Yeah, I was thinking that the villages probably didn't look that much different since the train tracks are directly next to the highway throughout the majority of Newton.
"The contiguous, five-story building stretching all along Converse Place and Mt Vernon Street would allow no views or passage to get to the other side to enjoy the river and the views of Mill Pond and Sandy’s Island. These would be forever blocked from view by all passersby on Converse Place and...
The current construction status coupled with the new renders (thanks everyone for the excellent photo and render updates) have convinced me that all the iterations right up to the end result (16 years in the making) was worth it.