Greetings, everyone. This newsletter goes out as we shovel out of one of the biggest snowstorm in years. Rest assured, we aren’t asking you to go anywhere. This week we offer Zoom meetings plus online reading and viewing. Stay safe and warm.
We enjoyed seeing many of you–some for the first time–in person at the Book Club last Wednesday, where we shared views–many different views–about the “abundance” agenda and its relevance for Brookline. Stay tuned for details about the next Book Club meeting toward the end of March, and get started on Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World, by Henry Grabar.
Meetings of interest this week:
- Tonight, on Monday, Jan. 26, there was be another opportunity to learn about the important plans for the Chestnut Hill Commercial Area, when Draft Zoning and Design Guidelines are presented to the Economic Development Advisory Board. Agenda and Zoom link (yes, you can stay home) here.
- At the same time on Monday, at 7 PM, and also on Zoom, the Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee will meet to plan a final round of public engagement as they complete their work. Agenda and Zoom link here.
- On Tuesday, Jan. 27, the Select Board will receive an update on plans for the Centre Street parking lots, and may take a vote on further steps. It will come up after 7PM on the board’s long agenda; check the agenda and get the Zoom link here.
- The same project will be the first item on the Planning Board agenda on Thursday, Jan. 29, at 7:30 PM, where the Final Centre Street Lots Exploratory Study Report will be presented. Agenda and Zoom link here.
Brookline Election Season
This past week was the first opportunity for candidates to pull their papers to run for office in this coming May’s Town Election, including for Town Meeting. While you’ll hear much more from us in the coming weeks about the campaign, if you’ve been considering a run for Town Meeting now is the time to get started. Let us know if you’re planning to run and definitely reach out with any questions you may have about the process or to get connected with past B4E-endorsed candidates! Email us at BrooklineForEveryone@gmail.com. And if you are able to contribute to our campaign efforts, you can donate here.
A survey (not ours):
Climate Action Brookline is asking residents to chime in on its priorities for the future. Is housing a climate issue? Is it a good idea to build housing in the kind of walkable, transit-accessible neighborhoods that draw people to Brookline? Let them know what you think. (Note that the survey asks about the Town’s Climate Action and Resiliency Plan, now being developed. A detailed draft of its goals and strategies is here.)
Save the Date for the Brookline Community Development Corporation’s 2026 Gala
Join our friends at the Brookline Community Development Corporation (BCDC) to celebrate the organization’s 45th anniversary with an evening honoring local affordable housing champions and an opportunity to support BCDC’s important work in Brookline. The event will be at Esmai’s in Coolidge Corner on Saturday, February 28 at 6:30pm. Learn more and buy your tickets (or become a sponsor!) here.
What we’re reading and viewing this week:
Do aesthetics and urban form play a major role in the success of new developments? Here is an essay by an urban designer making that case. Regulations matter here, too: a single-stair rule would permit nicer buildings.
But as we enter a season of budgets, overrides, and the search for revenue, we have to look at hard numbers. Where do we find the most taxable value in Brookline? The grandest estates of South Brookline? Quite the opposite:
Brookline’s tax revenue comes predominately from concentrated commercial development and multifamily housing, and identifying opportunities to increase both should be a significant part of our long term financial strategy. The national expert on this topic is the consultant Joe Minicozzi, who waxes eloquent about the stupidities and inequities of our system of municipal finance. His organization is Urban3, and some of his very engaging lectures are online: here, for example.
Thanks, and have a great week,
Brian Ladd, on behalf of Brookline for Everyone