ft. to 1,025,000 sq. ft. The new project would be 60 percent will be residential and 40 percent commercial. A letter and documents can be found here and...
The following originally appeared as a letter to the editor in this week’s Newton TAB. Reprinted with permission.
In a recent newsletter, Mayor Fuller informs us that the plan for Riverside has been scaled back in response to “neighbors’ concerns,” which “also means a reduction in community benefits.” She suggests attending the next City Council hearing, if we “want to be involved.” I can almost hear, “Or whatever.”
The lack of enthusiasm in the Mayor’s message is unsettling. A year ago, she signed the Metro Mayors Coalition Housing Task Force Compact with 14 other area leaders (housingtaskforce.mapc.org), affirming the dire regional housing shortage and pledging to do all she could to alleviate it.
At the time, she told the Boston Globe that housing proposals in Newton faced tough neighborhood opposition, but she had faith in the
As an appointed member of the Commission on Economic Development, I try to stay well-informed on the issues and challenges Newton faces, particularly if they impact our local economy. No surprise, one of the most relevant and “hot button” topics is tied to new...
With Zoning Redesign and a request to rezone Riverside Station in the news, a false rumor is once again making the rounds. Specifically, the word on the street is that if the City Council amends the Zoning Code or rezones a particular parcel, voters can override the...
The Lower Falls Improvement Association has proposed zoning changes for the Riverside MBTA parking lot that are supposed to encourage the creation of rentalousing in Newton. They won’t do that. The plan is a ruse to prevent any sort of development on the site. The...
At a public hearing in Newton last week on a proposal for a huge new housing and commercial development, some community members who spoke said they see density as a solution to the city’s housing problems. Dense housing, these residents said, creates a more vibrant community atmosphere, enables more use of mass transit, and helps reduce the city’s impact on climate change.
But for others, even those who want to see more
In a multi-pronged proposal to the City Council’s joint Zoning & Planning and Land Use committee meeting Tuesday, the Right Size Riverside committee (also known as Lower Falls Improvement Association) started its presentation for the Riverside MBTA station site (city documents here) with an usual request..
Don’t call the Riverside MBTA site a “Transit Oriented Development.”
Here’s how Right Sized explained its request in a memo…
“…Riverside is not robust. Located at the terminus of the Green Line D Branch, with long travel times to most major centers of employment, and with only one MBTA bus line stopping at Riverside only
Organizers of Saturday’s Porch Fest and at least some of their hosts are peeved that the anti-development group RightSize Riverside have been trying to politicize the event. Here’s an email organizers sent today.
Dear PorchFest hosts:
You may have received “RightSize Riverside” flyers this afternoon with a note encouraging you to distribute them at PorchFest.
We did not provide your contact information to the RightSize Riverside organization! It appears as if the Right Size Riverside obtained the addresses of all PorchFest hosts from the published map and brochure and elected to drop off flyers without our approval.
We feel very strongly that PorchFest is all about music and community. We received several
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