How businesses feel about the Austin Street project
Here’s the results of a survey from close to 200 respondents conducted by the Newton-Needham Chamber. Here’s a link to a letter to aldermen signed by 34 Newtonville business. And here’s a letter to...
View ArticleBy request: Further data from the Chamber’s Austin Street survey
Last week, after the Newton-Needham Chamber released the results of a poll of local business people about the Austin Street project, a few aldermen and several participants here asked if I could break...
View ArticleVIDEO: Austin St site visit – Oct 7
Last week, the developers led a delegation of aldermen on a site visit of the proposed Austin St housing/retail project in Newtonville. Here’s a two part video of the meeting courtesy of Julia Malakie...
View ArticleHow will election results affect Austin Street?
In Andy Levin’s column today, he writes that the results of the upcoming election will provide clarity on how deep the anti-development sentiment is in the community. He also suggests that, even though...
View ArticleResidents seek injunction against Austin Street Partners development
According to this press release posted on WickedLocalNewton, 12 residents have filed a “ten taxpayer” lawsuit against the city of Newton “seeking an injunction against the lease or sale of the...
View ArticleCity identifies 70 additional parking spaces in Newtonville for use during...
One of the biggest –and from my perspective most significant — concerns among merchants in Newtonville about the proposed project at Austin Street was the loss of parking spaces during construction....
View ArticleChamber of Commerce Board of Directors votes to support Austin Street
Village 14 received the following press release from the Newton-Needham Chamber of Commerce: ————————————————————————————————————————————– Chamber board votes in support of proposed mixed use project...
View ArticleBoard’s timetable for Austin Street vote
I asked BOA President Scott Lennon about the anticipated schedule for the Land Use and full board votes on Austin Street. I also wanted to make sure it didn’t have to go through any other committees...
View ArticleMayor Warren engages in ‘retail’ politics
Newton Mayor Setti Warren has been spending time meeting with Newtonville business this week to listen to their concerns and answer their questions about the Austin Street project. Here’s a few images...
View ArticleWhy I support Austin Street and Jake Auchincloss
I am a strong advocate of the Austin Street Project. Not only do I object to the argument that Newton residents bought their houses thinking things would never change, I’m offended by it. I never...
View ArticleAustin Street: The final countdown
The proposed mixed use development at Austin Street will be before the Land Use Committee for its final public hearing this Tuesday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. with another meeting scheduled for Thursday, Nov....
View ArticleUPDATED: Land Use Committee approves Austin Street project 6-1
Newton’s Land Use Committee approved the proposed mixed use project at Austin Street Thursday night, 6-1, with one abstention. Voting in favor Marc Laredo, Greg Schwartz, Scott Lennon, Susan Albright,...
View ArticleOPEN THREAD: Austin Street goes to our aldermen
Newton’s full Board of Aldermen finally take up debate on the proposed mixed-use development at Austin Street tonight. (They are not expected to vote until December.) The all-important draft Board...
View ArticleWhat’s a ‘luxury apartment?’ And would 28 Austin Street be a ‘luxury...
In the debate over Austin Street — and other projects — the term “luxury apartments” gets tossed around a lot and sometimes, I believe, inappropriately. What actually is a “luxury apartment?” And would...
View ArticleHow much influence should ward aldermen have on city-wide decisions?
The final vote on the Austin Street project is likely to take place in eight days and insiders who’ve been trying to predict if the project can get the required 16 votes to pass say it’s very close. A...
View ArticleREAL ESTATE REPORTER: Austin Street developer has built many award-winning...
Michael Hoban — a real estate writer for the Urban Land Institute and the Real Reporter and a former reporter at the Boston Business Journal — offered a perspective on the Austin Street project that...
View ArticleTAB endorses Austin Street project with strong editorial
TAB editor Andy Levin had already been vocal about his support for Austin Street so the paper’s endorsement is not a surprise. But it’s a must read for many reasons. A couple of excerpts: Opponents of...
View ArticleNorton: ‘I am an environmentalist but I’m also pragmatic’
Newton Alderman and Massachusetts Sierra Club director Emily Norton is traveling and sent the following, at Village 14’s request, in response to a question raised by a TAB editorial about her...
View ArticleThis is embarrassing: Mass. Smart Growth Alliance Calls out Newton for Austin...
The Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance knows a thing or two about smart development. Which is why it’s interesting that they have singled out Newton for not jumping on the opportunity to build Austin...
View ArticleAustin Street and the issue of time: We’ve had plenty
One argument that keeps coming up from Austin Street opponents it the issue of time. They say that we need more time to make sure this is the right deal for the city, or we need more time to see if...
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