At the monthly meeting of the Chestnut Hill Association, WS Development Associates LLC will present its proposal for the demolition and reconstruction of part of the building at 33 Boylston Street.  The proposed new building will include three stories, with new ground floor retail uses, potential second floor office or retail space, and the development company’s corporate offices on the third floor. The developer is also requesting a zoning change because the building will be 50 feet in height.

The meeting will be held at 7pm on Tuesday, June 7th, at the Church of the Redeemer, 379 Hammond Street, in the Parish Hall. For more information, please contact Alexandra Ananth, 617-796-1121, aananth@newtonma.gov.

Macy's soon-to-be-vacant building in Chestnut Hill. (Source: City of Newton)

Within a week, Macy’s will vacate its Chestnut Hill location. This vacancy raises questions about (1) what will become of the building and (2) how a new use of that commercial space may affect the area.

Admittedly, while Chestnut Hill and Thompsonville are listed among the 13 villages of Newton, the area along Route 9 is today more of a commercial corridor than a village center. But its health has implications for its residential neighbors, for nearby villages like Newton Centre, and for Boston College, the city’s largest employer.

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