Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.
Reader PC shared this special photo of the northern lights in Wellesley on Thursday night. A solar storm hitting earth has produced the brilliant display in North America for some.
| Buyer/s | Seller/s | Property address | Date of sale | Sale price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barbara J Pados RET & Pados Jr, Frank J | Delanson Rlty Partners LL | 100 Linden St Lot 309 | 09/12/2024 | $3,061,150 |
| Jiang, Yabing & Chen, Lanlan | Parizeau, William M & Parizeau, Lisa D | 7 Benton St | 09/10/2024 | $1,926,000 |
| Gabay, Yogev & Gabay, Attar H | Du, Nan | 22 Park Ave | 09/13/2024 | $1,900,000 |
| Lalor, John M & Lalor, Leanne M | 66 River Street LLC | 66 River St | 09/09/2024 | $1,150,000 |
The attached report is republished with permission from The Warren Group LLC.
Past Wellesley residential real estate reports
State Auditor Diana DiZoglio has begun a 141-mile “Walking for Sunshine” trek across the state to encourage people to vote “yes” on Ballot Question 1, which seeks to allow DiZoglio’s office to audit the legislature. She’s slated to stop at the Lockheart Restaurant (102 Central St.) in Wellesley Square on Friday, Oct. 10 at 6pm, and the public is invited to attend.
Proponents of voting “yes” say granting the State Auditor such authority will shed more transparency on the state’s senate and house operations, which have been criticized for everything from how earmarks are doled out to the pace of passing legislation.
Opponents argue that the legislative branch already requires independent audits of its finances and that allowing the State Auditor to dive in would be overstepping the boundary between the executive and legislative branches.
A report on the ballot question was prepared by a majority of the members of the Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions, a committee of the Massachusetts General Court, and it concludes that “The statutory change would undermine the well-contemplated balance of constitutional powers between the branches of government as established by the framers of the Constitution of the Commonwealth.” Wellesley State Rep. Alice Hanlon Peisch is among those legislative leaders whose names appear on the report.
More on the state ballot questions.
Please send tips, photos, ideas to theswellesleyreport@gmail.com
SPONSORED CONTENT: The annual Bates Elementary School Pumpkin Fair with its haunted house, outdoor games, bouncy houses, and pumpkins galore was so successful, it was scary. The PTO thanks its sponsors for helping make the event happen.
SPONSORED CONTENT: The time is NOW to enter for a chance to win a Wellesley Rotary Club’s 4th annual “Dinner On Us” Sweepstakes prize. The Wellesley Rotary Club has purchased gift cards from over 40 Wellesley restaurants, and many restaurants donated gift card prizes of $100, $50, and $25. So now it’s your turn to step up and win.
FUNDRAISER: “Dinner On Us” Sweepstakes
DONATION: $20 and up. Get entries here.
DONATION DEADLINE: November 15, 2024 at 11:59pm
DRAWING: November 19, 2024
There is a lot to win! Just think, if you win first or second prize, you could eat at a different Wellesley restaurant every week for more than half a year. If that seems extravagant, it’s because, well, it is!
In our own backyard, there are individuals and families facing the harsh reality of food insecurity, unsure of where their next meal will come from. It’s a challenge that touches lives right here in Wellesley, and it’s up to us to step forward and make a difference.
Where to eat in Wellesley, Mass.
The Wellesley Select Board this week heard from the Planning Board, Planning Department, and residents about two Special Town Meeting articles that could pave the way for more than 100 new multifamily housing units in Lower Falls.
Following deliberations, Select Board members voted to support both articles by 3-1 votes (member Tom Ulfelder was not present). The Board devoted close to two hours to the articles.
The articles, 16 and 17, involve proposed residential incentive overlays (RIOs) respectively at Washington Court and on Walnut Street that would allow for expanded development opportunities. A developer since spring has been discussing possible multifamily projects with neighbors and the town, and The Swellesley Report has posted articles and meeting agendas related to this issue at least a dozen times over that period.
The Planning Board recently voted to support both articles, as reported by The Swellesley Report, citing the town’s need for more housing and the location of these possible RIOs. The Advisory Committee, which vets articles and motions ahead of Annual and Special Town Meetings, voted a favorable recommendation for the Walnut Street-focused article (#17), but an unfavorable recommendation for the proposed Washington Court one, which involves a space abutting a residential neighborhood across from a church.
The Select Board on Tuesday (see Wellesley Media recording from the Oct. 8 meeting) heard from members of the public on both articles (the Board also received emails and heard from residents at the start of its Oct. 1 meeting). Most of the speakers were neighbors of one or the other area that could have their zoning maps amended. They cited concerns about privacy, traffic, the environment, the Select Board’s comment policy, and the speed at which the overall process has moved.
Aaron Thomas, who lives near Washington Court and has shared feedback at other meetings on this matter, said “My biggest concern is the hasty approach and path that this project has been on. Why are we in such a rush to approve a RIO that could have permanent consequences?” He asked why the town isn’t taking a more holistic approach to Lower Falls development in light of many Haynes Management properties on the market.
While the articles are focused on the zoning map changes, the developer previewed multifamily housing plans to provide context for the proposals made in the articles. The developer has made changes to the plans based on town and resident feedback (most recently, reducing the planned number of condo units at Washington Court from 25 to 21, and moving the project further from neighbors).
During the Select Board’s deliberation, Chair Colette Aufranc said in thinking about the articles she stepped back to look at the broad goals of the town, including those outlined in its housing production plan, climate action plan, unified plan, and other plans. “These articles I think at their heart allow for multifamily housing to be developed… in both cases there are several aspects of the proposed amendment that I think aligns with the vision and goals of the town.” She cited the attractiveness of developing near commercial areas and the potential for 3-bedroom units that are in short supply.
In voicing support for the articles, Board member Marjorie Freiman referred to a Wellesley Housing Development Corp. study that pointed to the mismatch between housing supply and demand in town, including at different income levels, and the ongoing strategic housing plan effort. She also said: “The location satisfies not only the requirements, but the spirit and the aim of the expanded RIO provisions” as approved by Special Town Meeting in 2019.
Beth Sullivan Woods, who voted against supporting the articles, said it seemed to her that the proposals have come up “faster than normal.” With the town on the verge of complying with the MBTA Communities Act to support multifamily development near public transportation, already having reached the state threshold for having 10% of its housing stock deemed affordable, and approving projects that will bring hundreds of units to Rte. 9, Woods called for the town to pause and take a more holistic approach to housing. “This feels out of sync with the fact that we’re doing a [strategic housing plan] now,” she said. “It boggles my mind as a strategy person that we’re just putting puzzle pieces in before we decide what the puzzle is going to look like when we’re done.” On Walnut Street specifically, she urged caution about messing with that current medical corridor that houses various medical offices not far from the hospital.
Board member Lise Olney said she appreciated all of the public feedback for and against the articles, and for the Planning Board and Department answering questions. She cited the town’s DEI resolution (and commitment to be a more welcoming and inclusive community) and climate change resolution, both of which would apply to the town’s strategic support for multifamily housing. “The imaginative reuse of an underused property on a dead end” like Washington Court also appealed to Olney, who cited confidence in any subsequent permitting process.
Next up for the articles: Special Town Meeting, which starts on Oct. 21 at Wellesley High School.
Ballots for the State/Presidential Election on Tuesday, November 5, 2024 are currently being packaged for mailing by the Wellesley Town Clerk’s office.
If you do not receive your ballot by October 15, please contact the Clerk’s Office to make sure everything with your application was in order. Email elections@wellesleyma.gov or call 781-431-1019 ext. 2250.
To ensure your vote is counted, please return completed Vote by Mail ballots by 8pm on Election Day (Tuesday, Nov. 5) or earlier.
Early in-person voting will occur on the following days at Wellesley Free Library, 530 Washington Street.
Early in-person voting will also be available to the public at the following locations and dates:
Registered voters are welcome to vote either by mail, early in person, or on election day at the polls. Voters may vote only once. The first ballot cast will be considered final.
As allowed, all Early Voting In-Person Ballots will be processed either during advanced processing or at the Polls.
Once a voter has voted in-person, the ballot is considered cast and may not be rescinded.