It’s still not too late to register here for the Fabulous Brookline for Everyone + Yes! In Brookline Holiday Open House on Monday, December 18, from 6:30-9:00 pm in the Parlour Room at the United Parish in Brookline, located at 15 Marion Street near Coolidge Corner. We have lots to celebrate, including B4E’s winning slate in last May’s Town elections and the Yes! in Brookline Coalition’s overwhelming success passing meaningful MBTA-CA compliance at Town Meeting in November. We will have plenty of food, drink and good cheer. Brief remarks, including a “preview of coming attractions” of our 2024 pro-housing agenda, will begin around 7:30. Come join us! More information and RSVP here.
As things slow down for the holidays, there is only one Town meeting of note this week, and unfortunately it conflicts directly with our Holiday Party on Monday. So, only if you are not able to come to our Holiday Party in person, consider attending the Community Preservation Act Committee meeting via Zoom on Monday, December 18, at 6:30 pm (meeting link here; no registration required, and the full agenda is here). The Committee will begin their review of the final applications received for up to approximately $10,000,000 in CPA funds that Brookline has accumulated over the past three years, with final approval at the May 2024 Town Meeting. We understand that there are several important applications to support housing affordability, including a joint application from the Housing Advisory Board the Brookline Housing Authority for the BHA’s Walnut/Juniper/High Street public housing redevelopment (see B4E’s support letter here) and applications from the Brookline Community Development Corporation for its Housing Stability Program, renovation of its existing properties, and potential new development (see our support letter here). If there is an opportunity for public comment, please consider advocating for these proposals.
Looking ahead to January, the Housing Advisory Board (HAB) will have its regular monthly meeting Wednesday, January 3, from 5:30-7:30 pm via Zoom. While not yet posted, we hope that the agenda will include discussion of updating and improving Brookline’s ADU (Accessory Dwelling Unit) bylaw, which was adopted several years ago but which, due to unnecessary restrictions, has resulted in virtually no new ADUs in Brookline. If you missed it, check this great Boston Globe article from a few weeks ago about the important role ADUs can play in addressing our regional housing shortage.
Finally, we want to report a small victory! Last week, we asked you to comment on the special permit request to the ZBA for construction of 8 new homes in a multifamily building at 80 Vernon Street to replace a single family home currently on the site. This property is surrounded by multifamily buildings, and the development is expected to contribute approximately $1.5 million to the Town’s Affordable Housing Trust. We are delighted to report that the request was approved by the ZBA, and now has a clear path to begin construction in the spring of 2024. Thank you to everyone who commented to the ZBA.
We will be taking a holiday break next Sunday (Dec. 24), and will be back the following week (Dec. 31) to start off our work for 2024. We wish everyone the best for a joyful Christmas, Kwanzaa, and a Happy New Year!