I fully support the proposed Village Center Overlay District. This is the pragmatic thing to do and this is the time to do it. Trying to hang on to a fantasy past that doesn’t meet today’s needs is not only foolish, it is harmful. This means that I also support those City Councilors who, likewise, are realistic about Newton’s needs.
In the Charles River Chamber August 30 newsletter, Greg Reibman, president of the Chamber, references John Stavropoulos of Bigelow Cleaners which has been in Newton Centre for 90 years.
One of the reasons he is closing his business is the stagnation of Newton Centre. He faults our restrictive zoning laws from preventing owners of commercial buildings from adding housing above first floor retail. There is no growth here. In neighboring cities and towns condos and rentals above retail establishments are bringing in people adding to the local economy. In Newton Centre nothing has changed for, at least, the past 20 years.
If we are to “Save Our Villages” we can’t live in the past. We can’t succumb to scary and false narratives of huge numbers of 5 and 6 story buildings in our villages.
We have to adjust to reality and provide for a vibrant successful future that will also afford housing for Newton’s older adults and our teachers, policemen and firefighters. I urge you to vote accordingly. Vote for Andreae Downs, Deb Crossley, Alicia Bowman, Vicki Danberg, Dan Gaynor, Doris Ann Sweet, Martha Bixby, and Holly Ryan.
Arthur Glasgow
Newton Centre