To the Editor,

Lost in the Lawn/Leary debate is what’s happening in my neighborhood because of Newton’s recent housing policies (and failure to formulate policy). Within a half-mile of me, five minutes from the T, the lifting of restrictions has resulted not in affordable housing but only lost trees and green space, increased traffic and pollution, and big profits to developers like Trio, which seems to specialize in replacing handsome old houses with bloated, energy-guzzling “luxury” units. At 123 Langley Rd, Trio is erecting an 8,400+ sf duplex on a lot where previously stood a charming 1,900 sf Queen Ann. These units will list for millions. Similarly, 158 Langley, 4 Knowles St, 181 Warren St and 19 Maple Park are enormous, new, attached townhouses that list for $2.5-3 million. Any one or all of these behemoths could have housed multiple affordable units within an easy walk of public transit.

It’s too late now, but had Newton responded progressively to the “anti-snob” law enacted almost 60 years ago, instead of circling the wagons, we might not now have a situation where developers exploit relaxed zoning without regard to sustainability or the wellbeing of existing neighborhoods, while “affordable housing” mostly means big apartment buildings situated on the periphery of town. Increased density is needed and requires trade-offs, but these trade-offs have not been thoughtfully controlled or equitably distributed.

It’s sometimes argued that any increase in available housing ultimately trickles down, enhancing affordability. In practice, this idea serves to rationalize the deepening inequality of our society.

Elizabeth Hirsh
Newton Centre