Sarah Birmingham White
That the scale of the project will be respectful of the neighborhood. As well as the materials used.

john stewart
1) have very little impact on quality of life in Lower Falls and Auburndale 2) thoroughly explore direct access to route 128, in both directions, completely eliminating Grove St. as an essential route to or from the site. 3) create a complex of offices and apartments as beautiful and hidden as Riverside Park next door.

Debra Ruder
A thoughtfully designed, inviting mixed-use development that fits the scale of the Lower Falls and Auburndale neighborhoods. Replace the asphalt desert with attractive and affordable housing for singles, families and seniors; a few restaurants; parks and well-lit paths; ample parking for commuters; and upgraded mass transit options. Please don’t overshadow (literally) our charming village of Lower Falls with towers or choke Grove Street and other area roads with overwhelming traffic. Please.

Nathaniel Lichtin
Why are we waiting for a project to be proposed to figure out how much traffic the area can handle and the capacity of other transportation infrastructure. Knowing what amount of traffic the area can handle is critical to figuring out what should be built there. My vision for the site will depend on how the site will impact the traffic and transportation in the area. Without this information it is impossible to have an accurate vision of what is desired or acceptable for the site.

Nathaniel Lichtin
Will this visioning process include any analysis of impacts on traffic and transportation based on what the proposed vision is?

David D
I would like to see a smaller useful development. Publicly accessible bathrooms, a place to eat at reasonable rates and interesting shops. I would also like to see this development turned into a true transportation hub by connecting the end of the D line to the Framingham commuter rail line in both directions.

john stewart
what happens if the overwhelming consensus is that there is almost nothing of conceivable benefit to Lower Falls and Auburndale that might come from this development, and that there is no chance whatsoever of "integrating" the development with the community life of either neighborhood?

J Bartholomew
Something very much smaller. This is ridiculous. The impact on Auburndale would be profound, in a bad way.

Herbie Robinson
How does the developer plan on doing this without losing their shirt because all of the existing transportation to/from the site is already overloaded? Rt. 128 is essentially a parking lot for 4-6 hours a day and the Green Line is nearly that saturated. People need to understand that growth isn't possible unless that state gets serious about dealing with regional transportation. Developers see the wealthy community and get $$ in their eyes, but then they don't get enough business to survive. Like that new mall they put into Chestnut Hill 10 years ago. Really slick place, but it was easier to get to Natick and that's where everyone went.

Erin Giesser
Traffic will back up through here and cars will stream through our small neighborhood and narrow streets to avoid lights at Grove. What will be done to prevent this?

Debra Ruder
The development should be only as large/dense/tall as the site and city's schools, roads, infrastructure, environment, social and emergency services, and surrounding villages can bear. In 2013, when it approved the "Station at Riverside" plan after years of public meetings and negotiations, the City of Newton deemed that to be roughly 580,000 square feet. There is so much at stake. Let's take the time to get it right!

Margaret Crook
I’m surprised at the willingness to accept the huge scale of this project by demanding N/S 95 access. Is that what we really want in Newton? A geographically isolated city in a city totally out of keeping with the rest of Newton? We can do better AND DESERVE better!

Kay Khan
Easy access to Riverside for Lower Falls residents and possibly Wellesley folks to use the public transportation or other amenities being considered by the developer without having to get in a car. DCR is interested as well as developer and yes this will provide additional recreational opportunities to connect with the River, and trails behind Riverside that are being considered

Kay Khan
Completion of off street bike and pedestrian access to Riverside Station from Concord Street In Newton Lower Falls along the old rail trail that begins on Washington Street in Wellesley Lower Falls.

Debra Ruder
I appreciate all the hard work that went into the March 28 presentation, but I was shocked by the market context section, which sounded like an ad for Mark Development's proposal. This is supposed to be an independent visioning process. Also ... Newton Lower Falls as a gateway to the city?!? Please. An appropriately sized/scaled mixed-use development that benefits the city without causing horrible traffic is fine. But just because Riverside sits near Route 128 does not = "gateway."

Agree. Look at what was done with the Jordan Marsh site & Lasell College - nice setbacks - creating a community feel. You can look into the space.

Liz M
Make sure there isn’t a wall of buildings along Grove St. Any development should be set back from the road and stepped back too.

Rose D
Exactly. No 14 or 18 story office towers there.

Liz M
The Woodland T stop development added needed housing and has had a minimal impact on the surrounding area. It’s size and scale fits with the surrounding neighborhood.

Michael Musen
My aspiration is that the development enhances existing neighborhoods and does not destroy them with traffic and congestion.

coUrbanizer via Text
Do not destroy the quality of life of the two nearby neighborhoods- with traffic and something that feels like it belongs at the Natick Mall and not here

Please Newton, state, & MBTA officials do this the right way & the right size. I agree with the comment above.

Liz M
Riverside offers a once in a lifetime development opportunity. My aspiration is that the city and state governments will step up and commit to making it possible to create a development that won't overwhelm the neighborhoods around it. It could be a model for how cities can grow responsibly and thoughtfully with some public funding. There are no simple solutions to the problems we face (housing shortage, not enough commercial development, climate change, income inequality, etc.) and one parcel of land can't solve all of them. But it can be a start if it's done right. Doing it right will take planning and commitment of time and money. For example, for Riverside to be a good TOD, the MBTA needs improve the D line, bring back the express bus, and add the Indigo line in the future. To reduce the carbon footprint, services need to be walkable from the development. This means the City should commit to enlarging Williams to accommodate the school children that will come from the development. Finding room "in the system" isn't sufficient - it will add buses and parents in cars to the equation. These are just a couple of examples of the type of planning that needs to be done and the public funds that need to be committed. Visioning is a good first step. I hope that the city will continue to step up and the state will contribute as well. Both need to invite input and act on what they hear.

Nancy Finn
Well I guess you do not live in Lower Falls. Grove Street is a 2 lane road, classified as a scenic roadway. The pavement going down to the Riverside is in sad shape with potholes and big holes. Over 15,000 vehicles travel it every day. The proposed project will cause a big divide between the villages of lower falls and Auburndale. The access road has not been approved by the Federal Transporation Department...When there are big sporting championship events the traffic on Grove is backed up on both sides of Lower Falls, Auburndale and rte 95. CArs park in both neighbor hoods when the Riverside lot gets full. Kiss shared parking goodby as there will still not be enough spaces. Also this project will be a private development, so the general public will not be allowed in there. Futher the project is being rushed through,,,it can be only developed once so lets not screw it up. Your taxes will be going up to support the big impact on city services by this development. Newton Center will be next as there is a great shopping area. I see the parking lot on Beacon and the lot on Center being the next big development! Cheers.

coUrbanizer via Text
I am against any large development that changes the character or out Auburndale neighborhood. We don't need more traffic or congestion. I can imagine some kind of rehabilitation of the existing T station and surrounds but not one that brings in more foot and car traffic. Park land and green space would be ideal

coUrbanizer via Text
The Framingham Worcester commuter rail connection to riverside as a transportation hub needs to be planned out before any mixed use development proposal at riverside is approved. Anything else is shortsighted.

coUrbanizer via Text
I would like to see the proposed Riverside project at least halved in size and scope. In other words what was approved many years ago. That was quite big enough.

coUrbanizer via Text
We need a Low impact community plan. No one in the community wants an oversized develop that just adds to the developers bottom line.

coUrbanizer via Text
My aspiration for the riverside site is that my special lower falls neighborhood is not destroyed by traffic. The exit off 95 in either direction should not turn into the same situation as exit 17 off the Pike.

coUrbanizer via Text
My aspirations for the riverside site is that it's size and density is scaled to what matches the surrounding residential areas.