The town’s decision to rent two houses on the edge of Larz Anderson Park to the nearby private, members-only Country Club has raised questions about the town’s use of publicly-owned property. When Isabel Anderson, the heiress, author and wife of Larz Anderson, died in 1948, she left part of her estate to the town. In… Continue reading Town’s decision to rent properties to The Country Club raises eyebrows among Select Board, Town Meeting members
Category: Housing
Photos: Allston Christmas in Brookline
[metaslider id=19030] It’s that time of year again. Summer renters are moving out, fall renters are moving in, and the sidewalks of Allston, Brighton, Brookline and beyond are covered with trash and treasure. Scroll through the slideshow to see some of the best photos from Brookline so far, by our staff and readers. And we’d… Continue reading Photos: Allston Christmas in Brookline
Developer planning 96-unit apartment building on Hammond Street
A real estate developer is making plans to build a five-and-a-half story apartment building with nearly 100 rental units on Hammond Street just south of Route 9. Developer Elias Patoucheas of Charles River Realty has submitted plans to the town to develop property that he owns with a business partner between Heath and Sheafe Streets… Continue reading Developer planning 96-unit apartment building on Hammond Street
Select Board signs off on rezoning which could create 800 new housing units
Brookline’s Select Board signed off on a two-part proposal (pdf) Tuesday night which would rezone Harvard Street and the town’s existing multi-family districts. The plan is meant to comply with the state’s MBTA Communities Act, which requires 177 cities and towns to relax zoning rules for multifamily housing near transit stations. The plan developed by… Continue reading Select Board signs off on rezoning which could create 800 new housing units
Town Administrator details “consensus” zoning plan: compliance in M-Districts, more housing on Harvard Street
Brookline’s Town Administrator Chas Carey released details on Thursday of a “consensus” zoning plan developed by the town’s staff to meet the requirements of the MBTA Communities Act. His plan is the most detailed and specific look yet at how the town aims to comply with the law, and it will be taken up by… Continue reading Town Administrator details “consensus” zoning plan: compliance in M-Districts, more housing on Harvard Street
After year-long delay, town says utility debt relief coming soon for 1,000 Brookline households
Fifteen months after the town promised to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars of residents’ utility debt, the relief has yet to come. The town says it is working to get the money out and hopes to distribute it soon, but the plan’s proponents worry that the moment of highest need may have come and… Continue reading After year-long delay, town says utility debt relief coming soon for 1,000 Brookline households
Select Board poised for key decision on multifamily zoning law
Editor’s note: Since this story was published, more details have emerged about the town’s plan for a zoning proposal. Click here to read our updated story. Brookline’s town leaders face critical deadlines this month to move toward complying with a state law that mandates zoning changes aimed at paving the way for more multifamily housing.… Continue reading Select Board poised for key decision on multifamily zoning law
Town committee gears up to give out millions for housing, open space, preservation
A town committee is about to start taking applications for nearly $10 million in state funds, as Brookline gets ready to finally begin allocating money from the Community Preservation Act. The funding comes from a 1% local property tax surcharge, plus some matching state funds. The town became eligible after a town-wide vote in 2021,… Continue reading Town committee gears up to give out millions for housing, open space, preservation
Brookline set to fall under 10% affordable housing, triggering 40B applications
Brookline is likely to dip below an affordable housing threshold this fall, which will mean housing developers will again be able to appeal decisions of the town’s zoning board to the state, according to town officials. If less than 10% of the housing in a city or town is affordable, a state law, Chapter 40B,… Continue reading Brookline set to fall under 10% affordable housing, triggering 40B applications
Brookline weighs its housing future as zoning law deadline approaches
Brookline is scrambling to meet the requirements of a state zoning law that could shape the town’s housing landscape and character for decades to come. The MBTA Communities law requires zoning changes meant to incentivize more multifamily housing near public transportation in hundreds of towns and cities across Massachusetts. In Brookline, two distinct paths with… Continue reading Brookline weighs its housing future as zoning law deadline approaches
Town Meeting update: Members approve ranked choice voting, office of housing stability
Town Meeting wrapped up its spring session last week, putting an end to proceedings until a special Town Meeting expected to take place in November, when members will likely be asked to vote on a compliance plan for the controversial MBTA Communities Act. The town’s response to the law, which sets new requirements for multi-family… Continue reading Town Meeting update: Members approve ranked choice voting, office of housing stability
Report shines light on Brookline’s financially vulnerable
Roughly one in four Brookline residents is financially vulnerable, living in households with incomes well below the living wage for Norfolk County, according to a new report coming out next week from the Brookline Community Foundation. More than one-third of Brookline residents spend over 30% of their income on housing. These are among the most… Continue reading Report shines light on Brookline’s financially vulnerable
Town Meeting update: New zoning rules aim to slow demolitions
Brookline Town Meeting wrapped up its second week on Thursday, signing off on the town’s $375,221,343 budget and voting on a number of policy proposals. In addition to a heated debate on the creation of a Black and Brown Commission, the town’s legislative body took on issues related to zoning, green buildings, marijuana licenses and… Continue reading Town Meeting update: New zoning rules aim to slow demolitions
Brookline’s condo market slows, but single-family prices stay high
Last spring, the housing market in Brookline was in hyperdrive. Bidding wars were common and buyers often waived inspection and finance contingencies, local brokers recall. Homes routinely sold for above asking price. This year’s Brookline market has cooled somewhat, particularly for condominiums, but low inventory and high mortgage rates mean buyers continue to face difficult… Continue reading Brookline’s condo market slows, but single-family prices stay high