How Dense is Too Dense?
Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 05:31PM BH Normandy Riverside LLC has proposed a 869,000 square foot development at the MBTA Riverside Station. This would be in addition to the existing hotel, office building, and MBTA maintenance facility. Their proposal includes two commercial towers of 11 stories and 8 stories; three parking garages (8, 5, and 5 floors), a 260-thousand square foot apartment building (5 floors), and two smaller commercial spaces.
How desperate is Newton for tax revenue? Are we willing to harm the residential character of our neighborhoods with additional traffic and pollution -- not to mention cram more students into already overcrowded classrooms -- in an effort to chase down every last possible property tax dollar?
This isn't the only parcel in Newton where this question is relevant. There is also discussion of constructing a dense housing/commercial complex on the small triangle of land that now houses the Newton Centre Fire Station, the Fire Headquarters, and a hair salon.
Where do we draw the line?
Reader Comments (5)
The only development that should be considered at this time is one that will bring in a significant net revenue increase. Apartment housing will cost the City in services and school crowding and bring in revenue only for the developers. The current developments in consideration are heavily opposed by both neighborhoods and will impact the schools City-wide.
Ken,
I'm one of the co-founders of the Riverside Station Neighborhood Coalition. The RSNC is an organization that will advocate for the residents of the areas most affected by the proposed development of the Riverside MBTA Station. The RSNC was created by the three neighborhood associations that surround the station; the Lower Falls Improvement Assoc., Auburndale Community Assoc. and Lasell Neighborhood Assoc.
The goal of the RSNC is to ensure that any proposed development will be of a size and scale approriate to the existing neighborhoods surrounding the station. It will accomplish this by being a collective voice to reduce impacts to the roadways, infrastructure, environment and schools.
Please contact me. I'd love to brief you on the details.
Bill Renke
Bill,
Thanks very much for your post. I'll be in touch.
Ken
Before the City allows any development on this site. The city has an obligation to study and mitigate the sewer surcharging on the existing sewer system. People living in this area, have long been effected by sewer surcharging. During an event, basements are flooded with untreated raw sewage! To take pressure off of the system, the city pumps thousand & thousand of gallons of untreated sewerage into our beloved Charles river, and allows thousand of gallons to pour onto Lyons Field, where our children play little league. Is this acceptable, in such an educated and green city, as Newton is supposed to be? This has been going on for years and the city and the Alderman are aware of it. Before any more developments are added to this section of the system, I think the city has and obligation to mitigate the situation. Allowing the developer to off set THEIR estimated increased volume of sewerage into this broken system by contributing money, is negligent! The city has a obligation to perform a study, repair the system and upgrade the system for the increased volume BEFORE any projected developments are even considered! This includes a sewer system that does not depend on homeowners basements, parks & the Charles River to act as storage tanks for raw sewage. Do the Alderman and the Residents of Newton, really feel the projected gross (before any city services are deducted) three million in additional tax revenue from this development is worth the price, to subject homeowners to an increased risk of health problems and deteriorating home values? In the long run, was are only going to be adding an additional burden and LIABILITY to our city and residents, with no plan, or monies in place to address it! Wake up, Newton, wake up!
I also follow through Google Reader! pmanmb pmanmb - supra kids shoes.