The Swellesley Report

Since 2005: More than you really want to know about Wellesley, Mass.

The state has a new housing tracker: Here are Wellesley’s numbers

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The Commonwealth has published a new housing tracker on the Mass.gov website that shows progress in increasing housing statewide, by region, and by municipality. Massachusetts aims to add 222,000 new homes between 2025 – 2035 to meet demand and boost affordability.

You can view the numbers for Wellesley on their own or within the context of the overall state or compared to nearby cities and towns.

Based on the most recent Census data, Wellesley added 75 homes last year, a 0.77% increase over the previous year. That gave Wellesley 9,776 residential addresses vs. 9,701 in 2024.

Compared to surrounding communities, Wellesley added a higher number of homes than Dover, Needham, and Weston, but less than Natick and Newton.

Looking at net increase percentage of housing stock, Wellesley had the higher figure than any surrounding community. Some of these neighboring communiteis have way more houses than Wellesley, while Dover and Weston have far less.

A handful of multi-family housing projects are in the works in Wellesley, but it appears unlikely that most of them will add new units to the town’s housing stock this year.

There are any number of ways to track housing progress, and the state’s new tracker is just one of them.

From the Mass.gov housing tracker page:

housing tracker

     

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black & blue, Wellesley
Olive Tree Medical, Wellesley
Haskins Automotive, Wellesley
MIT Museum, Cambridge

Wellesley wildlife in action

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Local wildlife has been active this summer, and Wellesley residents have been catching some of the action on their video cameras.

Thanks to Dixon Purcell for sharing this clip of a deer at Centennial Reservation and to Richard tenEyck for sharing this video of a large coyote (coywolf?) in the Longfellow Pond area.

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Page Waterman, Natick
London Harness, Wellesley
Longfellow, Wellesley

Red sun over MOPO in Wellesley

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The brilliant red sun shining over Wellesley, including at Morses Pond, on Tuesday night was eye catching.

Resident Joe Schott captured this beautiful shot of the sun against the smoky sky.

mopo sun
Photo by Joe Schott

 

 
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Wellesley & other Boston Marathon route communities on display at New England Quilt Museum

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Go-the-Distance-quilt
Photo courtesy of Evelyn Dow

 
An elaborate quilt dubbed “Go the Distance” that features Wellesley and the rest of the communities on the Boston Marathon course is on display at the New England Quilt Museum in Lowell until Sept. 26.

The Marathon Quilters Guild is behind the collaborative polyptych quilt project, which consists of eight 24″ x 60″panels.

At the start of 2025, the non-profit issued an open invite to quilt and textile guilds and artists across the state to participate in the project, which was completed this past January.

According to a companion guide about the Wellesley panel, the design involved a good amount of research and focuses on landmarks that marathon participants would see during their 4.25 miles in town.

The clocktower, Wellesley College, Town Hall, and the halfway mark are among highlights. The Scream Tunnel at Wellesley College is represented with a white bull horn with the school’s blue lettering and a few examples of signs created by spectators. The artists behind the quilt panel used specialized techniques, including thread painting, to recreate Wellesley College’s Galen Stone Tower.

Wellesley quilt panel
Photo courtesy of Evelyn Dow

 
Hat tip to AG for letting us know about the quilt and its Wellesley connection. 

 

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State set to post final regulations on surplus land designated for housing, like that at MassBay in Wellesley

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The Commonwealth’s Executive Office of Housing & Livable Communities (EOHLC) on Friday, July 17, plans to publish its final regulations governing municipal rules on state surplus land disposed for housing development under the Affordable Homes Act. These are the regulations that Wellesley town officials have been watching closely regarding the state’s designation of 45 acres at 40 Oakland St. at MassBay Community College in Wellesley as surplus for the purpose of having 180 residential units built there.

The state has indicated intentions to have the housing built mainly on the roughly 5-acre parking lot that abuts state-owned forest land that’s adjacent to the town’s Centennial Reservation.

The state in March published a Proposed Regulation 760 CMR 77.00 – Surplus Real Property, then allowed public comment on the draft into April. The town of Wellesley was among those to comment on the draft regs.

Following a Special Town Meeting on the topic of the MassBay property, the Wellesley Select Board and the town in June filed a complaint in Norfolk County Superior Court against several state agencies that challenges the designation of land at MassBay targeted for housing as “surplus real property” under the Affordable Homes Act.

According to the town, “the legal action seeks a judicial ruling setting aside the surplus designation and ensuring the protection of Wellesley’s natural resources.” In the complaint, both the forest and parking lot are described as not being surplus. The Select Board said it seeks to continue working with the state and others as a request for proposals is prepared on development of the land.

The Select Board on Wednesday, July 15 will hold a meeting focused on a couple of executive session (behind closed doors) items, including “M.G.L. c. 30A, § 21(a)(3), to conduct strategy with respect to litigation regarding 40 Oakland Street.”

The final regulations issued by the state differ in numerous ways from the draft ones. These changes generally provide greater protection for housing developers (and their successors) and more specific limits on municipal authority. Cities and towns may regulate bulk and height of structures, setbacks, open space, energy code adherence, and site plan review, among other things, but must not do so in what the state deems to be an unreasonable way.

See final state regulation below (expect the state to publish it on the Mass.gov website on July 17).

[Read more…]

Business buzz: Wellesley makes Best of Boston cut; Wellesley in Bloom was a hit; Revs promote Tierney

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The latest Wellesley, Mass., business news:

Wellesley makes Best of Boston cut

best bostonBoston magazine has unveiled its 2026 Best of Boston list, and Wellesley has not been overlooked.

Under the list’s Suburbs section, the magazine shouts out Wellesley for having the best main street among western suburbs, and specifically name drop’s Wasik’s, Isabel Harvey, and Wellesley Books. “Wellesleyans are lucky to have this stretch of charming retail and dining destinations—as are the many other MetroWest neighbors who enjoy their weekend strolls here,” to quote the blurb. The Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association has got to love that.

Guerda Massage & Skin Care,  a Boston magazine favorite over the years, earns honors as Best Place to get Pampered, West

Boston magazine will be celebrating its signature list at the annual Best of Boston Soiree on Wednesday, July 22 at Roadrunner in Boston. Lots of great food and drinks, plus live entertainment.

Know of Wellesley businesses opening or closing? Fill us in: theswellesleyreport@gmail.com

Wellesley in Bloom a success

The Wellesley Square Merchants’ Association debriefed on its recent Wellesley in Bloom spring celebration, which inspired participation from 50-plus businesses. Among the highlights were a Mahjong and Canasta event, 20 grant-funded planted pots, charity tie-ins, and lots of online posts and interactions.

Wellesley In Bloom
Photo by Wonderful Wellesley

Revolution soccer team promotes Wellesley native

The New England Revolution professional soccer team has promoted Chris Tierney, who grew up in Wellesley and played for the Revs for 11 years, as general manager and chief soccer officer. He had been the club’s assistant sporting director.

The Revs are back in action on July 22 following the World Cup break.

Expand your reach (and support local news) by advertising on Swellesley.

Beyond Wellesley

Beyond big names, Levitate Music & Arts Festival to feature rising songwriters & artists

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Six songwriters and 11 visual artists, selected from more than a thousand applicants, will be receiving a total of over $100k in grants, plus have an opportunity to showcase their talents at the Levitate Music & Arts Festival taking place July 18-19 in Marshfield.

The Levitate Foundation is recognizing these musicians and visual artists following an evaluation process that included industry experts from Levitate, Live Nation, Ineffable Music Group, Rhode Island School Of Design, and Artists For Humanity, as well as independent artists.

The six selected songwriters will perform at the Levitate festival on the Soul Stage, while the work of visual artists will be featured at a huge art gallery, where attendees can watch artists in action.

On Friday, July 17, during the Levitate Foundation’s fourth annual Backyard Ball fundraiser, one songwriter and one visual artist will be crowned the Songwriter of the Year and Artist of the Year, each receiving an additional $10k grant support.

levitate

We’ve covered the Levitate Music & Arts Festival in recent years , including last year:

Wellesley man arraigned on murder charge for allegedly killing father at park; Suspect held without bail

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Wellesley’s James Floyd Bennett III, who was arrested on Thursday night after allegedly stabbing his father to death at Phillips Park, was arraigned on Friday on a murder charge in Dedham District Court. A not guilty plea was entered on Bennett III’s behalf, and he is being held without bail.

The suspect’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 10 for a probable cause hearing.

The 24-year-old Bennett III, known as Trip, had been playing soccer with his father and talking about the World Cup at the Wellesley Hills park before things allegedly turned violent for reasons to be determined, according to authorities. His father, 58-year-old James Floyd Bennett Jr., was pronounced deceased on Thursday night after being rushed to Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Wellesley Police responded to the tragic scene at the park after receiving multiple 911 calls, and were assisted by state and other local police departments. The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office is taking the lead on the case.

Prosecutor Anne Yas told the court on Friday that “A witness heard the victim screaming for help. He screamed, ‘He’s stabbing me. He’s killing me.'” She said the elder Bennett had suffered about 20 stab wounds, and that his last words to authorities were letting them know his son had attacked him. Authorities found Bennett Jr. bleeding beneath at slide at the park’s playground, Yas said.

The prosecutor said that after the attack Bennett III headed to the home he shares with his mother, took a photo of himself, cleaned up, put his clothes and the knife into a garbage bag, and went to the Wellesley Police station to turn himself in. The prosecutor said the younger Bennett seemingly didn’t realize his father had died.

Defense attorney William Crowe said outside the court house on Friday that family members were in attendance to support the younger Bennett while mourning the loss of his father. In the court, Crowe told the judge that the younger Bennett has a significant mental health history that would need to be explored during further proceedings. (See Boston Globe story on Bennett III’s mental health struggles.)

The fatal stabbing has further shaken Wellesley, which before this year had not experienced a homicide in town since 1999. A memorial on a bench nearby the Phillips Park incident is dedicated to the MacAusland children, allegedly killed in Wellesley at home by their mother in April.