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67 families never had a say in the matter

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67 families never had a say in the matter

Good morning and welcome back!


Sorry to returning after the long weekend with a story that’s basically a downer.  But here goes:


A transit-oriented, condo project in Wellesley Hills that was originally pitched to provide homes for 69 young families and down-sizing seniors (with about 10 affordable units) has been scaled back.


How far back?


The four-acre property will be reduced to two single-family homes, reports Bob Brown at the Swellesley Report.  


The original 40R proposal, along Cliff Road and Route 9, was located within walking distance shops and restaurants and the commuter rail. It seemed well-aligned with the town’s Housing Production Plan.


But it was met with ferocious neighborhood objections from day one.


One neighbor said the design resembled a “cheesy Epcot like ‘tribute to Europe.”  Another called it a  “travesty to the historic fabric” of the town. Others feared it would endanger children.


Developers Victor Sheen and Peter Holland offered to scale their project back to 40 units. But that did little to quell neighbors.


Ultimately, they could not secure select board support. The doomed project never even came up for a design review, traffic study or formal vote.


Not getting a chance to have a say in the matter were the 67 individuals or families that might have liked living there.


Hey listen up, Newton and Needham voters


If you’re a registered voter in Newton and Needham you’re experiencing a political rarity today:  Actual contested races for seats in the Massachusetts Legislature in three Democratic primaries.


Newton state Reps. Kay Khan (29 years ) and Ruth Balser (25 years), along with Needham Rep. Denise Garlick (14 years) have collectively spent nearly seven decades representing our communities on Beacon Hill, almost always getting reelected without an opponent.


They’ve all decided to retire this year. Here’s who’s looking to succeed them:


  • Also in Newton (and a small slice of Brookline), the contest to fill Balser’s 12th Middlesex seat, is between two sitting city councilors, Rick Lipof and Bill Humphrey and their former council colleague. Greg Schwartz. No Republicans or independents are running, so today’s winner will get to sit in some windowless Beacon Hill basement office with the other freshmen reps without breaking a sweat in November.


  • Five candidates want to fill Garlick’s 13th Norfolk seat covering Needham, Dover and part of Medfield.  Democrats -- Patrick Gatto, Ken Ruetenik, Josh Tarsky and write-in candidate Bhuren Patel compete today.  They’ll face off against Bill Dermody, who’s running as an unenrolled candidate in November.


These jobs don’t turn over often. Only 32 of 200 seats in the Legislature have primary opposition this year.


If you’re a voter in one of these districts, please choose thoughtfully.


Polls are open until 8 p.m.


Tuesday grab bag


  • The West Newton Cinema Foundation has competed its purchase of the historic West Newton Cinema. This acquisition prevents the theater's demolition and marks the beginning of an effort to establish a nonprofit community-run cinema. (Fig City News)

  • The Watertown State of the City address will be broadcast tomorrow (Weds)  at 6 p.m. live on WCA-TV. City Council President Mark Sideris and City Manager George Proakis will provide remarks and answer submitted questions. Watch live online.

  • The Needham Planning Board hosts an important public hearing about the town’s two MBTA Compliance Plans, Thursday (Sept.5) at 7 p.m. at Broadmeadow School. Comments to planning@needhamma.gov.

  • Newton developer RMR Group is seeking to build a a 40-story skyscraper near North Station. (Banker & Tradesman)

  • Shani DeFina, owner of Kenzie & Hope, launched a Brand Ambassador Program to empower local girls and women, featuring ambassadors from ages six to 40+  starting this September

  • Wondering what exactly Needham-based SharkNinja does and what makes them successful? This Wall Street Journal article (free link) explains.

  • Our chamber’s Young Professionals Group (between 21-40) is organizing an initiative to advocate for more housing in Greater Boston. Want to influence decision-makers but not sure how to get involved? Attend our virtual Housing Advocacy Workshop Sept. 12 at 1 p.m.

MCAS ballot question doesn’t answer key question


A new Massachusetts Teachers Association-funded 30-second ad supporting Question 2, the ballot referendum that would eliminate the10th-grade MCAS high school graduation requirement, just started streaming.


But as Michael Jonas at CommonWealth Beacon points out “despite saying the ballot question would replace the high-stakes MCAS graduation requirement, the ad doesn’t spell out what it would be replaced with.”


Opponents argue that “jettisoning the graduation test would effectively mean there is a different standard in each of the more than 300 Massachusetts school districts,” Jonas adds.


Last month our chamber joined a coalition of other business associations opposing Question 2.


The system may need reform, but we do not believe fully eliminating the Commonwealth’s only standard, without a replacement, is the answer.


What we did during your summer vacation: grow

Finally this morning, our membership team was busy this summer. 


Please say hello to the 39 new (or returning after a lengthy absence) members who joined your chamber this summer.

Not yet a member?  Apply here.  


Questions? Email membership@charlesriverchamber.com.  


We’d be honored to have you.




That’s what you need to know for today —  Telephone Tuesday — unless you want to take one last look back at everything the summer of 2024 was the summer of.


Be back Friday


Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688


P.S. Thanks Needham Observer for the recent article about our chamber’s growth.

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