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Sorry to be the bearer of annoying news.... https://village14.com/2019/12/20/right-size-newton-submits-signatures-to-call-for-a-northland-referendum/#axzz68kDG25Qh

The zoning amendment passed yesterday 6-3. There will be special permits and so on for the individual buildings, but we can expect this to be going forward. Yes: McGovern, Siddiqui, Simon, Kelley, Toomey, Mallon No: Zondervan, Devereaux, Carlone

Mods, could we please have a look at adding a "Policy" subforum?

A Cambridgeside meeting is scheduled to take place on Dec. 16th. This might be the final one who knows. Here [PDF] is a hilarious (in my mind) exchange from today's meeting between a NIMBY and a city councillor. The developer made the claim that they were seeking a 6% ROI and the NIMBY (who...

It does look like I spoke to soon - there is a special meeting tomorrow to finish up the Cambridgeside discussion. Perhaps the motion was to have a separate meeting, and not to approve the PUD. http://cambridgema.iqm2.com/Citizens/FileOpen.aspx?Type=1&ID=2154&Inline=True

Couldn't find a Parcel H thread, here's a neat timelapse of the crane going up:

A new Harvard Square zoning petition was discussed at the planning board today. It's main goals are to: Transition to form-based codes Loosen restrictions on retail, specifically encouraging smaller retail Reconfigure parking requirements Restrict frontage for banks and marijuana retail to 20'...

This story occurred to me after I was looking at the council vote. All councilors present voted in favor, including Dennis Carlone, who previously wrote an op-ed in opposition (in my opinion, motivated by his professional hubris as the designer of the canal district). What changed? Well, the...

That's only planning board yes? Historically, is the ordinance or the building the tougher one to pass? I was mostly referring to the litigation following special permits granted, which I believe these buildings can still be subject to.

The ordinance passed today according to the city council minutes. Looking forward to this project, though we know that these things usually have some extra hoops to jump through in Cambridge...

@SkyriseCities could we have a "Policy" subforum under Boston's Built Environment? As is, there are a few discussions that are scattered across Architecture & Urbanism, Design a Better Boston, and Miscellaneous/General that would have a better home in a "Policy" subforum. This would help unify...

Cambridge's election results came in, and I am pleased to report that 6 of the 9 candidates endorsed by A Better Cambridge won! There are two newcomers: Jivan Sobonho-Wheeler (on the ABC slate) and Patty Nolan, replacing Jan Devereux (outgoing) and Craig Kelley (who barely lost to Dennis...

Local elections are being held tomorrow, Tuesday Nov. 5th, across a number of local municipalities. Housing has become the defining issue, a point which was highlighted in a recent Globe editorial suggesting which candidates (and organizations) to follow and vote for if you are interested in...

That's fine if you're explicit about the aesthetics of massing being one of your primary concerns, so long as you'll allow me to put it on the very bottom of mine. To me, getting houses where people want to live is most important, and there's a tall bar to clear if you want to deny those to...

From the article: So there's already a six-story building nearby. (sniped and thanks @JumboBuc) Maybe I'm just dumb.. why does the height and massing have to be in line with extant buildings? That seems to me an internalization of NIMBY arguments. What should matter is proximity to transit...

Images from article: I've contacted WS Development re: how to support this project (as you can see by the article, we have our work cut out for us), I'll update for those who want to get involved.

I found these two Twitter threads a good overview (and critical look): For all the calls of broader comprehensive plans, electeds and neighborhood associations are all too keen to abandon them once houses start going up (see: Southie IPOD). Our politicians should be confronting their...

This (refiled) project was up at the Ordinance Committee recently, there will be another committee meeting with no public comment on October 3rd (but public letters still welcome! cc @Massachoicetts). Here is are the refiled plans...

Although I think the energy and sentiment is great, frankly I'm not sure the authors of the petition have the self-awareness to even consider your point of view. (I'd be happy to be proven wrong though!) My understanding of the (byzantine, incumbent-favoring) process by which new large...