Great news in Newton
Great news in Newton
Good morning friends,
We have housing-related updates in all four chamber communities today, including some great news in Newton.
But first, we’re excited to announce that Darryl Settles, founder of Catalyst Ventures Development, will be the recipient of this year’s R.L. Tennant Award — the chamber’s highest honor — at our Nov. 1 Fall Business Breakfast at the Newton Marriott.
The award recognizes individuals who’ve gone above and beyond for our communities. That totally describes Settles.
Settles’ career spans the hospitality, business development and real estate sectors. His work as a civic activist, mentor, community organizer, civic activist and genuinely good guy, inspires us. We’re delighted to be honoring him.
New rule requires making it easier to cancel
A new rule from the Federal Trade Commission requires retailers, gyms and other businesses to make canceling subscriptions as easy as enrolling in them, and to make the subscription process more transparent, NPR reports.
The FTC says the rule will bar vendors from forcing consumers to talk to a live or virtual representative to cancel a subscription if it wasn’t required during the sign-up process.
Most of the new requirements go into effect in about six months.
Deeply affordable homes approved for Newtonville
Nearly 300 individuals and families will get a chance to move to, or stay in, Newton.
That’s thanks to the Zoning Board of Appeals which this week unanimously approved Boylston Properties 40B project to turn this eyesore in a multi-family at 78 Crafts St. in Newtonville.
This one is especially noteworthy because every fifth unit — 59 in total — will be priced 50% area median income, instead of the 80% AMI more typically used in 40B projects.
Rent for a three-bedroom affordable unit for a family of four will be $1,446. That’s significantly below market rents in Newton.
"This project achieves what no other development in Newton has provided – 59 deed-restricted apartments at 50% of AMI -- despite the enormous need for affordable homes,” says Lynn Weissberg from Newton’s tenacious citizens’ housing advocacy group Engine 6.
“This housing begins to answer the unmet need for city workers and young families to live here. With housing out of reach in Newton, people have been forced to live far from Newton, with commutes of up to two hours per day,”
The 295-unit apartment complex will be in walking distance of the commuter rail, stores and restaurants. The buildings will meet high energy efficiency Passive House standard.
More Needham businesses say ‘we need housing’
More Needham businesses have added their names to a letter urging Town Meeting to go big on complying with the MBTA Communities Act.
Thirty-five local employers have now signed onto the letter supporting the Neighborhood Housing Plan, the more ambitious of two housing proposals, which is up for a vote before Special Town Meeting Monday (Oct. 21)
New to the letter since it was sent Tuesday are: First Light Home Care of West Suburban Boston, Trinity Law Group, Proud Mary, Dedham Savings, Shark Ninja, Eastern Bank, Oram Cybersecurity Advisors and BigBelly Solar.
"We desperately need more housing in Needham so that we can attract and retain both our professional office staff and in-the-field Certified Nursing Assistants to provide needed care for seniors,” said Steve Stern, co-owner at First Light Home Care.
“Over the past few years, we've seen staff members move further and further away from our primary service areas …and that, unfortunately, reduces our ability to meet the needs of the elderly in our communities who would like to remain safely and independently in their own homes," Stern added.
At a Needham Finance Committee meeting this week, Tina Burgos reminded colleagues that she used to run a retail store in Needham that failed to thrive because it lacked foot traffic.
“I moved my business to Newton Highlands because it wasn't working out here,” she said. “[The Neighborhood Housing Plan] is an opportunity for us to develop an environment [in Needham] where these businesses can take off.
“We can develop and strengthen our local economy.”
The Needham Observer’s Peter O’Neil explains what we can expect on Monday. Here’s a report from the Needham Channel. And here’s the chamber’s letter to Town Meeting
If you represent a Needham-based employer and would like to add your company or nonprofit to the list before Monday email Max Woolf.
Meanwhile in Wellesley…
Wellesley’s Special Town Meeting, also on Monday, has two housing zoning items on its agenda.
Here’s our letter in support of Articles 16 and 17, the Residential Incentive Overlays for Washington Court and Walnut Street, two multi-family projects in Lower Falls.
And Watertown…
The Watertown City Council and Planning Boards began to dig into the details of its ambitious zoning plan this week to transform Watertown Square which will also comply with the state’s MBTA Communities Law. Watertown News has details.
Along with the square, the proposal includes zoning changes to allow the creation of Accessory Dwelling Units across the city in time for the state’s February deadline.
The boards have until Dec. 31 to complete deliberations.
Friday grab bag
- The nonprofit Family ACCESS, which provides childcare, preschool and other family programs in West Newton, has received a $650,000 Community Preservation Grant for upgrades. Without improvements, Family ACCESS would have been forced to reduce childcare slots for its youngest clients 80%.
- Seventy-nine days since the Legislature ended formal sessions, lawmakers have reportedly reached an agreement on the stalled climate bill. A source says deliberations on the economic development bill is down to resolving “the little stuff.”
- The Newton Harvest Fair and Green Newton’s Green Expo returns to Newton Centre, Sunday (Oct. 20) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also that morning is the remarkable Paddy’s Road Race in West Newton.
- Also Sunday: The Needham Human Rights Committee and Needham Diversity Initiative Needham Multicultural Festival, 1-5 p.m. at Needham High School. It’s free.
- Watertown has received a nearly million-dollar grant from the US Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets program, plus a matching state grant. Funds will used to conduct a citywide speed limit study, an educational campaign and data-driven activities.
- Donate gently used coats now, or purchase a coat during, the Needham Community Council’s upcoming annual coat sale, Oct. 24-26. Proceeds support the council’s work.
- After 36 years, Little India on Moody Street in Waltham will close Nov. 30 because its lease was not renewed. (WCAC-TV)
- The Green Line's D branch will be out of service this weekend between Riverside and Brookline Hills for signal work.
- Wellesley Catch Connect has extended it transit service to evening service hours to 8:45p.m.
- A reminder to voters in Needham and part of Newton: You have the very rare opportunity to elect a new state representative this November. View our 2024 debates here.
Remembering Frank Condon
Finally this morning, our deepest condolences to Needham Realtor, philanthropist, and super volunteer Louise V. Condon, colleagues, family and friends of Louise’s beloved husband Frank Condon, 89, who passed away earlier this week.
Louise met Frank, at the age of 16 at the Voice of Democracy contest (Louise won). Frank's first job with Westinghouse took the family to Ohio then New York City and Connecticut. A career change for Frank brought the family to Needham in 1968 where they raised seven children in a house on Hazelton Avenue, according to this Needham Rotary bio.
And that’s what you need to know for today, unless you need to know why we still sign credit card receipts even though credit card companies no longer require them.
Have a great weekend.
President & CEO
Charles River Regional Chamber
617.244.1688