December 2025 Newsletter
Housing Progress in Newton 2025
As we conclude 2025, Newton for Everyone is reflecting on a year of mixed results and hard-won incremental progress in our city. While some long-term efforts finally reached significant milestones, the implementation of new policies has been a slow process. This year serves as a reminder that meaningful change in Newton often requires over a decade of persistence from advocates and city leaders alike.
Housing Projects: Long-Term Efforts Reach Fruition
Many of the projects that saw movement this year were the result of years—and in some cases, decades—of advocacy and complex navigation of state and local requirements.
The Armory: This year construction finally began on the 43 deed-restricted affordable units at 30–60% of the Area Median Income (AMI). This project, originally proposed by Mayor Fuller in 2019 after a state offer, required years of effort to secure multiple funding sources, including local Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds and state Low Income Housing Tax Credits that took three years to receive.
Family Aid West Newton Navigation Center: Now providing 42 units of housing and services for formerly homeless women and children, this effort was made possible through city-state collaboration. The project received funds from Newton’s Affordable Housing Trust.
Northland Amendment: In December, the City Council passed an amendment to remove no-longer-viable office space. You can see buildings finally going up after years of work on the extensive underground infrastructure. When complete, Northland will provide homes for 822 households (145 deed restricted affordable).
Riverside: In a significant step, the Council approved a special permit for 753 units (151 affordable) plus some commercial space. Proposals for this site have been under consideration since 2007! While we celebrate this approval for much-needed housing, we remain cautious and hopeful that this third iteration of the Riverside project actually breaks ground. We thank Councilor Kelley and the Land Use Committee for moving this through expeditiously.
We appreciate those city leaders who have understood the impact of limited housing availability in Newton that has driven up the cost of living here and thank them for their support of policies and projects that will help create more diverse housing options.
Implementing and Tracking the VCOD
The implementation of the Village Center Overlay District (VCOD), passed in late 2023, got off to a notably slow start in 2024 and early 2025. However, we are now beginning to see the first signs of activity:
The MRT Zone: The Multi-Residence Transit (MRT) Zone is starting to gain interest. The MRT is proving it can incentivize the preservation of Newton’s streetscapes while increasing housing supply. Builders in at least five locations in Newton Highlands and Newton Centre are utilizing MRT zoning to preserve existing homes while adding additional units on-site.
Village Centers: The new zoning is active in two locations, both in Newtonville. In one case an historic church will be preserved by converting it to residential with a new building for more housing constructed on the same lot. The other project that is moving forward will be 100% deed-restricted affordable. This level of affordability allows the building to have an additional story making it more viable financially. It will also include the required commercial space on the ground floor.
Strengthening Housing Infrastructure
Behind the scenes, the city’s housing organizations have been working to improve the long-term management of Newton’s affordable inventory.
City-Wide Affordable Housing Assessment: Under the leadership of Ann Houston, a critical assessment of all deed-restricted affordable units in Newton was completed this year. This provides a necessary roadmap for future housing opportunities and management city-wide.
Renovations for Affordability: Newton’s Affordable Housing Trust is currently funding the renovation of older apartment buildings. These units will become deed-restricted affordable housing as current renters naturally transition out, preserving existing stock for the long term.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs): While a state law made Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) legal by right throughout Massachusetts, local improvements led by Councilor Albright have allowed for slightly larger units in Newton. This will allow more families to opt for intergenerational living on their own properties.
Transit & Housing a Critical Link
Sustainable housing requires reliable transit and reliable transit relies on enough people living close enough to it to make use of it regularly. 2025 saw movement on infrastructure that will better connect Newton to the region.
Newtonville Commuter Rail: After years of advocacy from local leaders, including Representative Khan, Mayor Fuller, Councilor Albright, and Congressman Auchincloss, upgrades to the Newtonville station have finally been funded by the MBTA and the state administration.
Advocacy Alignment: We recognize the City Councilors who fought for both the transit improvements and increased housing in Newtonville, understanding that housing and transit must work in tandem for a sustainable community.
Highlights of Newton for Everyone 2025
As the new year begins, we want to thank you for your interest and support for making more housing opportunities available for people of all ages, means, backgrounds and abilities in Newton.
This past year we have hosted educational forums, blogged about key housing issues in Newton and encouraged people to take action to support more diverse forms of housing that could be affordable to more people in Newton.
Join us as we continue to expand our efforts in 2026!
Educational Events
What would it take to build 100% affordable housing in Newton?
Newton native Jason Korb, a developer who focuses on exceptional affordable housing projects, stressed the delicate interplay of municipal support, community engagement, and financial feasibility when navigating the complexities of affordable housing development.
Accessory Dwellings: New Opportunities for Homeowners and for Newton
Will Cohen, of the Boston Planning Department, talked with us about how both homeowners and communities can benefit from ADU construction and gave us some concrete models for how we can proceed.
Housing Policy is Climate Policy
For Earth Day 2025, Newton for Everyone hosted an event with long-time Newton resident, Dan Ruben, a leading voice in sustainable practices who has served on Green Newton's Board since 1996.
Climate change isn't a distant threat; its impacts are being felt right here in Newton. Both how and where we build our homes can play a significant role in tackling this crisis.
Priced out: The growing challenge of teacher retention and housing costs
How can Newton attract and retain great teachers if they can’t afford to live here? That was the central question at “Priced Out,” a discussion of how the city’s housing shortage directly impacts its schools.
The event featured Heather Peske, President of the National Council on Teacher Quality, and Ari Kenyon Vance, a Newton South High School guidance counselor, soccer, and track coach.
Newton for Everyone’s Most Popular Blogs
Why is building more homes essential to a thriving local economy?
There’s been a lot of talk about the need for commercial development in Newton as a way to raise tax revenue. But what is needed to lure more commercial development to Newton?
Good Affordable Housing, Bad Affordable Housing
Will Newton be a place our kids can afford to live—or a museum of homes only the wealthy can buy? We face two paths to lower housing costs, and the one we choose will define our city for generations. When you’re done with the article, send a letter to city council reminding them we need good affordable housing.
A mandate for action: 71% of voters back more housing—here’s what it means for Newton
Attend any Newton housing hearing and it’s easy to think opposition dominates—yet new statewide polling shows that impression is wrong. The findings confirm what many of us have felt all along: the pro-housing perspective is the mainstream perspective.
Updated Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance Passed by the City Council
Newton went above and beyond the state law for expanding ADU options by allowing larger ADUs that will make them more family friendly and allow the space needed to ensure accessibility. Thank you to the 89 Newton for Everyone supporters who sent in letters of support for the additional amendments to the ADU ordinance
The City Council voted 18 to 6 to approve the additional amendments. Councilors Baker, Farrell, Gentile, Lucas, Oliver and Malakie opposed.
What's up with Northland? Why is the project going back to the City Council?
After years of study, community engagement and debate before the City Council, the plans for Northland were approved in 2019. Voters then decisively upheld the decision in early March 2020. However, then came the pandemic.
While Northland was able to complete a lot of the underground infrastructure, by 2025 they had to rethink how to proceed in a very different economic reality. Their solution involves building fewer buildings and converting the historic mill building to homes instead of offices. The total number of homes and affordable homes remains approximately the same. The special permit amendment was approved by the City Council by a 19-4 vote. Councilors Block, Lobovits, Malakie, and Wright opposed.
Your Vote, Our Future: Asking the Right Questions on Housing
While we did not endorse individual candidates, we developed a set of questions so that people could ask specific, substantive questions of the candidates.
Making Connections with Newton Neighbors
Summer Social July
We held a large backyard gathering for people to get to know each other and talk with others interested in helping make Newton more affordable for young families, seniors downsizing and our kids who want to live in the town they grew up in.
Meet-up at Baramor in Newton Center in December.
People had a chance to grab a drink, have some food and talk about housing, abundance, the recent election, and whatever else was on their mind. Keep an eye out for more meet-ups during 2026.
Stay tuned for Movie Night in January!
We’ll watch and discuss together “What does luxury housing do for homelessness?” a well-produced informative and engaging video. We’ll provide the popcorn!
Donate to Support Newton for Everyone
A thriving Newton is one where local businesses flourish, neighborhoods buzz with energy, and people of all ages and backgrounds find homes they can afford and love.
Newton for Everyone is making that vision a reality. Your gift helps us Educate & Engage residents, Advocate for Real Change at City Hall and Mobilize Voters.
Help support Newton for Everyone
Volunteer to advocate for diverse housing
Find out how you can help advocate for more diverse housing options in Newton, contact us at newtonforeveryone@gmail.com.