CNN Money’s new “list of America’s best small cities” places Newton in the number three spot.

Downsides: Traffic and the cost of housing.

Upsides: Mass transit and village centers, “Less than 45 minutes from downtown Boston via train, subway, or express bus, Newton is divided into 13 “villages” loaded with classic New England charm. Most have pedestrian-friendly shopping districts, parks, and playgrounds.”

The developers of the Riverside T station have rescheduled the community meeting that was recently canceled.  The next meeting will be held on Thursday June 17, 2010 at 7:00 p.m. at the Williams school.  (Map & directions here.)

This meeting will benefit from the recently released traffic study completed by the developer’s consultant, VHB.

For more information, visit http://www.riversidestation.info, the site of the Riverside Station Neighborhood Coalition:  the Lower Falls Improvement Association, the Lasell Neighborhood Association, and the Auburndale Community Association.

Despite a sluggish economy, city officials, developers, and community groups are coming together to discuss proposed commercial and residential property development projects in several locations around the city.

At tonight’s meeting of the Real Property Reuse Committee, which “reviews the sale or lease of city-owned property,” Aldermen Danberg, Merrill, Linsky, Salvucci, Gentile, Baker, and Fischman will discuss two proposals:

First, in Newton Centre, the group will examine a proposal to redevelop a triangle of city property located at Willow, Centre and Lyman Streets, where the Fire Department headquarters and Station #3 sit. [Read more →]

Adopted in 1969, Chapter 40B, the Massachusetts Comprehensive Permit Law, allows local Zoning Boards of Appeal or a State Appeals Committee to approve residential developments, whether or not they comply with local zoning, if at least 20 to 25% of their units have long-term affordability restrictions.  In November 2010 Massachusetts voters will vote to either repeal (yes vote) or retain (no vote) that law.

U-CHAN (Uniting Citizens for Housing Affordability in Newton) is holding an educational forum on the law at the New Art Center, 61 Washington Park in Newtonville, on May 6th from 7 to 9 pm.  It will address the following, through presentations and Q&A:

At 7:30 p.m. tonight (12/3), BH Normandy will be presenting proposals to neighbors for a mixed-use development of at least 600,000 square feet. Please come tonight if you can. The hearing will be held at the old Emerson School, 545 Grove Street, Newton.

Details from an earlier news story: ”The real estate group BH Normandy proposed a development that would include 420,000 square feet of office space, 60,000 square feet of retail space and 190 residential units (which, at a size of 750 square feet apiece, would add another 140,000 square feet to the site). The plan also does not include space for parking garages.”

Source:  Newton TAB

Plans dated 12/10/09:  Option A, Option B.