Good morning,

Despite all those rainy weekends during the first half of summer, we’re once again facing significant drought conditions.

Even this weekend’s rain did little to elevate the water levels of our favorite river, as you can see from the flow gauge measuring Charles River levels in Dover. (Select the “one-year” view to see how we’re basically back at last year’s significant lows.)

This week Needham imposed new watering restrictions. Wellesley updates here.

Needham reboots downtown improvement plan

Back in May, Needham Center businesses and residents convinced town leaders to put the brakes on a plan to pilot narrowing Great Plain Ave. from four to two lanes.

Their objections were primarily due to concerns about losing parking and opposition to bike lanes. Worries that a year-long pilot would disrupt business were prevalent, too.

So the select board asked Apex, the project’s consulting team, to go back to the drawing board and develop three alternatives to the original concept, with different lane configurations, and critically, no required bike lanes.

We got our first look at the three new ‘concepts’ at a meeting of the Envision Needham Working Group on Wednesday.

Despite early fears that any road diet would reduce parking, one option could yield more parking, while the other two might maintain the current number of spots.

• 4-lane alternative: Makes the fewest changes. Keeps four lanes throughout the corridor, maintains parking, and expands sidewalks only minimally. No changes are proposed across from the Town Common.
  
  
• 2-lane with turning lanes: Reduces travel lanes to two with turning lanes at intersections. Expands sidewalks, shortens crosswalks by 15–30 feet, and keeps the same amount of parking.
  
  
• 2-lane alternative: Converts the corridor fully to two lanes, freeing up space for outdoor dining and pedestrian amenities. Crosswalks are shortened by 20–40 feet. Seven additional parking spaces are created.

The town will now launch a months-long public outreach process (including staffing a booth at the Harvest Fair on Oct. 5) before the select board votes on its preferred lane configuration by December.

But even if a consensus emerges this year (and there’s an anonymous opposition group that launched a website this week that could make that challenging … and why are they anonymous anyway?), there are still years of design work, construction and identifying funding ahead.

Which means it could be a long time before the town’s existing and future businesses, their customers and the town’s tax collections could benefit from any enhancements. However, some work is being done this fall to improve traffic flow by adjusting traffic lights.

I value your feedback.

New opportunity to live in Newtonville

If the stars align, more people will soon have the opportunity to call Newtonville home.

Atlanta-based Wood Partners has filed plans for a 234-unit multi-family project at 38 Crafts St., directly behind Whole Foods Market.

The 2.7-acre industrial site was previously approved for senior housing by Mark Development in 2022. But due to a market shift, Wood acquired the property in June with plans to pursue a Chapter 40B project there instead, reports Steve Adams of Banker & Tradesman, with 59 homes designated as affordable.

This proposal follows Boylston Properties’ 295-unit 40B at 78 Crafts St., next door, approved last fall, making this the second significant 40B development on the block.

Currently, Newton has reached its “safe harbor threshold,” meaning it has permitted enough affordable housing units to allow the Zoning Board of Appeals to reject 40B applications. However, the city is expected to fall below that threshold soon, opening a path for Wood.

This proposal joins several significant developments in Newtonville permitted over the past decade. That helped convince state and federal officials to commit to reconfiguring the Newtonville commuter rail station. Once completed, it would add two platforms, more frequent service and full accessibility to the station.

Related:Banker & Tradesman’s Steve Adams looks at some other nearby 40B projects, including the so-called “Weston Whopper” and City Realty Group’s project in Brookline.

….and in Newton Upper Falls

A beautiful stone building you may have passed and admired in Newton Upper Falls, could soon provide homes for six individuals or families.

On Tuesday, the city council’s Land Use Committee unanimously backed plans to refurbish and reuse the historic “Pettee Stone Barn,” mostly within its existing envelope.

Constructed around 1840, the adaptive reuse will preserve the former silkworm farm’s historic character while allowing it to be enjoyed by new

The proposal still needs full council approval.

Health insurance coverage at risk for ten of thousands

Tens of thousands of individuals who receive health insurance through the state's health insurance marketplace will or could lose subsidized coverage through the Health Connector due to changes in federal law, Alison Kuznitz at State House News reports.

Disruptions from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act are expected to initially impact 36,000 members who are noncitizens but lawfully present here, starting Jan. 1.

The exchange has launched a webpage to help explain the federal policy shifts to members and outline the types of coverage that are in jeopardy. State law requires most residents to have health insurance coverage for an entire year or face a tax penalty, Kuznitz adds.

Friday grab bag

• As the redevelopment of Watertown Square proceeds (see Tuesday’s newsletter), the city has relaunched the square’s website.  Also: Sign-up for their newsletter.
• Don’t miss your chance to nominate Wellesley-based businesses and individuals who've had a special impact on the town for our second annual Wellesley Business Awards. Nominations close next week (Sept. 18).
• David Fenton is the new CEO at Newton-based Cranshaw Construction. He joins Cranshaw after more than 20 years at Suffolk Construction.
• Newton Police Chief George McMains, who has been with the department for 29 years, is retiring effective Jan. 8.  (Newton Beacon)
• Former Needham librarian Elizabeth LaRosee will serve as the town’s next deputy town manager. (Needham Local)
• Faire on the Square returns tomorrow (Saturday) in Watertown, noon to 5 p.m. at Saltonstall Park.  
• NBC10 provided an update this week on MetroWest Collaborative and Civico Development’s efforts to convert the West Newton Armory into housing.
• Applications are open for Watertown’s Got Talent at Arsenal Yards. Watertown residents of all ages can submit a video and talent description to hello@arsenalyards.com by Sept. 29.
• Boston College students spotted a marked Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle near campus during a Spanish-language church service over the weekend. It was the first confirmed sighting of immigration officials around university property, according to the BC Heights, and drew a harsh rebuke from Gov. Healey as an attempt to “scare people.”
• Job seekers can connect directly with employers at The Street Chestnut Hill Hiring Day, Tues. (Sept. 16), noon–3 p.m.
• Explore new and different ways you can address the DEI-related challenges in your workplace on Tuesday (Sept. 16) at noon, at our free chamber webinar.
• Mass. Taxpayers Foundation and Associated Industries of Massachusetts hosts a hybrid event on Sept. 18 at 11 a.m. on tax credits and housing production at AIM’s Boston office.
• Newton native Jeremy Lewin reportedly gave the order to destroy millions of dollars’ worth of contraceptives destined for people in low-income countries. (New York Times)
• We’re hosting a virtual debate for Watertown’s at-large council race on Oct. 10 at 9 a.m. Full schedule here.
• Today and every Friday when school is in session, Baramor in Newton Centre hosts a special Teacher Appreciation Happy Hour, 2:30–4:30 p.m.  
• Help grow your chamber community: Do you know a business or nonprofit organization that would benefit from belonging? Submit your referral. When they join the chamber, we’ll thank you with a $25 gift card to a member restaurant of your choice.

Newton Night: Are you in?

You don’t have to be from the Garden City to attend our first annual Newton Night event, this coming Wednesday at the West Newton Cinema.

After nearly 5,000 votes and a careful review by our judges, we’ll be honoring several small businesses and business leaders. Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Sen. Cindy Creem, Rep. Amy Sangiolo and Rep. Greg Schwartz will be among our guest presenters.

The evening also includes lots of time for socializing and networking, along with food and beverages.  Tickets here

Hey, Josh Kraft: You coulda been a contender

Yes, I know I’ve written this before. But I’m going to say it one final time.

But it’s too bad that Josh Kraft – a Newton resident for most of his adult life who moved to Boston in 2023 and just quit Boston’s mayor’s race — didn’t try to be mayor of Newton instead.

Newton’s all but 100% certain next mayor, Marc Laredo, deserves credit for thoughtfully engaging with residents and businesses across the city, despite having no serious competition.

But the city would have benefited from a frank discussion about how its next mayor will manage an unsustainable school budget.  And Newton really needs a soul-searching debate about the kind of city it wants to be, and who gets a chance to live or stay here.

Kraft could have provided that here (and it would have cost him a heck of a lot less).

Here’s my conversation with Laredo from last week, as well as challenger Al Cecchinelli.

And that’s what you need to know for today, unless you need to know, did Einstein really say that?

Be back next week. Make today a great day.

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

Max Woolf contributed to today’s newsletter.

I value your feedback