DPW Open House presents update on Newton Highlands Village Enhancement Project [UPDATED]

On request from the Newton Highlands Area Council, the Newton Department of Public Works (DPW) held an Open House for residents to view the current version of the Newton Highlands Village Enhancement Project. The open house took place late in the afternoon of September 11 in the meeting room at Brigham House, located on Hartford Street.

UPDATE: After this article was published on September 14, DPW posted its presentation from the Open House, including 10 maps, two renderings, and lists of project goals and features.

DPW displayed street maps outlining the proposed changes from November 2024 and today, with annotated street maps laid out along a row of tables and DPW staff on one side responding to questions. This was the eighth public meeting regarding the project, with the first meeting held in June 2022.

The project’s objectives include:

• Improving sidewalks and roadways for accessibility and safety,
• Providing community space to revitalize the village center for residents and visitors,
• Beautifying the area with art, benches, lighting, historic markers, and landscaping, and
• Updating infrastructure for stormwater management and sustainability.

Attendees’ feedback included support for the proposed introduction of a raised roadway from Hartford to Walnut for traffic calming. Some commented that the smaller curb height could allow drivers to encroach on the sidewalk when parking. 

The design highlighted the use of permeable roadway materials to address water runoff during heavy rainstorms.

Some residents expressed concerns against the removal of the village fountain at Forest and Walnut Streets — a removal that had been proposed in 2022 but withdrawn in 2023. Opinions were mixed regarding the proposed removal of the slip lane from Forest to Walnut to create a parklet. Several abutting neighbors thought the parklet proposed to replace the slip lane would not be used due to the traffic along Walnut, and they prioritized retention of the slip lane. Others thought a parklet would be a nice amenity although a commitment from the City to maintain proposed plantings would be needed.

Concerns remain about traffic backups with the proposed removal of the right-turning lane from Lincoln Street to Walnut, as seen by the recent use of MBTA shuttle buses. The change is deemed necessary so that the curb cuts and slope would be ADA-compliant on the west side of Walnut, however DPW is considering a suggestion to reconfigure the Officer English Garden to include a gradually sloping ramp. One welcome change for attendees was restoration of the right-turn lane south from Walnut to Lincoln.

Some residents have suggested the reconsideration of certain beautification proposals to not hinder accessibility, but these items were not presented because the hiring of a new landscape architect is pending.

The City apologized for the timing of the Open House, which coincided with the 9-11 Remembrance event in Newton Centre.

Ed. Note: We updated this article to incorporate the Open House presentation that DPW posted after our initial publication. The author is a member of the Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council.