Good morning,

Could there possibly be any individual working in a government job that everyone likes?

If so, it’s probably MBTA General Manager Phil Eng.

Eng will be the featured speaker at our second annual Transportation Forum, one week from today (June 17), 1 p.m. at Tripadvisor in Needham.

We’ve asked Eng to share progress made in turning the T around, along with the considerable challenges ahead, including with the Green Line, the Worcester Line, the Needham Line and the Better Bus program.

We’ll follow that with a panel discussion that connects our region’s transit needs with housing challenges, backed by Boston Indicators and Transit Matters data specific to our communities.

Need a ride from the T to Tripadvisor? We have that covered, too.

RSVP

A ‘momentous win’ for 43 families

Forty-three families who’ve been priced out of our communities don’t know this yet but in 18 months, they’ll be living in West Newton, close to transit, economic opportunities and — as a bonus — across the street from Trader Joe's.

Yesterday, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, Housing Secretary Ed Augustus, State Sen. Cindy Creem and others grabbed shovels to mark the groundbreaking of a project to convert the West Newton Armory into 43 permanently affordable intergenerational homes.

Eight years in the making, the project is another example of the state’s efforts to convert surplus properties into homes.

In this case, the state sold the 1911-built historic building on Washington Street to the city for $1, which in turn awarded the project to Metro West Collaborative Development and Civico. 

“During a time when we need to appreciate the ‘wins’ more than ever, I think we all need to take a moment, and recognize this moment for what it is: a momentous win for the City of Newton, for the Commonwealth, but most importantly, the families and individuals who will call the Armory home for generations to come,” said Caitlin Madden, Metro West Collaborative’s executive director.

Of the 43 apartments, 15 will be reserved for households earning up to 30% of the Area Median Income, and 28 apartments will be reserved for households earning up to 60% of the AMI.

Move-in day for our new neighbors, future entrepreneurs and local workers is anticipated in the fall of 2026.

The project was undertaken in collaboration with the National Guard, with at least one friendly guardsman standing by smiling yesterday, something that was not lost on this attendee, given the deeply disturbing deployments in Los Angeles.

Two other development developments

If I’m dreaming, please don’t wake me.  In addition to the Armory and everything I shared last week, here’s more positive housing news.

• The Needham Select Board has voted to support the Charles River Center’s $50 million plan to build a four-building complex on the former Nike B-63 military site. The project will provide 86 affordable housing units and other services for individuals with developmental and other disabilities. (Needham Observer)
  
  
• Jumbo Capital is reportedly exploring the conversion of its property at 888 Worcester St. into an independent and assisted living facility. The building was most recently Wellesley’s temporary town hall and still houses some town offices. (Swellesley Report)

Can we finally put this nonsense to rest?

Wait, there’s more!

Once again, a court has decisively ruled that municipalities are required to comply with the MBTA Communities housing law.  

That should end arguments by Weston, eight other towns, and a citizens group that bought into State Auditor Diana DiZoglio’s flimsy opinion calling the law an “unfunded mandate,” even though the state funds technical assistance to any municipality that requests it, while also offering infrastructure grants.

Of the 177 municipalities covered by the 2021 law, 134 have now adopted new multifamily zoning.  Over 4,000 units of housing are in the development pipeline.

“Sky-high housing costs are hurting people and our neighborhoods and threaten the health of our economy," said Rachel Heller, CEO at CHAPA. "[This] decision makes it clear that every community needs to be part of the solution.”

Tuesday grab bag

• Representatives from Trader Joe’s will ask Newton’s Urban Design Commission tomorrow night (Weds.) to approve signage for its new store at the former Stop & Shop location at Newton Nexus on Needham Street in Newton.
• It’s not too late to attend tomorrow’s (Weds) PS3 Casino Night at the Cyclorama in Boston, in support of the Preston Settles Memorial Fund.  The event features a Dinner Dine-Around with Lydia Shire, a variety of casino games, a live auction and more.
• Newton’s director of social services Jenna Bancroft is crossing the river to become the first director of human services for the City of Watertown.
• Regis College President Antoinette Hays is stepping down after 15 years in the role and 40 years at the Weston-based school. (BBJ)
• Massachusetts fell far short of its new goal for hiring LGBT-owned businesses for state contracts last year, according to a recent report. In 2023, the state unveiled an interactive dashboard to help contractors find diverse businesses to hire in their area. (GBH)
• Watertown Farmers' Market opens for the season tomorrow (Weds.) from 2:30-6:30 p.m. and will be open Wednesdays through Oct. 22.
• Noodle & Doodles Ramen is opening soon on Great Plain Ave. in Needham.
• Needham-based Stealth Bio Therapeutics., a clinical-stage biotechnology company focused on therapies to combat Barth syndrome, is reducing its workforce by 30%.  Stealth is located at 123 Highland Ave. (BBJ)
• This year’s Boston Marathon runners raised $50.4 million for 176 nonprofits, surpassing last year's record of $45.7 million.  (Boston Globe)
• Here’s the Attorney General’s office Resources for Immigrants in Massachusetts webpage.
• Here are the state laws on teen labor hours and laws on cocktail to-go.

City Council pay raise on Watertown’s agenda

The Watertown City Council holds a public hearing tonight (Tues.) on a Blue Ribbon Commission report that recommends a stipend increase for city councilors from $8,900 per year to $15,000.

The commission also recommended the council president's compensation increase from $12,000 to $22,000 annually, with a review every five years.

We support both recommendations.

Improved compensation reflects the value of public service and strengthens our democracy by broadening the pool of individuals who can realistically serve in public office.  And I think we’ve all been reminded lately just how important that is.

Watertown News has more.

Newton publishes BERDO reporting guidelines

With reporting deadlines for Newton’s largest building owners three months away, the city has released a BERDO Reporting How-To Guide, as required by the Building Emissions Reduction and Disclosure Ordinance.

The deadlines are:

• Sept. 15, 2025 for non-residential buildings with gross floor area equal to or greater than 100,000 SF.

• Sept. 15, 2026 for non-residential buildings with gross floor area equal to or greater than 20,000 SF but less than 100,000 square feet.

• Sept. 15, 2026 for residential buildings with centralized heating with gross floor areas of 20,000 SF or greater.

There will be a BERDO virtual training session, June 17 at 1 p.m., covering how to report energy use and the Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool.

Hey editors: She’s not a ‘Newton judge’

Finally, a note to editors at the Globe, MassLive, WBZ and countless other news sites that have been making the same mistake and doing so for years.

Please continue to report on the case of Judge Shelley Joseph who is accused of letting a suspect slip out the back door of a courthouse in Newton to evade an immigration agent in 2018.

Just please don’t call her a “Newton judge.”

Municipalities don’t have judges. Joseph was a Massachusetts District Court judge assigned to work at the district courthouse in Newton that day.  

The public’s understanding of our courts is already limited. And these days, retribution, deserved or not, can come at a dangerously high price, while misinformation doesn’t help anyone.

And that’s what you need to know for today — Howlin’ Wolf’s birthday — unless you need to know what it would be like to literally have all the money in the world?

As always, I value your feedback.And welcome to the bigs, Roman Anthony.

My colleague Max Woolf will be back with this newsletter on Friday.

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

Max Woolf contributed to today’s newsletter.