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A miracle in Needham; the Grinch in Newton

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A miracle in Needham; the Grinch in Newton

There are still a few things you need to know this week before I push send on this, our final newsletter for 2022.
 
But first, my deepest appreciation to the more than 900 businesses, nonprofits, and citizen members who make up this remarkable community and organization. Thank you for belonging to this chamber, especially these past several years, when your own bottom line may have been tenuous.
 
A special shout to the Village Bank, Needham Bank, Direct Federal, Insource Services, BID Needham, Cambridge Trust, Eastern Bank, Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Northland, UMass at Mount Ida, and the rest of our annual partners who make our very existence possible.
 
My gratitude to our chair, Chris Teachout, and our board of directors for their leadership and good counsel and to our committees, volunteers, and particularly to the chamber’s all-star staff who make every single thing this chamber does happen.
 
It takes a village to raise a business community, so thanks also to our government partners, first responders, the medical community, allies in advocacy, and civic groups for making our communities safe, vibrant, and supportive.
 
I’m also grateful to our journalists for amplifying our concerns, keeping us all connected and, no small thing, being the watchdog every democracy demands.
 
Finally, thanks for reading this newsletter and for your input, your feedback (especially when we disagree), your ideas, and your encouragement.
 
I am so very fortunate.
 
Okay, here’s what you need to know today.   
 
A holiday miracle in Needham!
 
If there was a 10-acre contaminated asphalt heat island in your community you’d think the local planning board would want to move quickly to replace it with something much better -- especially if doing so came with millions of dollars in local benefits and good-paying jobs.
 
Finally, yesterday (nearly two years after the property was rezoned and after many, many, long, late, agonizing meetings) the Needham Planning Board unanimously approved Bulfinch Company’s proposal for the old Muzi Motors site along I-95 in Needham.
 
This is really good news for Needham and our region.
 
The Highland Innovation Center would transform that barren parking lot into a first-class lab and office development while generating approximately $5 million annual net financial benefit to the town (up from less than $500,000 in the Muzi days) along with building permit, impact fees, personal property taxes, upgraded utilities, and stormwater management.
 
In addition, the company has committed to an enticing array of public amenities and substantial street and sidewalk improvements.
 
Now we just have to cross our fingers and hope that the delays and prevailing economic headwinds don’t harm Bulfinch's ability to lure one or more extraordinary new employers to town.
 
The Grinch appears in Newton
 
Just down the road in Whoville, one city councilor used a procedural maneuver to stop not one, but two projects that would create much-needed new housing from getting the green light.
 
At Large Councilor, Lenny Gentile stopped, for now, Mark Development’s proposal to create 50 apartments and a restaurant to the Santander Bank building in West Newton.
 
Gentile did not give a reason for halting the vote and did not respond to requests from the Globe for comment, reports John Hilliard.
 
He also blocked his colleagues from voting on a 9-unit residential dwelling development at 106 River Street, saying “this project is to me the poster child for the overdevelopment of a small lot,” according to Fig City News.
 
Both projects return for consideration in January.
 
Things could get frosty for development in Watertown
 
One of the big decisions facing city leaders in Watertown early next year revolves around setting a new fee on new commercial development to support creating affordable housing.
 
Gov. Charlie Baker has signed the home rule petition authorizing Watertown to charge up to $18 per square foot in linkage fees on all new commercial development, Greg Ryan at the BBJ reports.
 
Eighteen bucks are low compared to the $33.34 per square foot linkage fees in Cambridge or Boston Mayor Michelle Wu's proposal to raise Boston’s fees from $30.78 per square foot for labs and $23.09 for other commercial projects. (And thanks for the shout out Shirley Leung.)
 
But at a time when the commercial development, in general, and lab demand, in specific, is slowing will it put Watertown at a competitive disadvantage to neighboring communities that don’t require linkage payments? (Especially at a time when the city wants to revitalize Watertown Square.)
 
“It’s a decision towns and cities are really going to have to think carefully about before they add on a cost because it could have the impact of stopping development,” NAIOP Massachusetts CEO Tamara Small tells Bisnow.
 
“At such a delicate time for development and the economy, I certainly hope that it’s not the straw that breaks the camel’s back.”
 
Merchants to Wellesley: Keep downtown merry and bright
 
The Town of Wellesley is scheduled to remove the holiday lights that enliven the town’s shopping districts starting Jan. 2. 
 
Many merchants believe these joyful winter lights encourage folks to shop and dine locally and want them to stay up longer.
 
Yesterday we sent a letter to the town requesting the lights remain lit (as is the practice in many communities) through the end of January. 
 
Also under the need to knows tree
 
  • Sad to report that Craft Beer Cellar in Newton is closing at the end of the month, according to this announcement on Facebook.
 
  • Congratulations to Julie and Avi Bendavid, owners of Needham Florist, for winning this year’s Holiday Spirit contest. Presented by the chamber's Needham Business Alliance in partnership with the town, participating merchants across Needham were asked to create a welcoming vibe for the holiday season. The Bendavids chose Needham Community Council to receive the $250 prize provided by Brookline Bank’s Needham Heights branch and are making their own $250 donation to the council too. 
 
  • Massachusetts Horticultural Society's annual Festival of Trees featuring dozens of decorated trees, a festive model railroad display, and Snow Village is open through Dec. 31 at the Garden at Elm Bank’s Hunnewell Building in Wellesley Tickets
 
  • The City of Newton and Newton Community Pride are looking for artists to submit their ideas for its Celebrate Newton banner initiative. Banners will adorn approximately 100 light poles throughout the city. Artists will receive a $1,800 honorarium. Details.
 
  • Wayside Youth & Family has received a $2 million federal grant to launch a project for marginalized youth and families living in Watertown and Waltham. (Watertown News)
 
  • Trying to figure out if your symptoms are flu, COVID, RSV, or strep? Here are some clues.
 
Christmas vacation? Not for most small business owners
 
Finally, while many of us look forward to taking a week-long break over the holidays (I know I do), many small business owners won’t have the same opportunity, according to a recent survey.
 
About 40% of small business owners told FreshBooks they had not taken time off in more than a year.
 
And only 25% of small business owners say they will take a full week off over the holidays, reports Andy Medici for the Business Journals.
 
In a separate Goldman Sachs survey, 52% of small business operators said their profitability has not met their expectations, and 79% have raised prices compared to last year. Meanwhile, about 40% of owners said customer demand has decreased compared to last year.
 
And Alignable found 41% of U.S.-based businesses could not pay their rent in full and on time in November, more than at any point in 2022.
 
Economic uncertainty is a big factor for businesses of all sizes, with inflation, hiring, and benefit costs among the top worries of small-business owners and chief financial officers, alike, Medici adds.
 
We have a lot of work to do together next year.
 
 
That’s your need to knows for 2022, except you need to take a few minutes to enjoy these remarkable photos shot in 2022 by one of the very best, NBC10 Boston staff photographer Mark Garfinkel.
 
And to all a good night. See you in 2023.
 
 
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President
617.244.1688
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