As an art student from Massachusetts College of Art and Design and creator of artist residency programs, Bonnie Bastien found herself drawn to community-oriented artists with a commitment to social justice. Bastien began volunteering for local organizations like the Massachusetts Bail Fund, gaining a lens for how the issues “stitch together” in the greater scheme… Continue reading On the front lines of the housing crisis, tenant organizer Bonnie Bastien tries to help Brookline’s struggling renters
Category: Housing
Why run for Town Meeting as a new candidate? It’s all about housing, survey says
Running for Town Meeting, Brookline’s 255-member legislative branch, as a new candidate is intimidating and a big time commitment, members say. It can be tough to unseat an incumbent. So why try? Brookline.News surveyed 60 non-incumbent candidates on the ballot for Town Meeting on May 7, many of them running for the first time, to… Continue reading Why run for Town Meeting as a new candidate? It’s all about housing, survey says
Meet the candidates running for the Brookline Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners
On May 7, voters will decide on a new member for the board of commissioners at the Brookline Housing Authority. The three candidates are Shawn O’Neal, Kimberley Richardson and Lynne Sweet. Click on each of their names below to learn more about them. The BHA operates over a dozen affordable housing buildings throughout town, housing… Continue reading Meet the candidates running for the Brookline Housing Authority’s Board of Commissioners
Brookline Community Foundation sells its Webster Place office to real estate developer
The Brookline Community Foundation has sold its building at 40 Webster Place to a real estate developer. The $5.45 million sale recorded in the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds marks a major change for the prominent local nonprofit organization whose grants, according to its website, focus on supporting “local nonprofits, town agencies, and community efforts… Continue reading Brookline Community Foundation sells its Webster Place office to real estate developer
Town committee recommends spending $7 million on Community Preservation Act projects
A town committee voted this week to recommend that the town spend more than $7 million in Community Preservation Act funds on 11 projects. The funds would be used to boost affordable housing, historic preservation and open space in Brookline. The vote capped a months-long process by the volunteer committee to sort through requests from… Continue reading Town committee recommends spending $7 million on Community Preservation Act projects
Town housing leaders grapple with how to increase diversity in Brookline
A declining Black population, growing economic disparities and a reputation for exclusion: How can Brookline contend with those challenges and welcome more Black and Hispanic households? The town’s Housing Advisory Board discussed that question at a recent meeting, led by Bernard Greene, chair of the town’s Select Board. To Greene, racial imbalances in Brookline are… Continue reading Town housing leaders grapple with how to increase diversity in Brookline
Town committee hears requests for using Community Preservation funds on affordable housing
Brookline’s Community Preservation Act Committee has over $9 million of funding at its disposal and is working through how to spend it, with applicants requesting more than $14 million for affordable housing, preservation and open space projects. “It’s going to be tough decisions,” said committee chair Nancy Heller. “There’s no question about it, because there’s… Continue reading Town committee hears requests for using Community Preservation funds on affordable housing
Brookline legalized accessory dwelling units in 2019. So why hasn’t a single one been built?
Accessory dwelling units (ADUs), small, independent housing units built on the lot of a single family home, are a big part of Governor Maura Healey’s push to increase housing supply in Massachusetts. On the surface, Brookline was ahead of the curve: ADUs were made legal in a 2019 Town Meeting vote. But not a single… Continue reading Brookline legalized accessory dwelling units in 2019. So why hasn’t a single one been built?
Eyes on the State House: Rep. Tommy Vitolo reflects on 2023 and his future
A few things were different for Rep. Tommy Vitolo in 2023, coming into his third term as state representative for the 15th Norfolk District, which covers most of Brookline. “I had more relationships with colleagues and more ability to be part of conversations and not simply be thankful to be in the room for them,”… Continue reading Eyes on the State House: Rep. Tommy Vitolo reflects on 2023 and his future
New rental assistance program aims to ‘keep people in their homes’
Brookline renters facing eviction may benefit from a new rental assistance program from the Brookline Community Development Corporation, which will provide up to $5,000 to help with late rent payments. Funded by an initial grant of $41,000 from the Brookline Community Foundation, the program was created to help “keep people in their homes,” said Deborah… Continue reading New rental assistance program aims to ‘keep people in their homes’
Property tax hike set to hit single-family homeowners hardest next year
The median single-family homeowner in Brookline will see their property tax bill go up nearly 10% in 2024, as home values in town continue to soar. For fiscal year 2024, the average single-family home in Brookline is valued at $2.67 million, a nearly 12% increase over 2023, according to Rachid Belhocine, the town’s chief assessor.… Continue reading Property tax hike set to hit single-family homeowners hardest next year
Brookline will ask state legislature for ability to cap annual rent increases
Brookline will ask the state legislature for permission to cap annual rent increases, adding the town to a growing group of voices in the Boston area pushing for the return of rent control. A proposal narrowly approved by Town Meeting on Thursday calls for prohibiting landlords, with some exceptions, from raising year-over-year rent by more… Continue reading Brookline will ask state legislature for ability to cap annual rent increases
Town Meeting passes major rezoning plan likely to reshape Harvard Street
On Tuesday evening, Brookline Town Meeting passed a rezoning plan which is likely to reshape Harvard Street, one of the town’s central corridors, and pave the way for the development of hundreds of new apartments and condos. The plan easily achieved the two-thirds margin required, approved by a vote of 207 to 33 with seven… Continue reading Town Meeting passes major rezoning plan likely to reshape Harvard Street
BCF’s new database illuminates the numbers behind Brookline
The Brookline Community Foundation unveiled its new Community Indicators Database at an event at the Florida Ruffin Ridley School on November 2. It tracks various data about life in Brookline over the years, and compares it to several nearby cities and towns. Check out this video for an overview of the database and this guide… Continue reading BCF’s new database illuminates the numbers behind Brookline
Explainer: Brookline’s MBTA Communities rezoning plan
Brookline Town Meeting will vote on a major rezoning of Harvard Street and other parts of town on Tuesday. Here’s what you need to know about the proposal Town Meeting members are voting on and where it came from, based on six months of Brookline.News prior reporting and research. Why is the town doing this?… Continue reading Explainer: Brookline’s MBTA Communities rezoning plan
Brookline Housing Authority will use $500k earmark to redo dozens of kitchens with electric stoves
The Brookline Housing Authority has received $500,000 to redo dozens of kitchens in two of its buildings and to transition them to electric stoves, thanks to funding secured by Representative Tommy Vitolo. The earmarked funds, which come from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will allow BHA to renovate between 35 and 45 kitchens… Continue reading Brookline Housing Authority will use $500k earmark to redo dozens of kitchens with electric stoves
Town Meeting proposal would throw Brookline into statewide debate over rent control
Brookline Town Meeting members are set to debate a measure this month asking state legislators to let the town impose a cap on yearly rent increases, potentially throwing Brookline into a roiling statewide debate over rent control. Warrant Article 16, proposed by Town Meeting members Alec Lebovitz (Precinct 8) and Kimberley Richardson (Precinct 2) and… Continue reading Town Meeting proposal would throw Brookline into statewide debate over rent control
Senior living project on former Newbury College site changes hands
A senior living development in the works on the former Newbury College site has been taken over by a new company, Kisco Senior Living. Balfour Senior Living, which had been set to manage the new community once construction finishes next year, is becoming an affiliate of Kisco, according to a recent press release from the… Continue reading Senior living project on former Newbury College site changes hands
After years of policy clashes, rival housing groups reach agreement on Harvard Street zoning plan
Two housing advocacy groups in Brookline which are often bitterly opposed have reached agreement on a compliance plan for the MBTA Communities Act, appearing to dramatically increase the chance that a divided Town Meeting passes a rezoning plan this fall which would lead to significant new housing development in town. The law, which requires communities… Continue reading After years of policy clashes, rival housing groups reach agreement on Harvard Street zoning plan
Older homeowners dominate Brookline’s Town Meeting, surveys find
In a town where 52% of households are occupied by renters, according to the latest U.S. census data, homeowners hold an overwhelming majority of seats in the local legislative body, according to several analyses shared with Brookline.News. Town Meeting members are also on average almost 20 years older than the median age of Brookline adults.… Continue reading Older homeowners dominate Brookline’s Town Meeting, surveys find