Newton Infill and Small Developments

[Equilibria]

307 units in a 40B for Crafts Street (this is not the elderly housing one): https://figcitynews.com/wp-content/...-02_Community_Meeting-Presentation-Boards.pdf

Boylston Properties presents plans for 78 Crafts Street - Fig City News

At 8:30AM on Saturday, December 4, approximately thirty-five residents of Nonantum and Newtonville gathered in the Horace Mann Elementary School cafeteria for a presentation by Boylston Properties of its proposed development of market-rate and affordable (under Chapter 40B) apartments at 78...

figcitynews.com

Pretty uninspiring stuff, particularly the parking taking up the whole ground level, but housing is housing. The article cites complaints about losing current multifamily buildings, but to my eye there's only one that would be lost, and a trade of 3 units for 307 units seems reasonable to me.

Also, the City's scheme for the Dudley Road land fell through, and it's back on the market: https://figcitynews.com/2023/11/dudley-road-estate-back-on-the-market/

This is good, because the City's scheme was terrible.

 

[jms13]

I lived close to across the street from 78 Crafts for several years last decade. Uninspiring is right, but it's a good area to add housing. The long-time Newton residents will faint if you suggest it, but it's very easy to go car-free or at worst car-light there, though I guess the Washington St express buses have been cut down meaningfully since I left. It's not going to make a big dent in traffic on Crafts either way; the heavy majority of those cars, especially at rush hours where it actually can be pretty bad, are cut-through traffic and not immediate abutters. Hopefully this gets done without any big unit reductions.

 

[stick n move]

307 units in a 40B for Crafts Street (this is not the elderly housing one): https://figcitynews.com/wp-content/...-02_Community_Meeting-Presentation-Boards.pdf

Boylston Properties presents plans for 78 Crafts Street - Fig City News

At 8:30AM on Saturday, December 4, approximately thirty-five residents of Nonantum and Newtonville gathered in the Horace Mann Elementary School cafeteria for a presentation by Boylston Properties of its proposed development of market-rate and affordable (under Chapter 40B) apartments at 78...

figcitynews.com

Pretty uninspiring stuff, particularly the parking taking up the whole ground level, but housing is housing. The article cites complaints about losing current multifamily buildings, but to my eye there's only one that would be lost, and a trade of 3 units for 307 units seems reasonable to me.

Also, the City's scheme for the Dudley Road land fell through, and it's back on the market: https://figcitynews.com/2023/11/dudley-road-estate-back-on-the-market/

This is good, because the City's scheme was terrible.

Screengrabs:

 

[Equilibria]

The renovation of the former theater in Chestnut Hill is wrapping up:

A look at the new stores and restaurants coming to Chestnut Hill - The Boston Globe

Two non-traditional healthcare practices, a perfume bar, and a cookie business also landed in Greater Boston this season.

www.bostonglobe.com

27 BOYLSTON - The Street Chestnut Hill

27 BOYLSTON Get ready to see a whole new side of The Street. Located in...

thestreetchestnuthill.com

 

[BosDevelop]

The renovation of the former theater in Chestnut Hill is wrapping up:

A look at the new stores and restaurants coming to Chestnut Hill - The Boston Globe

Two non-traditional healthcare practices, a perfume bar, and a cookie business also landed in Greater Boston this season.

www.bostonglobe.com

27 BOYLSTON - The Street Chestnut Hill

27 BOYLSTON Get ready to see a whole new side of The Street. Located in...

thestreetchestnuthill.com

I'm not sure "wrapping up" is the term I'd use. I happen to drive by the other day and there is a ton of exterior work left. I'll take the over on "opening spring 2024."

 

[steaksandwich]

Screengrabs:

What a visual monstrosity.

 

[stick n move]

Opus newton

https://www.dellbrookjks.com/project/opus-newton/

Work Begins on Newton Mixed-Use Project​

Newton, MA – ReyCon announced it has begun work on a ground-up, mixed-use development in Newton, in partnership with Unlimited Sotheby’s. ReyCon was selected to provide all pre-construction and construction management services for the project.

Designed by Dooling & Co. this 4-story property will feature a brick veneer facade, below grade parking, ground floor retail and 25 high-end units. The residences are being built on a podium with three levels of wood frame over and will also include a large roof deck. The development will be transit oriented – located adjacent to Route 9 and the Newton Highlands “T” stop – and a short distance to the shops and restaurants at The Shops at Chestnut Hill and Newton Center.

“We’re looking forward to another great collaboration with Unlimited Sotheby’s and the team at Dooling & Co.,” said ReyCon president, Michael Reynolds. “This project will help to increase much needed housing inventory to one of the busiest and most vibrant neighborhoods in the beautiful town of Newton.”

https://www.high-profile.com/work-begins-on-newton-mixed-use-project/

 

[stick n move]

Developers Complete Modular Construction Project in Newton, Mass.​

MassHousing provides financing through its Workforce Housing Initiative.​

28 Austin Street offers 68 mixed-income units in Newton, Mass.

“The recently completed 28 Austin Street development uses modular construction to bring new workforce housing options to Newton, Mass.

The project transforms a former municipal parking lot by using GreenStaxx modular building technology to create a 68-unit mixed-income housing community with retail space, a public plaza and a playground, and reconstructed municipal parking.

28 Austin Street is a public-private partnership between Austin Street Partners, a joint venture of Dinosaur Capital Partners and Oaktree Development, and the city of Newton.

“28 Austin Street was the first rental housing permitted in Newton, a city of 87,000, in over 12 years,” said Scott Oran, managing partner of Dinosaur Capital Partners. “When, at the last minute, the Newton City Council required 33% of the apartments be affordable or workforce housing, it threatened the financial viability of the project. While excited to increase the affordable and workforce housing stock, we worried about our ability to attract equity and debt financing. Gov. Baker’s Workforce Housing Initiative was crucial in creating a viable project and increasing urgently needed workforce, affordable, and market housing, in greater Boston.”

MassHousing provided Austin Street Partners with $1.3 million in affordable housing financing from its Workforce Housing Initiative. The funding was structured to close upon completion of the housing. Eastern Bank provided $25.7 million in construction and permanent financing.”

https://www.housingfinance.com/fina...modular-construction-project-in-newton-mass_o

 

[#bancars]

Developers Complete Modular Construction Project in Newton, Mass.​

MassHousing provides financing through its Workforce Housing Initiative.​

View attachment 46879
28 Austin Street offers 68 mixed-income units in Newton, Mass.

“The recently completed 28 Austin Street development uses modular construction to bring new workforce housing options to Newton, Mass.

The project transforms a former municipal parking lot by using GreenStaxx modular building technology to create a 68-unit mixed-income housing community with retail space, a public plaza and a playground, and reconstructed municipal parking.

28 Austin Street is a public-private partnership between Austin Street Partners, a joint venture of Dinosaur Capital Partners and Oaktree Development, and the city of Newton.

“28 Austin Street was the first rental housing permitted in Newton, a city of 87,000, in over 12 years,” said Scott Oran, managing partner of Dinosaur Capital Partners. “When, at the last minute, the Newton City Council required 33% of the apartments be affordable or workforce housing, it threatened the financial viability of the project. While excited to increase the affordable and workforce housing stock, we worried about our ability to attract equity and debt financing. Gov. Baker’s Workforce Housing Initiative was crucial in creating a viable project and increasing urgently needed workforce, affordable, and market housing, in greater Boston.”

MassHousing provided Austin Street Partners with $1.3 million in affordable housing financing from its Workforce Housing Initiative. The funding was structured to close upon completion of the housing. Eastern Bank provided $25.7 million in construction and permanent financing.”

https://www.housingfinance.com/fina...modular-construction-project-in-newton-mass_o

The plaza right next to it is nice--when the weather is warm some chairs and tables get put out there. And you've got a George Howell just a block away!

 

[shmessy]

Developers Complete Modular Construction Project in Newton, Mass.​

MassHousing provides financing through its Workforce Housing Initiative.​

View attachment 46879
28 Austin Street offers 68 mixed-income units in Newton, Mass.

“The recently completed 28 Austin Street development uses modular construction to bring new workforce housing options to Newton, Mass.

The project transforms a former municipal parking lot by using GreenStaxx modular building technology to create a 68-unit mixed-income housing community with retail space, a public plaza and a playground, and reconstructed municipal parking.

28 Austin Street is a public-private partnership between Austin Street Partners, a joint venture of Dinosaur Capital Partners and Oaktree Development, and the city of Newton.

“28 Austin Street was the first rental housing permitted in Newton, a city of 87,000, in over 12 years,” said Scott Oran, managing partner of Dinosaur Capital Partners. “When, at the last minute, the Newton City Council required 33% of the apartments be affordable or workforce housing, it threatened the financial viability of the project. While excited to increase the affordable and workforce housing stock, we worried about our ability to attract equity and debt financing. Gov. Baker’s Workforce Housing Initiative was crucial in creating a viable project and increasing urgently needed workforce, affordable, and market housing, in greater Boston.”

MassHousing provided Austin Street Partners with $1.3 million in affordable housing financing from its Workforce Housing Initiative. The funding was structured to close upon completion of the housing. Eastern Bank provided $25.7 million in construction and permanent financing.”

https://www.housingfinance.com/fina...modular-construction-project-in-newton-mass_o

Hi Stick, love your stuff and am so appreciative of all the updated development posts you do here!

**Regarding this project, however, it was completed almost 4 years ago (the link you posted is from April 2020). And here is the July 2022 Google StreetMap of this lively, dynamic addition to Newton.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

.

 

[stick n move]

My fault.

 

[DZH22]

Opus newton

The project resembles a higher-end version of the same trash being built everywhere nowadays, so it's kind of whatever... However, the pictures are fabulous, thank you for posting those. Most people don't realize that those radio masts all far exceed the Pru's antenna, let alone just the roof heights of Boston's skyscrapers. The shortest one (which would be off-screen to the right in the 2nd picture) is simultaneously the most impressive, as it's the tallest free-standing structure in New England. The tallest ones hover around 1200', although the final heights change as the tops are switched out.

 

[shmessy]

My fault.

No prob, Stick. You're one of the best!

 

[stick n move]

Opus Newton

Dell brooks

Ground Broken on 94,000sf Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School Project​

“Newton, MA – CTA Construction Managers, along with architectural firm Arrowsteet, owner’s project management firm Hill-LiRo, city officials, and members of the community recently celebrated moving into the construction phase of the Lincoln-Eliot Elementary School project with a groundbreaking ceremony.

CTA Construction was awarded the contract for the 94,000sf school campus in Newton, which includes the renovation of an existing structure, once part of Aquinas College, and construction of a new addition.

“Building demolition work was recently completed, and we are finishing up interior abatement and interior demolition work,” said Jeff Hazelwood, principal, CTA Construction. We will be starting site work and foundations for the new addition very soon.”

“The project will deliver renovations and additions to the former Aquinas College building and allow the City to relocate the Lincoln Eliot Elementary School,” said Vivian Varbedian, vice president at Hill-LiRo. “This project allows this city to address its population growth, replace end-of-life building systems, and create safe, inviting, and state of the art learning environments for its students.”

“The original building was constructed in 1965 and was ready for dramatic improvements after the City acquired the property in 2015. Our team was excited to collaborate with the Newton School Department and the OPM to transform the structure into a modern, state-of-the-art elementary school while meeting the City’s ambitious sustainability and energy efficiency goals,” said Larry Spang, partner and project director at Arrowstreet….”

https://www.high-profile.com/ground-broken-on-94000sf-lincoln-eliot-elementary-school-project/

Groundbreaking for Cooper Center for Active Living — named for Newton’s most active citizen​

On March 7, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, members of the City Council, the Council on Aging, family, and residents gathered on Walnut Street in Newtonville for the official groundbreaking of the Cooper Center for Active Living, named in honor of Audrey Cooper and slated for completion in 2025. At the groundbreaking, her daughter Marion Pollock, her granddaughter Sarah DeMedeiros, and her great-granddaughter, 11-year-old Penelope DeMeideiros, were among the first to wield shovels at the future site of the Cooper Center for Active Living.

Opening in 2025.

https://figcitynews.com/2024/03/gro...living-named-for-newtons-most-active-citizen/