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| Newton Centre Rennaisance Project | | Print | |
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About 4 years ago, the Newton Economic Development Commission began studying the business core of Newton Centre. Their research (which included focus groups and public meetings) culminated in a report issued last February entitled "Newton Centre Renaissance ~ A Roadmap Forward". The report says: “Today, Newton Centre is a … location for regional banks and selected high-end stores, but lacks the hub, cohesion and pedestrian focus of a true village center. It lacks any central focus: what was once the site of the Mason school was turned into the central triangle parking lot many years ago. There are few residences in the Centre's core and...few pedestrian links to surrounding ...residential properties. The village under-serves local residents and lacks the star power to attract new visitors...what once had been a cohesive village has turned into a scattered, single-shop destination, regionally-oriented business center.” To begin to address these concerns, the mayor created the Newton Centre Task Force, which is made up of 25 Newton resident volunteers (most live in Newton Centre) who represent a variety of perspectives and expertise and include planners, architects, merchants, homemakers, lawyers, property owners, state and local officials (including one Alderman), real estate developers and neighborhood representatives. Within the Task Force there are 6 subcommittees studying parking and traffic, property use, design, zoning, finance, and revitalization efforts in other cities. We're following a 6-phase process that includes 1) gathering information on existing conditions and trends, 2) evaluating information and identifying problems and opportunities, 3) a one- to two-day workshop to create a vision statement for Newton Centre's future, 4) a public charette (brain storming idea session) to develop at least three alternative land use programs that could occur within one, five, and ten years, 5) public review of the alternative futures, and 6) creation of a master plan followed by an implementation plan. We are currently in Phase 1-2 of a year-long process, so we have a way to go before anything concrete is produced. The plans that were shown in Newton Magazine were prepared by Anatole Zuckerman. He's a local architect and a candidate for Alderman. He has been studying the area for some time on his own and is not a member of the Task Force. I'm sure the Task Force will look at his ideas along with all other ideas from the community in the upcoming visioning and plan development phases, however they do not represent the Task Force's efforts at this point. In the article, it was hard to distinguish between Mr. Zuckerman’s ideas and the work of the Task Force, which may have contributed to some confusion. The Task Force is genuinely interested in seeking public input and the process, by design, is intended to be inclusive. There are many opportunities coming up. For general information about the scheduling of public meetings and other events, check out our website at www.ci.newton.ma.us/newtoncentretaskforce/ (or go to the city website and click on the link to Newton Centre Task Force). We're meeting on the 1st Wednesday of the month at City Hall at 8 am. Also at the website is a link to a resident survey that provides people a chance to participate informally.
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