By the end of this year, 175 communities across Massachusetts (including the four served by our chamber) must have in place a plan for complying with a new housing law that aims to make it easier to build smaller, multi-family homes close to public transit.
The new MBTA Communities Law could go a long way towards untangling the local zoning restrictions that have contributed to a housing crisis that undermines our region’s competitiveness and diversity and contributes to traffic, sprawl and carbon emissions.
In Newton, some city councilors have brazenly suggested ignoring the law.
But in Needham, Watertown and Wellesley, officials are all signaling that they plan to fully comply.
Already Wellesley officials say they believe the requirements can be met. In fact, the town already has zoning that allows for multi-family homes downtown that may very well meet the requirements.
Watertown officials are also fully onboard with the concept, with one requested change: The city is planning to ask the state to relocate its designated zone from the area bordering Waverley Station on the Belmont line to Watertown Square, adjacent to the Watertown Yard bus depot, reports Watertown News.
“A multifamily zoning district in the Watertown Square area would align with an existing vision of denser, mixed use development,” Steve Magoon, Director of Community Development and Planning and Acting Deputy City Manager wrote in a letter to the city council.
“Even the transit-connectivity of such a district is better: Watertown Square has multiple bus lines and pedestrian access.”
A new research report by Bank of America, which is not yet publicly available, has pinpointed the 10 biggest areas where resource scarcity is set to affect global markets over the next few decades, according to Fortune.
Some of them, like fresh water or livable air, are unsurprising. But others, like health care services, attention spans, and free time, paint a grim picture of the future.
Pepper spray used against front line workers in Newton
Shoplifters used pepper spray against retail workers in Newton in two recent incidents, reports NBC10.
On Sunday, a woman was caught on surveillance camera walking out of the TJ Maxx store on Needham Street carrying two pink Balenciaga bags and a St. Laurent hoodie in one hand. With the other hand, she was spraying an employee in the face.
The employee was taken to a hospital because her eyes were swollen shut.
?Police are also looking for two women they say were involved in a robbery at a CVS in Newton in early February. One of them is also accused of pepper spraying an employee in the face when they tried to intervene.
“We never want anybody, any employee, to ever try to stop someone, ever try to get involved in any way," Newton police Lt. Bruce Apotheker told WCVB. "The way you should get involved is by being our eyes and ears."
Other need to knows
In honor of International Womens Day, Let's Talk Womxn of Boston is hosting multi-restaurant tasting dinner March 8 paired with a Zoom conversation moderated by Jenny Johnson with 16 of the best women restaurateurs in Boston. Participants include Seana Gaherin (Dunn Gaherin's), Nancy Cushman (Bianca and o ya) and Katie Smith (Thistle and Leek). Tickets and info.
?
Baza Market on Tower Road in Newton, has long been a place to find Eastern European and Russian grocery products but has decided cease to the imports of Russian goods products according to its Facebook page.
Lise Olney was reelected to the Wellesley Select Board this week. More results here.
Amazon plans to close all 68 of its brick-and-mortar bookstores, pop-ups and shops carrying toys and home goods in the United States and will would focus more on its grocery markets and a department store concept going forward (Reuters)
Congratulations to our friends at the Needham Community Council who are celebrating ten years in their building at 570 Hillside Ave. and released this commemorative video. If you have some time to volunteer at the council’s food pantry or other programs, go here.
Rabinoff-Goldman will succeed Mark Sokoll, who will be retiring at the end of June after 33 years of service to the JCC.
Rabinoff-Goldman currently serves as the Assistant Head of School at Gann Academy, where she started as an English teacher.
And the amazing Sokoll -- who I’ve had the honor of working with for more than a decade as a member of our chamber’s board of directors -- will be honored on May 19 at the Leventhal-Sidman JCC. Put it on your calendar. Better yet, get your tickets now.
Wellesley retail properties change hands
Linear Retail Propertiesjust expanded its downtown Wellesley footprint.
The company has acquired two buildings, totaling 17,000 square feet, on Central Street for $12.25 million.
The DiSchino family were the original builders of these properties in the 1920’s,
“The family has supported small businesses and contributed greatly to the vibrancy of Wellesley Square," said Aubrey Cannuscio, co-CEO of Linear Retail. "The Linear team understands the importance of our stewardship of these properties, and we will continue the work of the DiSchino family to enhance the vitality and charm of Wellesley Square.”
Current tenants at 25-35 Central Street include Footstock, Laurel Grove, Marika’s Salon, Skinscapes, and Winston Flowers, with one small ground floor retail space available. 53-61 Central Street is currently fully leased to Cocobeet, Eileen Fisher, Lacrosse Unlimited, O’Neil Jewelers, and Wellesley Toy Shop.
Finally, this morning, I received this email (edited for brevity) from a woman named Adriana in response to an item in Tuesday’s Need to Knows about state Rep. Patrick Kearney proposed bill banning the purchase of all Russian-made products in Massachusetts:
“I am a Polish born American citizen. I work with Russians and Ukrainians on daily basis. After reading [your] email I cannot believe how much people don’t understand that people who are Russians and live in United States, they actually escape the regime, they don’t agree with it, and they don’t deserve to be treated the way it’s suggested. They created new life here in the United States, hoping to be treated equally.
“How does this even make sense to close small businesses and not support Russian run businesses? …They run businesses here, pay taxes, have bills to pay, just like any other American citizen would.
“These people have nothing to do with Putin and they have nothing to do with what’s happening at the moment. They help Ukrainians, they work together, they treat them like family members.
“Russians escaped the regime because they didn’t agree with it and they were looking for a better life in this beautiful country. Please don’t ruin it for them. They have nothing to do with this.
“We do not need more hate!"
That’s today’s Need to Knows, unless you need to know why Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was scolding some of his own state’s college students yesterday.
