Posts from — February 2012

At a public meeting on February 12, the Urban Falls Greenway proposal–a rail-to-trail project–was endorsed 9-0 by the Upper Falls Area Council.  Thanks to Village14 for announcing the meeting and to all the activists who are making it happen!

The Tab wrote a nice article the other day about some of the ongoing efforts to bring vitality back to the Village Centers in Newton. Newton Villages continues to work to ensure that these remain good places for our community to come together, to eat, to play, to shop. We want to see them thrive for the long term.

We know that there are concerns that people no longer value our downtowns.  Or rather, people appreciate that the centers are there.   But instead of going to the Village Centers we shop online and stay in our own homes for entertainment.

We feel differently.  We believe that people will support the Village Centers if we bring in (and hold onto) interesting shops and restaurants.  We also feel that our hectic times require us to come together as a community, and that we need places that help make this happen, and help to maintain Newton’s identity.

Moreover, we think that – if we nurture them appropriately – our Village Centers are sustainable, can keep themselves going, and can continue to contribute to civic life.  Yes, the Centers need to adapt to changing times, but there is a strong future for them – and for our enjoyment of them – if we choose to make the investment.
Read the full Tab article here.

As you may know, MassDOT is working to widen I-95 to include four travel lanes from Route 24 to Route 9. The design work will likely be completed in fall 2012, with construction to begin in 2013 and completed in 2016. The proposed 127 million dollar project will widen 3.3 miles of I-95 including the three interchanges (Kendrick Street, Highland Street and Route 9).

The Public Safety & Transportation Committee of the Board of Aldermen will hear a report from the City’s Director of Transportation, Clint Schuckel, on Wednesday, February 8, in Room 202 of City Hall. The public is invited to ask questions about the project and its expected impacts.