Rose D
Join up with the Charles River Pathway that runs through much of Newton and Waltham.

Rose D
For example, PTC is moving out of Needham to the Seaport area. Their young employees don't want to work in Needham, they prefer the Seaport area.

https://www.ptc.com/en/news/2017/ptc-to-move-global-headquarters-to-boston-seaport

Rose D
My question is why anyone thinks that building office space st Riverside is going to be desirable? I understand that Boston office space has a 1% vacancy rate -obviously very desirable. However has anyone looked at the office space vacancy rates in both Needham and Waltham? Right now much of that new office space is vacant. Young people don’t want to live in suburbia. They want to live in Somerville. The people who want to live out here are people who want to own single family homes, not micro apartments 1000sq ft at high cost - $3-4000/ month. That’s Manhattan pricing. The developers will be rather disappointed when they realize that they will build office space and it will not ever get leased.

Rose D
Why are we waiting for the proposal to go through the City Council process before the results of this visioning process will be incorporated into their plan for this site . Too far down that road.

Jack Synnott
The answer to the first statement is that they couldn't agree who would pay for the garage. New parameters are one rich new guy partners with and old rich guy and the process content is to make more profit.

Rose D
Bingo!

Mary Elizabeth Patti
Bald eagles!!! We need to maintain green space and avoid disruption of the environment. I was walking behind Riverside last weekend and saw a bald eagle. High rise buildings do not fit with the quiet riverside green space we currently have which is such an awesome resource. We need to maintain and protect this!

Rose D
Exactly. Developers can attempt to put in all kinds of retail stores and apartment buildings but people aren't going to shop or live there if traffic and transport is not exceedingly convenient and cheap. People work too hard and have too little time to spend it on inefficient public transportation or crowded expensive parking lots when there are more affordable hassle-free options available.

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.

Rose D
Can this visioning process include in its guiding principles a section on Neighborhood Impact?

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

Jeff Hecht
If you want to see what will happen with limited access to route 128/95, drive north to Market Basket and wend your way through the small streets that carry a tiny fraction of the traffic that would come from fully developing Riverside.

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?

Ian Lamont
"The previous design included a public space for community engagement and recreation."

That's right. And local residents, politicians, and the representatives of BH Normandy agreed on this. Why isn't BH Normandy and its Riverside development partner Mark Development being held to the existing agreement when it comes to community space?

Sheila Doyle
I would like to see a reasonably-sized development that includes a small grocery store and/or drug store, small coffee shop, publicly-accessible bathrooms, plenty of green space without sacrificing trees, affordable housing, parking, more than one entrance, and connection/improvement of the walkway/path behind Riverside to connect with other walking paths and/or bikeways. I think Newton needs more affordable housing options, and I also think some thought should be put into how many apartments we can reasonably add without overwhelming the school, area, and public services. I agree with Liz's comment that the development should be set back from Grove St, because a wall of buildings right on that hilly street would be terrible. Traffic is already a problem in Lower Falls, especially when folks are trying to find parking during Red Sox games or days with large marches downtown, so careful planning should be put into making sure there is plenty of parking and keeping in mind how traffic tends to back up on Grove St especially when the parking lot gets full at Riverside. It would be phenomenal to have a Commuter Rail option at Riverside, and a direct route in to Cambridge without having to switch trolleys/buses multiple times. I would like to see the new plan be pedestrian-friendly; I like the path between Riverside and Norumbega Ct, it's nice to walk on and there is nice landscaping and lighting there and it feels safe from nearby cars.

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.

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

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.

Rose D
and on the other side through to the Cove.

Nancy Finn
I do not want to look at an 18 story or 14 story building out my window...

coUrbanizer via Text
I don't want to look at high rise building. I moved to the suburbs from Boston to get away from that.

Ian Lamont
Yes. And I'd like to ask, If the city, pols, residents, and the developer deemed the 2013 plan of 580,000 square feet to the be the right size, why are we even going through this exercise again? We know what the right size is, the developer agreed to it, and they should be held to it. No backsliding, excuses, or demands for scads more profit at our expense.

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!

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.

Tim M.
I'd like the impact of this project to be considered within the context of the other big projects - planned, underway or completed - in the city. Concerns about increased traffic are a common theme. Beyond inconvenience, the traffic's impact on our already crumbling streets shouldn't be ignored. Nearness to 'Public transportation' is listed as a benefit to these projects, but the MBTA's struggle with equipment and capacity is always overlooked. Personally, I would be okay - not happy - if the original Riverside agreement was implemented. I don't understand how it was simply discarded and believe that an explanation is required.

Mykola Konrad
agree with above - there is no grove street traffic problem. there is on washington street- they should fix that

Tim M.
The presentation at city hall touted 'fixing' the Grove Street traffic problems as a major benefit. When I get off northbound 95 I simply take the off ramp, yield onto Grove and continue. The proposal will use a much longer off-ramp and add 3 traffic lights. How is this an improvement for Auburndale residents?

Randall Block
It would be nice if there was frequent bus service to metrowest towns and commercial centers. But that will only work if the Green Line becomes more reliable and a commuter rail (Indigo Line) connects Riverside to Cambridge. So many people would park their cars at Riverside if that option existed.

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.

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

Larry Rosenberg
Fully vet the impact to city services. Fire Dept, Police trash collection traffic and more. We are proposing 3 huge projects all at the same time. This will be a city people who want the "charm" will NOT want to live.

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

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

Rose D
The Developer proposed 15% green space which includes the river - not sufficient.

Christine Lacey
I would like to see river access for the residents of the new apartments, and for residents of the existing neighborhood. Also, link it up to other river paths. People who live at the Comm Ave apartments, people who live on Charles Street, people who use the canoe and kayak rental, etc., should NOT have to walk all the way around. They should be able to walk along the river to get to Riverside station. I doubt people even know they can take the green line to Riverside and walk over to the canoe and kayak rentals. Many cities and towns, Waltham included, have made sure to utilize the space along the Charles River for recreation. Why can't we do the same?

Infrastructure first! Embellishments later!

Liz M
Connection to Kendall Sq. will make Riverside more vibrant (and solve traffic congestion issues too). Globe article on 2/20/19 envisions an expanded Kendall Square "in different parts of the city and suburbs — ideally connected by a transit system that makes it easy for people and their ideas to mingle" https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2019/02/19/the-next-kendall-square/iCZz1e7eIECMPufD3UJtiO/story.html?p1=Article_Trending_Most_Viewed

Liz M
Create a connection to the Auburndale commuter rail that could bring commuters to Kendall Sq. (the Indigo line).

Rose D
Some of those towns do have large scale developments but they do not abut residential neighborhoods. And the commercial space in those towns have significant vacancies.

Ted Chapman
Connections to the multi-use trail system is essential to meet this goal.