Proposed Riverside Changes To Allow More Life Science In Newton

NEWTON, MA — The first of multiple public meetings on whether to allow the developer of the Riverside Project — a development at the Riverside MBTA stop that was approved unanimously by the City Council in October after years of back and forth— to change a few areas of the plan is set for Tuesday.

The City Council Land Use Committee and the Newton Planning and Development Board will open a joint public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 13 on a proposed amendment request to the previously approved Zoning and Special Permit granted to develop the Riverside MBTA parking lot and adjacent former Indigo hotel site.

The developer, Mark Development, wants to replace the planned hotel with a life science building on Grove Street right by I-95 and the Mass Pike, and turn what was planned as a generic office building to a life science laboratory and research facility.

The proposed change comes as life science companies are eying Greater Boston more.

Including in Newton. Last month, Newton’s City Council gave the green light to Alexandria Real Estate Equities to convert 63,000 square feet in the nearby Riverside Office Park into a medical robotics company. Alexandria Real Estate Equities is the company working with Mark Development that prompted the company to request the change in the Riverside Special Permit to begin with, according to Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller.

So what does Mark Development want to change, exactly?

The developer is asking to adjust the special permit to:

1. Replace a planned hotel with a lab building, and increase the height of that building.
2. Replace a planned office building with a lab building, but decrease the height of that building.
3. Reduce the number of housing units, from 582 to 550 (something that concerns housing advocates)
4. Increase in parking spaces from 2,032 to 2,267.
5. Reduce the retail space.

The developer estimates that the changes will end up benefiting the city with an increase of $800,000 a year in taxes; an increase in the number of affordable housing units, from 102 planned to 111; and by having less of a transportation impact.

The City Council and Planning Department will reexamine those potential benefits as it revisits the project, according to the mayor.

Mark Development explained the proposed changes during an event hosted by the Newton Needham Regional Chamber:

For more information on how to join the meeting check out the agenda.

Previously: Newton's Riverside Development Project: Developer ...