5 unit construction-KOC site

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Kallan Lock-Durken

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Jul 18, 2015, 10:11:58 AM7/18/15
to jcote completecpasolution.com, westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com
The board should take into consideration that the largest rental property in this neighborhood is 3 units (one historic renovated home). The rest of the neighborhood is single families and two familes.

A 5 unit apartment building does not fit the character of the neighborhood. 

The lot size also doesn't support the unit number if you look at other recent west newton projects. Other projects that have been approved on this size lots have been single family or 2 units - not 5. This is unprecedented.  Developers should not be allowed to tear down or change existing structures to cram in as many investment properties as they deem appropriate to the detriment of the neighborhood.

Bottome line, the Board should NOT permit the building to go forward with 5 units.

Additionally, the parking is also a safety issue if on street parking is allowed. That area is already hard to navigate w/o the added stressor of additional cars. It is a dangerous intersetion of three separate roads and curved blindspots where they meet.  When this was a KOC we saw first hand the congestion that happens when there is only a few extra cars parked. This becomes worse in the winter.

The developers should take into consideration these concerns to modify their project in a manner that works for the neighborhood.  We encourage a fair and open dialogue for a consensual resolution.
 
What time is the meeting on 8/4?

We encourage our neighbors to reach out with their concerns either via this group or directly to us:

Kallan Durken: kldu...@gmail.com 
Timothy Durken: tdu...@jagersmith.com

Thank you,

Kallan








On Saturday, July 18, 2015, Kallan Lock-Durken <kldu...@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Jim-
 
Thank you for the update.
 
I appreciate being kept in the loop.
 
I must have missed something at the historical commission meeting- was a final decision made regarding if these were rentals vs condos? At the time the developer seemed to be going back and forth...?
 
I very much appreciate you and our neighbors bringing up the clean up of the lot. We look directly on it and it has become rather neglected in regards to lawn maintainance and just general clean up of previous yard work. Was an actual deadline set or plan for keeping the lot clean? There was an semi-abandoned car parked on the lot from January unitl mid May so my patience is a little thin in regards to upkeep.
 
Thanks again for your detailed e-mail :)
 
Kallan
 

On Fri, Jul 17, 2015 at 11:06 PM, jcote completecpasolution.com <jc...@completecpasolution.com> wrote:

Hi Kallan and All,

As one of your Alderman at Large, and a member of the Land Use Committee of the Board of Alderman, I would like to update everyone on the Land Use meeting for the Southgate KOC.  The public hearing was opened Tuesday evening, and as expected there was some initial public comment centering on a few items.  Overall the committee seemed pleased with the project, but there are some serious areas of concern:

1.  Number of units:  Not seemingly a big complaint but several cited 4 as a better number.  I would also agree that 4 would be enough but the inclusion of a small fully accessible apartment makes this just over a 4 unit building (5).

2.  Clean-up: I cited neighborhood concerns that the developer had to clean the place up and to do so immediately.  Developer agreed to do so and prior to our next working session.  My experience is that this will happen.

3.  Parking:  Feeling is that even though there is parking that many may park out front.  Alderman Scott Lennon proposed that since these are rentals that the landlord should stipulate that tenants must use assigned parking and not park in the neighborhood.  Deb Crossly proposed limiting parking to 1 side  of the street only, and I noted that that would be a bad idea and would increase neighborhood opposition to the project.

3.  Since there are some large units with the potential of renting at a high number, I asked that the developer come to the working session with some ideas on affordable housing rates, even if its the high affordable rate.  I commented that if West Newton has to give up open space (70 Crescent St)  for developers then developers need to come the table addressing community concerns.

4.  Community meeting:  The developer will be scheduled in again on August 4th and I would like to see this move through rather quickly.  Atty Morris is to get back to us  on some proposed dates/places for a community meeting.

Please let me know if you have other ideas or concerns.

Thanks


Jim

Alderman at Large, Ward 3

(508) 983-4535

On July 16, 2015 at 4:27 PM Kallan Lock-Durken <kldu...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello-

Unfortunately  I was unable to attend Tuesday's land use meeting regarding the KOC- does anyone have any information to share?

Thank you,

Kallan

 

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James Cote
Alderman at Large, Ward 3, City of Newton, Massachusetts
jc...@newtonma.gov www.coteward3.us 508 983-4535

Day Job: Financial Advisor
Concord Wealth Management
230 3rd Ave, Waltham, MA 02465 (781) 966-2983

“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
Abraham Lincoln

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
John F. Kennedy


Florence Walker

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Jul 19, 2015, 5:30:10 PM7/19/15
to kldu...@gmail.com, westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com
WeI live on a Stoneleigh Road, West Newton.  Would you be able to explain where this lot is in relation to Stoneleigh Rd.?
 
My best,
 
Florence Walker/ Richard Ivers
On July 16, 2015 at 4:27 PM Kallan Lock-Durken <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','kldu...@gmail.com');> wrote:

Hello-
 
Unfortunately  I was unable to attend Tuesday's land use meeting regarding the KOC- does anyone have any information to share?
 
Thank you,
 
Kallan


 

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James Cote
Alderman at Large, Ward 3, City of Newton, Massachusetts



Day Job: Financial Advisor
Concord Wealth Management
230 3rd Ave, Waltham, MA 02465 (781) 966-2983

“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
Abraham Lincoln

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
John F. Kennedy

 
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Theodore M. Hess Mahan

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Jul 19, 2015, 5:32:40 PM7/19/15
to kldu...@gmail.com, river...@rcn.com, westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com

Her is a map. You are right around the corner. https://www.google.com/maps/place/15+S+Gate+Park,+Newton,+MA+02465/@42.3548734,-71.2247631,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x89e382ef08b80a65:0xa4c1440f0a1b7e4f
Google Maps
15 S Gate Park, Newton, MA 02465



Ted Hess-Mahan
Alderman-at-Large Ward 3
871 Watertown Street
Newton, MA 02465

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From: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com <westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Florence Walker <river...@rcn.com>
Sent: Sunday, July 19, 2015 5:30 PM
To: kldu...@gmail.com
Cc: westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [WNewton] 5 unit construction-KOC site
 

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Ann Dorfman

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Jul 19, 2015, 10:03:30 PM7/19/15
to Ted Hess-mahan, kldu...@gmail.com, river...@rcn.com, westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com
Hi Neighbors,

I attended the Historic Commission meeting last month but was unable to attend the recent public hearing. At the HC meeting I believe someone mentioned that the city had requested of the developer that the Knights of Columbus building be used to create more (4-5) smaller units rather than fewer (2-3) larger units, to provide more, slightly more affordable, housing, and price ranges somewhat more in keeping with the neighborhood. The building, according to the assessors database, currently has 8,700 square feet of habitable space on a 14,000 SF lot. The plan is to restore the building to its original 1915 appearance, which was quite nice (see attached), but raise the back roof to provide more habitable space. They plan to gut the interior, rehab the exterior (removing the ridiculous and hideous front entrance that was added in the 1970s), and turn the basement into parking for most vehicles, with space for 3 additional cars at ground level on the property. As proposed, one of the units will be "affordable" and handicapped accessible with a wheelchair ramp, the other 4 units will be 2 bedroom market rate.

As one who planted and has been managing the garden on the traffic island in an effort to obscure this blight, I am optimistic that restoring this building to its original appearance will be a significant improvement to the neighborhood, though I do have a few reservations and think Kallan's comments are quite reasonable.

I do encourage anyone interested to attend the hearing on 8/4.

Ann

Ann Dorfman
9 Henshaw St
Newton, MA 02465













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James Cote
Alderman at Large, Ward 3, City of Newton, Massachusetts
javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','jc...@newtonma.gov'); www.coteward3.us 508 983-4535

Day Job: Financial Advisor
Concord Wealth Management
230 3rd Ave, Waltham, MA 02465 (781) 966-2983

“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.”
Abraham Lincoln

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”
John F. Kennedy
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Kallan Lock-Durken

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Jul 19, 2015, 10:23:27 PM7/19/15
to Ann Dorfman, Ted Hess-mahan, river...@rcn.com, westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com, Timothy J. Durken
Ann-

Thank you for your comments and your great work with the garden area :)

Our bottom line is the town nor the developer should be overloading this lot with 5 units which clearly does not fit the character of a neighborhood comprised of single and two family homes. 

We do welcome the asthetic changes that should come with this project however we feel that there are many questions that need to be answered before a final plan is approved.

We have heard that there may be a hearing at the KOC site prior to the 8/4 land use meeting but have not yet received final confirmation.

Thank you,

Kallan and Tim

jcote completecpasolution.com

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Jul 19, 2015, 11:13:56 PM7/19/15
to Ann Dorfman, kldurken, westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com, river...@rcn.com, Timothy J. Durken, westnewtonn...@googlegroups.com, Ted Hess-mahan

Hi Everyone,

The Public Hearing remains open for the Southgate project, and our plan (Ted Hess Mahan, and Barbara Brousal Glaser, and myself) is to have the developers Attorney set up a community meeting.  The Ward 3 Aldermen currently have a community meeting set for the 29th at St Bernards on the neighborhood parking changes, as we certainly have a lot going on in West Newton.  More information on Southgate project to follow.

Thank  you have a great day.

Jim

James Cote

Alderman at Large, Ward 3, City of Newton, Massachusetts

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