Good morning!

A new BBJ analysis of Census data found that the state’s highest concentrations of wealth are in our Charles River Regional Chamber communities.

Massachusetts’ top four ZIP codes for wealth were all in Newton.

Waban (02468) topped the list, followed by West Newton (02465), Newton Center (02459) and Newton Highlands (02461).

Wellesley Hills (02481) and the area including Wellesley Square (02482) and Needham Heights (02494) all made the top-10. Yet, another Needham ZIP (02492) ranked No. 11.

That’s 8 out of eleven.

We’re also thrilled not to appear on the Saddest, Unhappiest Cities in America list.

In other words: If your business is looking for purchasing power, you’re happily sitting in the middle of it.

Oh, and if you’re not yet a Chamber member, what are you waiting for?

We’re also home to an outstanding community college

Wait, there’s more: The national personal finance company WalletHub just ranked MassBay Community College as the No. 1 community college in Massachusetts.

WalletHub sampled 613 colleges across the country and based its rankings on three key dimensions: 1) cost & financing, 2) education outcomes and 3) career outcomes. 

MassBay, with campuses in Wellesley and Framingham, also ranked No. 15 nationally for career outcomes.

I hear they have a lovely surplus parking lot, too.

Now we need to do a better job of sharing what we have

Few parcels in Needham seem better suited to add housing than 193 Garden St.

The 30,000 SF property (in the heart of the No. 11 wealthiest ZIP code) sits just steps from the commuter rail, Needham Center’s shops and restaurants and some of the region’s best public schools. Multifamily housing flanks it on one side. Commercial development on the other.

In other words, it’s exactly the kind of transit-oriented location where we should be welcoming folks to live in the midst of a soul-crushing housing shortage.

Instead, the five-member Needham Select Board appears to be pushing in the opposite direction.

Earlier this month, local developer Michael Tedoldi presented plans to build five duplexes on the property. But the proposal drew substantial pushback from the board.

“This just feels too dense,” said Select Board member Kevin Keane. “I look at this now; I’m really not in favor of this.” Two other board members — Josh  Levy and Bill Dermody  — had similar reservations.

Needham zoning does not allow the project as proposed. But Tedoldi is pursuing a “friendly 40B” (with 30% affordable, above the required 25%), which can allow more housing when a developer and municipality work together. That gives the Select Board considerable influence over the final proposal.

Alas, Tedoldi is now expected to return with revised plans, likely with fewer units.

Friday grab bag

• Our deepest condolences to the family and friends, as well as the staff at the West Suburban YMCA and Camp Chickami, over the tragic death of 8-year-old Mason Sundberg.
  
  
• Metro West CD and Civico Development's brand-new 43 affordable rental unit community at the site of the historic Armory building in West Newton is accepting applications through Sept. 18.
  
  
• IMPACTO, our Chamber’s networking group supporting Latino professionals and leaders, is hosting a morning coffee on Thurs. Aug. 27 (8:30–10 a.m.) at Tree Stone Kitchen Studio in Newton. Open to all, not just Latino professionals. RSVP
  
  
• Watertown biotech LifeMine Therapeutics raised $263 million this year, the city’s largest life science funding raise of the year. The company is betting that fungi — already the source of drugs like penicillin — could unlock a new generation of treatments, including preventing organ transplant rejection. (Watertown Bio)
  
  
• Hungry? Fig City News reports on 12 Newton restaurant openings and reopenings and nine closings since the end of last year.
  
  
• Still hungry? Brookline.news has a similar restaurant update in its new Brookline Eats newsletter.
  
  
• Fig City News also has more details about Mark Development’s proposed changes to its Riverside station project, including converting one of the planned residential buildings to senior housing, reducing the project’s overall number of apartments, and shortening the height of its main parking garage.
  
  
• The Wellesley Police Department, which began testing a Flock automated license plate reader in spring of 2025, has ended its trial of the controversial devices about a year early. (Swellesley Report)
  
  
• Needham Bank has opened its newest branch in Boston’s Prudential Center, bringing the total to 22 branches in Greater Boston and southeast New Hampshire. (Banker & Tradesman)
  
  
• The early bird deadline to apply for an exhibitor booth at our 2026 Needham Harvest Fair is Monday (Aug. 24). Applications submitted after that date will be reviewed and accepted on a rolling basis.
  
  
• The League of Women Voters Newton, with NewTV and other area leagues, hosted candidate forums this summer for upcoming primary races, including the contest between Rep. John Lawn and Alison Leary. Watch on NewTV's Decision 2026 page
  
  
• Scroll down to watch the video from yesterday’s Chamber debate between Sen. Will Brownsberger and challenger Daniel Lander and read State House News and GBH coverage.

Watertown's SiTration lands federal funding

A Watertown clean-tech company just got a major boost from Washington.

SiTration, which runs its R&D facility at  K.S. Partners’ lab building at165 Dexter Ave., was selected for the U.S. Department of Energy's Mines and Metals Capacity Expansion Program — one of nine projects splitting $162 million in federal funding.

The MIT-born company recovers valuable metals and critical minerals from mining waste, recycled materials and other industrial streams — resources increasingly important to domestic manufacturing and energy security.

The funding will help SiTration move from lab to working prototype.

A fix for West Newton's biggest complaint

Finally, West Newton has no shortage of great restaurants, shops and, of course, the beloved West Newton Cinema.

What it lacks is parking.

In fact, parking in West Newton may be the complaint we hear most frequently about any village center in our footprint.

Now, thanks to Joe Albanse, CEO at Commodore Builders, comes a new option.

At the urging of city leaders and local businesses, he’s opening part of his employee garage to the public as part of a two-month pilot program.

Located just off Chestnut Street, across from Hilliards Chocolates, 55 spaces are now available to the public on weekday evenings and weekends.

Commodore has contracted with LAZ Parking to operate the garage safely and securely. Rates start at $3/hour, with a $20 daily maximum. That’s pricier than Newton's usual free nights and Sundays, but a bargain next to most places and a godsend if you've ever frantically circled the square before dinner or a movie.

Parking can be paid for on-site with a QR code, or reserved in advance. And here’s what’s playing at the cinema.

We applaud Commodore for stepping up as a good neighbor to our West Newton businesses.

That’s what you need to know for today — unless you need to know where you can eat steak in the nude, or which chairs at the same restaurant you might want to avoid the next day.

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

Max Woolf contributed to today’s newsletter.

P.S. I had the privilege of hosting our debate yesterday for one of the state’s most closely watched legislative contests between Sen. Will Brownsberger and challenger Daniel Lander. They’re competing in the Sept. 1 Democratic primary to represent Watertown, Belmont and parts of Boston and Cambridge. Here’s what they had to say: