The Swellesley Report

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

Community meeting on housing will be on June 18

by

Help shape the future of housing in Wellesley.

The Wellesley Housing Task Force and Barrett Planning Group will hold an in-person community meeting on Tuesday, June 18 from 6:30pm-8pm at Wellesley High School, 50 Rice Street.

The public, and especially residents, developers, business owners, and service providers are encouraged to attend. The meeting will include a presentation on the current state of housing in Wellesley and the opportunity for all participants to provide insight on a new Strategic Housing Plan for our community.

Wellesley’s existing Housing Production Plan was approved in 2018 and was intended to guide the Town for five years.

Despite meeting many of the recommendations in the 2018 plan, the housing market in Wellesley has evolved and Massachusetts has passed new regulations, such as the MBTA Communities Law, that impact housing.

As a result, the Town has determined it needs to develop new strategies to create the varied housing needed to support our community.

This meeting is part of a planned community engagement program to gather input and feedback as the Town develops its new Strategic Housing Plan.

     

Advertisements

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

Wellesley sustainability roundup—get behind the wheel of an EV; forum on housing and land conservation; bike safety event

by

The latest on Wellesley sustainability news:

Wellesley EV Test Drive and Showcase—May 9

Wellesley’s Municipal Light Plant, Wellesley’s Climate Action Committee, and Sustainable Wellesley are hosting the 5th annual Wellesley EV Test Drive and Showcase on Thursday, May 9, 4pm-7pm, at MassBay Community College parking lot, 50 Oakland St., Wellesley. Register here.

Rain date: Thursday, May 16, 4pm-7pm

Electrical Vehicle showcase, Wellesley
From left: Wellesley Director of Sustainability Marybeth Martello; Erry Johnson; and Laura Olton.

Housing and Land Conservation – It Doesn’t Have to be Either/Or—May 13

TOPIC: Building more community housing AND protecting more open space
FORMAT: Panel discussion
DATE: Monday, May 13
LOCATION: Wellesley Free Library and online
TIME: 7pm-8pm
ORGANIZERS: Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, presented in partnership with the Wellesley Free Library, Building a Better Wellesley, and Sustainable Wellesley.

The objective of the panel is to provide a forum for ideas as to how pro-active collaboration between community housing proponents and land conservation advocates can lead to successful outcomes.  To start the panel, three individuals—one each from a land trust, a housing interest group, and a planning perspective—will describe their experiences along the way to a successful collaborative project. Each will describe their specific project and lessons learned.

Wellesley Conservation Land Trust, panelists

After the presentation of the examples, three local responders—one each from Wellesley’s housing, land trust, and planning communities—will respond to these examples. What lessons can be applied to pro-active planning for Wellesley’s community housing and land conservation needs?

Questions from the audience are welcomed. Register here for this hybrid event.

Rules of the Ride bike safety event—June 1

Take part in the Rules of the Ride event on Saturday, June 1, 10am-11:30am, Wellesley High School parking lot. The free event is open to students in grades 5 through 8.

The goal of his fun, smart cycling event is to create a mindset that bikes should be treated as vehicles. Participants will learn important bike safety skills and confidence so they can ride safely and legally to school and throughout  Wellesley. The guided ride will take place along the Brook Path and streets.

Register in advance using the QR code. 

Supporters of Rules of the Ride

[Read more…]

Page Waterman, Natick
London Harness, Wellesley
Longfellow, Wellesley

Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour is always over-the-top, and that’s why tickets always sell out

by

The annual Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour fundraiser put on by the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club showcased seven amazing homes where guests were invited to visit the first floor and outside spaces last Saturday.

Architects, interior designers, contractors, landscape designers, and builders were on hand to rake in the compliments and answer questions specific to the homes. The creatives were easily identifiable as those wearing high-style footwear instead of the little blue booties the rest of us donned at the entrances.

The mix of houses included those recently built; historic homes, including one selected by the Wellesley Historic Commission for a prestigious Historical Preservation Award; and interior designer Erin Gates’ own home.

Funds raised from Kitchen and Home Tour ticket sales, along with the Club’s other events throughout the year, allowed Juniors to give $170k in grants and scholarships in 2023.

Tour-goers were strictly prohibited from taking pictures, and indeed, I was tattled on a couple of times for my rogue behavior to Juniors standing sentry. But it was all on the up-and-up—The Swellesley Report had received prior permission to capture the beauty.

Here’s what I saw when paying my calls at a couple of the homes:

Wellesley Farms neighborhood—a home set among the woods

The long driveway leading up to this 2019 Wellesley Farms Colonial gives visitors plenty of time to enjoy the bucolic setting. Landscape architect Matthew Cunningham kept his design plan natural with an emphasis on native shrubs and trees, and clumps of ferns that thrive in the dappled sunlight. What little grass there is on the 1.25-acre property shares space with clover and crabgrass. If a bare patch appears, grass seed is thrown down and  told, “Good luck.” No green sod carpet treatment here. The small front-yard pond wouldn’t appreciate the fertilizer run-off.

The Juniors took a greener approach to the Tour this year. Gone were the hundreds of lawn signs that used to clutter the town ahead of the Tour. They weren’t needed as the tickets sold out faster than a Taylor Swift concert. Also, the co-chairs dispensed with balloons in front of the houses to signal their location. Ticket holders (and their GPS systems) were trusted to figure it out.

Juniors, Kitchen and Home Tour, 37 Old Farm Rd., Wellesley
A long driveway leading up to the home gives visitors plenty of time to enjoy the bucolic setting. In case you’re wondering about the fancy cars in the driveway, those are Bentleys. Three of them, all dealer owned and on display for the day, as the homeowners would be quick to point out. And for sale, as the Bentley team would be quick to point out.

 

Juniors, Kitchen and Home Tour, 37 Old Farm Rd., Wellesley
The clients requested a beautiful and serene home from Tiffany LeBlanc of LeBlanc Design and she came through with a restful color palette and tasteful decor. Vaulted ceilings throughout the first floor extend up to 26-ft. high.

 

Juniors, Kitchen and Home Tour, 37 Old Farm Rd., Wellesley

 

Juniors, Kitchen and Home Tour, 37 Old Farm Rd., Wellesley
French doors off the gourmet kitchen open up to a bluestone patio with an outdoor fireplace. Another patio area offers an outdoor fireplace and shade from a pergola. A screened in porch allows indoor/outdoor living even on rainy days.

 

Juniors, Kitchen and Home Tour, Wellesley
It was all Juniors on deck for the annual Kitchen and Home Tour. From left, Molly Bechtel, Elizabeth Kelton, Meggie Barrow, Alexis Gescheider

Wellesley Hills, perched on a hill

The four-floor structure built into a steep hill in 1876 has always looked like it had stories to tell. Held by one family for 50+ years before going on the market in 2022, the home was for over 100 years an owner-occupied inn/lodging house. The 8k sq.ft. building could easily have become another Wellesley teardown. But the new owners instead brought a creative spirit and plenty of attitude to what is now a quirky single-family, set on 2/3 acres.

First thing to know is that this house is pure fun. The homeowners are art collectors, but that doesn’t mean they’re above a matchbook collection displayed in a glass jar, or leaving the family silver to tarnish on the top shelf in the bar nook. They’re into high-low messaging. Original contemporary art shares visual space alongside a collection of old and well-worn books. A hand-painted mural on the dining room ceiling coexists with the whimsy of an acrylic mannequin, gazing out the window at the street scene, dressed only in a fur coat. “I always jump when I see her,” a Club member whispered.

Juniors, Kitchen and Home Tour, 18 Maugus Ave., Wellesley

 

Juniors, Kitchen and Home Tour, 18 Maugus Ave., Wellesley
The family keeps things irreverent, fun, and a little fresh. Not the kind of “fresh” a design team refers to when they’re talking about a new coat of paint. The kind of “fresh” you scold your kids for.

 

Juniors, Kitchen and Home Tour, 18 Maugus Ave., Wellesley
The stairs are carpeted with multiple vintage runners pieced together. Every inch of the walls is covered with family photos and original art, a collection made cohesive with, for the most part, black frames. Some outliers have sneaked in—a red frame here, a small mounted bull there. No need to get all matchy-matchy.

 

Juniors, Kitchen and Home Tour, 18 Maugus Ave., Wellesley
Placed in a former sun porch, the dining room table seats 14, along with overflow room on the red velvet sofa anchoring the end of the long space.

 

Juniors, Kitchen and Home Tour, 18 Maugus Ave., Wellesley
The 8-seat kitchen island was originally a vintage train desk, repurposed by interior designer Kristen DeBella.

 

Wellesley Hills Junior Women's Club, Kitchen and House Tour
Kitchen and Home Tour chairs, from left: Lily Poduska, Martha McNally, and Kristen Ellis.

What’s next for Juniors

  • The 5K Wonder Run has been shifted from its usual spring date to October 2024. The fun community tradition attracts runners and walkers of all ages.
  • Wellesley Marketplace, Nov. 23, 2024, at Wellesley High School
    The premier juried artisan gift show is considered Wellesley’s official kick-off to the holiday season. Over 200 shopkeepers and artists—local and from around the country—convene at WHS as 2,500 shoppers browse and buy.
  • Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour, May 3, 2025

Interested in joining the WHJWC? Learn more about the Club here.

Wellesley pumping up heat pumps at March 21 webinar

by

The town of Wellesley will make its newest push to encourage homeowners to go the heat pump route for heating and cooling at a webinar on Thursday, March 21 at 7pm. Registration is open for the event, co-sp0nsored by the Town of Wellesley’s Climate Action Committee, Municipal Light Plant, Health Department, and by Sustainable Wellesley.

Air source heat pumps have now had a few years to prove their worth as an efficient alternative to heating and cooling systems reliant on fossil fuels, and the webinar will include first-hand experiences of those that have made the move. Reducing carbon emissions from residential buildings is a big part of Wellesley’s efforts to hit net-zero goals under its Climate Action Plan.

This table supplied by Marybeth Martello, Wellesley’s Sustainability Director, shows the boom in heat pump installations in town, fueled to a great degree by adoption at multifamily buildings.

 

Heat pumps added in Wellesley per year

Air Source Heat Pump2019202020212022
Residential274858398
Comm/Non-profit3331
Ground Source Heat Pump (Geothermal)2019202020212022
Residential1101
Comm/Non-profit0000

 

The webinar will also go over government financial incentives to install heat pumps, and provide information on Wellesley’s new energy coach program. Among the speakers will be a heat pump expert from Abode, a non-profit that partners with Wellesley’s MLP.

Sustainability Director Martello says air source, air-to-water, and ground source heat pumps, all of which are feasible with new incentives, will be covered at the webinar.

swellesley green ad

Save the date: Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour is May 4

by

The​ ​Wellesley​ ​Hills​ ​Junior​ ​Women’s​ ​Club​ ​(WHJWC)​ proudly announces the return of the annual Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour which will take place on Saturday, May 4, 10am-3pm.

Now in its 23rd year, the Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour will showcase seven exquisite homes, where guests will be invited to visit the first floor, as well as selected additional indoor and outdoor spaces. Pop-up boutiques will be featured in several homes along the route—perfect for guests shopping for themselves or Mother’s Day gifts! Architects, interior designers, and contractors may also be on hand to answer questions specific to the home and their services.

All tickets must be pre-purchased online for $75 and will go on sale on Thursday, March 14. Last year’s event sold out in just three weeks, so please plan ahead. Ticket holders will receive a list and map of the featured homes prior to the event.

Wellesley Hills Junior Women's. Club
Photo by Read McKendree. Design by Katie Rosenfeld.

The Wellesley Kitchen and Home Tour is one of three fundraisers coordinated by the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, and all proceeds generated are used to provide scholarships for deserving local students, as well as grants for organizations and
programs that provide education, enrichment and essential services to our local population. Last year, WHJWC awarded over $90,000 in college scholarships to 32 deserving Wellesley students, and donated $85,000 in grants to 34 Wellesley-area
community groups.

The WHJWC would like to thank this year’s corporate sponsors, which underwrite its fundraising efforts. They include Teri Adler at MGS Group Real Estate, Needham Bank, and Roche Brothers.

About the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club

[Read more…]

Learn how MBTA Communities law requiring multifamily zoning near train stations will affect Wellesley

by

The Town of Wellesley and the League of Women Voters will host a public forum on the MBTA communities legislation on Thursday, November 30, 7pm, at the Wellesley Free Library.

Wellesley is currently readying a proposal to adopt compliant zoning districts by the end of 2024. At the forum, the town’s Executive Director Meghan Jop and Planning Director Eric Arbeene will share the draft plan, answer questions, and solicit comments from the community.

Wellesley is designated as a “commuter rail community” due to its train stations in Wellesley Square, Wellesley Hills and Wellesley Farms.

The state’s MBTA Communities law, which went into effect in 2021, requires relaxed multifamily zoning near train and other commuter stations. The law is intended to help the state address its housing shortage, though doesn’t specifically address affordable housing.

Wellesley Farms Train Station
Wellesley has been designated by the state as a “commuter rail community” due to its train stations in Wellesley Square, Wellesley Hills and Wellesley Farms.

Where will these multifamily zones be located? What changes will we need to make to Wellesley’s current zoning?

A proposal for amending the town’s zoning bylaw will likely appear before annual Town Meeting in spring 2024.

[Read more…]

Affordable housing in and near Wellesley

This page was updated June 2026.

Affordable housing in Wellesley may seem like an oxymoron, but the Wellesley Housing Authority (WHA) currently maintains 245 rental units or homeownership opportunities across town. The WHA is funded at the state and federal levels.

Affordable Housing Lottery at Newton Crossing

Application deadline: Aug. 11, 2026

Apply here.

June 12, 2026–Newton Crossing is a new 292-unit apartment rental community located in Newton. Through this process, 73 apartments will be made available to income-qualified households: 63 apartments for households earning no more than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) and 10 apartments for households earning no more than 50% of AMI. The community will feature thoughtfully designed floor plans and a wide range of high-end amenities. Conveniently located near restaurants, shops, and green spaces, and the West Newton commuter rail train station. Newton Crossing also offers easy access to destinations east and west via the Mass Pike (I-90). Residents will enjoy an extensive amenity package, including an onsite concierge, clubhouse, fitness center with a massage chair, saunas, business center, private workstations, movie theater, game room, golf simulator, grilling stations, dog park, dog washing stations, and a beautifully landscaped courtyard. Apartments are expected to be available for occupancy beginning in September 2026.

Newton Crossing, affordable housing

Affordable Housing Opportunity at 12 Hollis St.

May 28, 2026–Applications are currently being accepted for an affordable home ownership opportunity at 12 Hollis Street in Wellesley.

The property is a 2-bedroom, 1.5 bathroom unit with an unfinished basement and deeded parking for one vehicle. Built in 1949, the unit was renovated in 2022 and has updated appliances. Utilities include forced hot water, gas heat, and central air conditioning.

The sale price is $307,242 with a condo fee of $100/month and current taxes of $2,787/year.

Use the 12 Hollis Street application to apply by Monday, June 8, 2026. The lottery will be held on Wednesday, June 10.

Applications must be returned via email or USPS mail, to Kristen Costa, L.A. Associates, Inc., 5 Middlesex Ave., Unit 16, Wilmington, MA 01887, phone (978) 758-0197; email: kriscosta@laassoc.com

Applications can also be downloaded from the following websites:

Volunteers Needed for Wellesley Affordable Housing Trust

Feb. 10, 2026–The Wellesley Affordable Housing Trust (WAHT) is seeking volunteers to serve on its Board of Trustees. Created in fall 2025, the mission of the WAHT is to provide for the creation and preservation of affordable housing in Wellesley for the benefit of low- and moderate-income households, and assisting the Town and other public agencies including the Wellesley Housing Authority. The Select Board is looking for interested volunteers to serve on the WAHT Board of Trustees.

Read more about the establishing guidelines, objectives, and board responsibilities of the WAHT. If you’re interested in being considered as a volunteer, please complete the Town of Wellesley online volunteer form.

Housing Search Services

The MetroWest Collaborative Development often offers FREE one-on-one housing search counseling sessions for individuals in Wellesley, Weston, Natick, Needham, and Newton. This program is funded by Newton-Wellesley Hospital. To find out about upcoming sessions, visit the MetroWest Collaborative Development website and complete the 5-Town Assistance form.

Wellesley affordable housing

Family housing—Barton Road

The largest concentrated are of affordable housing in Wellesley is located at Barton Road. The state-funded 18-acre parcel in the shadow of the Massachusetts Turnpike was built in 1950 and has 88 units—40 two-bedrooms and 48 three-bedrooms. As a state-funded property, the rental units are available to low-income families, the elderly, and people with disabilities.

Waldo Court on Linden Street is in walking distance to schools, public transportation, a (pricey) grocery store, and Wellesley and Linden Square shops and services. The 12 two-bedroom units don’t turn over very often due to the coveted location.

Elderly and disabled housing

Morton Circle, located at 487-489 Washington St., is a 36-unit property built in 1959. All the units are one-bedroom. The property hasn’t seen a major upgrade since it was built.

Housing at Washington Street includes 40 one-bedroom units. Located nearby the police station and the MBTA commuter rail tracks. Wellesley Square and Linden Square are nearby, and the Tolles Parsons Senior Center is across the street.

The River Street property, across the street from the Charles River, and near the Newton line, has 26 one-bedroom units.

River Street public housing
River Street housing looking springy

Weston Road housing, across from the Fells Branch Library and closet to route 9, has 32 one-bedroom units.

Highland Park‚ 680 Worcester St. (rt. 9, eastbound side)

Highland Park is a new 20-unit rental community located in Wellesley, featuring luxury 1BR, 2BR, and 3BR apartments. Units include washer and dryers, central A/C, 9-foot ceilings, ample storage. Through a lottery, 5 apartments will be made available to households earning no more than 80% of the Area Median Income. Affordable units will be spread through the building and will have finishes identical to the market rate units in this development. Units are expected to be ready for occupancy in January 2025.

Subsidized housing units

There are almost 25 locations in Wellesley that offer subsidized housing for rent or to own, some in the toniest locations in town. Getting in as a renter at  Waterstone at Wellesley, The Nines at Wellesley Park, or Jubilee House should be considered a coup. And if  you qualify and a property comes up at Fieldstone Way, the Walnut Street Fire Station, or The Bel Clare, do not pass up the opportunity to apply. Entire list here.

Current affordable housing opportuniites in wellesley can be found here 

Burke Lane

The  Burke Lane apartments are located at Cedar Place, a mixed income residential community just off Route 9 and a short distance from I-95/128.

The development consists of 17 total apartments ranging in size from one-bedroom to three-bedrooms units. Five of the 17 units are designated as affordable units and will be rented to households earning less than the 80% Area Median Income (AMI) based on the Boston, Cambridge, Quincy, MA-NH MSA income limits.

Applications for Cedar Place are processed on a first come, first served basis, as apartments become available. Interested applicants may join the waiting list.

Affordable housing application deadline for Terrazza in Wellesley is August 28

by

The application deadline is Aug. 28, 2023 at 2pm to enter the lottery for four (4) condominiums being built at Terrazza in Wellesley, MA. The homes will be sold at affordable prices to households with incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income. The two bedroom homes range from 1,778 square feet to 2,655 square feet.

terrazza going up
Terrazza going up, July 2022

All homes include access to the community amenities such as the private courtyard and grills, a fitness center, pet spa, movie lounge, bike room, and conference and club rooms. A dedicated surface parking spot is included with each affordable condominium. Residents can easily access the shops and restaurants in Wellesley’s town center by foot and will also be in close proximity to the Wellesley Square train station. The affordable homes will be ready for occupancy shortly after the lottery.

More information here.

You can complete and submit a lottery application online here  https://form.jotform.com/SEBHousing/terrazza

Affordable housing in Wellesley—an overview