Upcoming Brookline for Everyone Events in September
September 8 is Brookline Day, a celebration of all things Brookline at Coolidge Corner, organized by the Brookline Recreation Department, with “vendors, games, inflatables, trucks, food, face painters, bands, prizes, and special activities,” and, best of all, you can volunteer at the Brookline for Everyone table! Come to have fun, meet your neighbors, say hello, and learn about town affairs. Sign-up to volunteer here.
The next day, Monday, September 9, will be B4E’s fall happy hour, once again at Grainne O’Malley’s, 201 Harvard Street (at Marion St.), from 5:30 to 7:00. All are welcome: come and meet your housing-friendly neighbors! Register for the event here!
And on Wednesday, Sept 18, our friends at Yes! in Brookline are sponsoring a forum on Housing for All in Brookline: For-profit and Nonprofit Developer Perspectives. Two Brookline residents who are active housing builders, Amy Schectman and Zeina Talje, will explain the obstacles they face, and overcome, to build housing for us all. Cathleen Cavell, Town Meeting Member Precinct 1, will moderate. 7:00-8:30 pm, Brookline Town Hall, Select Board Hearing Room, 6th floor. This in-person event will be live-streamed by BIG. B4E is a cosponsor. Register to attend here!
Preparing for Fall Town Meeting
Things might appear quiet in August, but there is a lot going on behind the scenes. The Warrant for the Fall Town Meeting closes on September 5, so any proposals to be voted on must be ready for submission very soon. Brookline for Everyone is staying abreast of several issues that affect future housing construction, and we urge everyone, but especially Town Meeting Members, to do the same.
This week, the best way to find out what’s going on will be to attend the Select Board meeting on Tuesday, August 20, for an “Update from the Planning Department on FY25 work plan, including zoning warrant articles for Fall 2024 Special Town Meeting.” We do not yet know exactly what will be presented, but we know there are plans for zoning changes that both concern and excite us, so please join us as we learn more. The meeting starts at 5 pm, with this item scheduled to come up soon after 6:30. You can find the agenda here and join the meeting via Zoom here.
If you’d rather get out beforehand and celebrate a historic housing win, join our friends at Abundant Housing Massachusetts (AHMA) on Tuesday, August 20th from 5pm – 7pm at Democracy Beer Garden at Boston City Hall. (Register at that link.) As they explain: “For years, the Massachusetts Pro-Housing Movement has advocated for effective ways to help alleviate our current housing crisis. Due to our collective and committed advocacy, we now have the strongest Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) law in New England!” At the Select Board meeting later that evening we expect the Planning Department to detail how they expect this new state law will strengthen our own Town ADU by-law.
Let the Town know more about your needs
Coolidge Corner Parking Survey – The Town is conducting a Study of Parking and Curb Use in Coolidge Corner and needs your input. Please take a few moments to complete a brief survey that will help the planning team better understand the needs of the community.
What We’re Reading and Listening to This Week
“We have created scarcity on purpose”: Ezra Klein interviews Senator Brian Schatz of Hawaii, one of the national politicians who best understands our housing crisis. You can either listen or read the transcript here. Or you can listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.