Newton Infill and Small Developments

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


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.
 
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.
 
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


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:















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


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."
 
Opus newton

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

Work Begins on Newton Mixed-Use Project​

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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/
 

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Developers Complete Modular Construction Project in Newton, Mass.​

MassHousing provides financing through its Workforce Housing Initiative.​

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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
 

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!
 

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.

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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.
 

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