Good morning friends,

State to Wellesley: Keep the woods; we just want the MassBay parking lot for housing

Housing Secretary Ed Augustus told Wellesley Town officials last week the state has no interest in seeing the woods adjacent to the MassBay Campus developed for housing, Select Board Chair Marjorie Freiman said this week.

Instead, the Commonwealth is seeking a developer to build 180 housing units on a 5-acre parking lot and possibly a small wooded area adjacent to the lot.  (See map below.)

“Residents should take some comfort in knowing that they’re not looking to develop the forest, they’re looking at perhaps a little bit of land beyond the parking lot,” Freiman announced at the end of Tuesday’s board meeting. (Video at 2:26:47)

“They see it as an opportunity to preserve 39 or 40 acres of the 45 acres,” Freiman said, adding that they would “look to find a developer that would commit to keeping the land undisturbed and to provide legal protection on the land.”

Concerns about losing the woods have been a source of considerable angst in town for months, to put it mildly.

Whether opponents will now shift their primary objections to density or height —or welcome the idea of helping address the need for housing—remains to be seen.

However, Freiman said Augustus indicated that 180 units (the number allowed by-right under the state’s Affordable Homes Act) is not negotiable.

And despite Augustus’ commitment to permanently protect the woods, earlier in Tuesday’s meeting the Select Board voted to retain legal counsel to represent the town as discussions with the state continue.

Freiman did not outline what potential litigation would look like, but emphasized that “litigation is not the preferred method of resolution, but emotions are running very high, and the board will explore all options to protect the town and residents.”

Here’s hoping this allows those emotions to cool and prompts those town leaders who privately tell us they support greater housing diversity to lead by backing this opportunity.

This map above shows the state-owned MassBay property outlined in blue, including the five-acre parking lot at the top right along Oakland St. The state says housing would only be developed in the parking lot, along with possibly a small adjacent wooded area. Most of the woods would be preserved.

Holiday shopping surge

Despite waning confidence in the economy, a record number of shoppers are expected to turn out Saturday, the final weekend before Christmas and just two nights before Hanukkah wraps up.

According to a new National Retail Federation survey, an estimated 158.9 million people plan to shop on what retailers call “Super Saturday.” That includes 45% of participants who plan to shop both online and in-store; 29% who will only visit physical stores and 26% will only shop online.

That makes this the perfect time to remind us all that where we shop matters as much as what we buy.

Shopping locally fuels our small businesses, keeps our downtowns and village centers vibrant and strengthens our local economy.  Plus, you’ll find personable service, curated inventory and your money will stay local.

That’s why we encourage you, along with friends and family, to follow the Hierarchy of Shopping:

• First: Shop at a local independent business.
• Second: Shop at a local chain.
• Third: Shop online with a small retailer or brand.
• Fourth: Review steps one through three one final time.
• Fifth: Give in and buy from a major online site only if you truly need it.

Looking for a chamber member retailer? Browse here.  

Or, maybe a restaurant gift card? Ta-da!

And don’t forget: Our holiday gift-giving can—and should—include the arts. We have suggestions for that, too.

Green Line safety measures are finally here

The MBTA expects to complete installation of long-anticipated anti-collision technology along the entire D Line and the underground portions of the Green Line by the end of the year.

The system provides onboard alerts warning operators of stalled vehicles or other obstacles on the tracks—more than 16 years after a gruesome crash on the D-Line in Waban prompted federal regulators to recommend the system.

Installation on the B, C and E branches is scheduled for the spring. A second phase, targeted for completion in 2028, will add automatic speed control and braking.

CommonWealth Beacon has the State House News story.

Friday grab bag 

• Wellesley College’s 2026 Job & Internship Career Fair on March 31 (3–6 p.m.), offers employers a chance to connect with students and alums from Wellesley, Babson and Olin for full-time and summer roles. Registration for employers is open through March 20.
  
  
• Here’s an idea for Newton Mayor-elect Laredo’s new economic development team: The Town of Brookline produces an annual survey of vacant storefronts.  If Newton or any of our other chamber communities do this too, I’m not aware of it.
  
  
• And here’s something that should help Laredo’s team attract and retain businesses:  It’s the new zoning amendment passed by this year’s City Council which removes parking requirements for businesses in and around Newton’s village centers and reduces parking requirements for restaurant and retail uses in other districts.
  
  
• Black & blue in  Wellesley has two new event spaces.  The Club Room accommodates up to 40 guests. The Board Room can hold 14 guests. (Swellesley Report)
  
  
• Mark’s Moving & Storage has launched a specialized Senior Relocation Services program, offering concierge-style planning, packing, storage, and support tailored to older adults and their families during major life transitions.
  
  
• Workbar Needham (which we’re proud to call the chamber’s home) is expanding by 12,000 SF to become its largest location to nearly 40,000 SF, with more coworking areas, offices and meeting spaces. The new space opens in May 2026. Pre-leasing is available through Jan. 15. (BBJ)
  
  
• Following a Trump administration policy change, the Needham Select Board voted to reject a federal grant that would have funded a pilot to test a reconfiguration of Great Plain Ave. The Needham Observer explains and also recounts a tense protocol discussion between two board members.
  
  
• After almost 80 years, the Greenberg family is retiring from its home decor business, Debsan in Natick, but the operation may continue with a new owner. (Natick Report)
  
  
• Foghorn Therapeutics, who have moved in at 99 Coolidge Ave after signing one of the largest 2025 Watertown lab leases this past summer.  (Watertown Bio)

What comes next for housing in Massachusetts?

The MBTA Communities Act was the most significant zoning reform in Massachusetts in decades — but it was never meant to solve the housing crisis on its own.

Four years later, housing costs remain high and communities are still working through implementation.

I hope you’ll join us at our next Real Estate Forum on Jan. 27 for a candid discussion of what MBTA-C has accomplished, where it has fallen short and what policies, tools and political strategies should come next to boost housing supply and affordability in 2026 and beyond. Register.

Multi-tenant Needham campus sold

The multi-tenant office campus at 140 Kendrick St. in Needham has new owners.

Long time owner BXP sold the three-connected building property overlooking Cutler Park and Kendrick Pond to Lincoln Property Co. and Cross Ocean Partners for $132 million, reports Steve Adams at Banker & Tradesman.

The complex is more 96 percent occupied by tenants including Wellington Management, Clarks and Walker & Dunlop. Cyberark (a long-time mainstay on Wells Ave, in Newton) and Focus Partners Wealth recently signed leases to locate there as well.

BXP, then known as Boston Properties, originally redeveloped the site in 2000 as PTC's headquarters.

Coming in 2026: Our nonprofit volunteer directory  

Finally, we’re launching a new initiative in 2026 to connect chamber nonprofits with local businesses looking for volunteer opportunities.

Our businesses frequently ask how they can help our nonprofits — we hope this directory helps connect the two.

Nonprofit members are invited to submit volunteer opportunities using the Nonprofit Volunteer Opportunity Form before Jan. 6.

And that’s what you need to know for today unless you need to know about the guy who taught an octopus to play piano.

Enjoy the weekend.

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

I value your feedback

Max Woolf contributed to today’s newsletter.