Repost with functional video: Historical look at how Brookline acquired land for parking lots, from Len Wholey (@nothingbutparking.bsky.social). (Spoiler: eminent domain that resulted in the loss of lots of homes.) Luckily Brookline can repair past damage w/the Centre Street Lots Exploratory Study

Great historical look at how Brookline acquired the land for parking lots from Len Wholey (@nothingbutparking.bsky.social). (Spoiler: eminent domain that resulted in the loss of lots of homes.)

Renowned urban planner and Brookline resident Jeff Speck gave a brilliant talk last week about the Centre Street Lots and a more walkable town. If you missed it, make sure to watch it here (courtesy of BIG): buff.ly/0FD1Ecw

Remember to attend the Chestnut Hill Commercial Area Study Community Advisory Group to submit public comment tonight (starting at 7:45P). It's Brookline's best chance to promote mixed use development, and we need to promote action now. Zoom link here: buff.ly/eVryAtQ

Stop by our tent at #BrooklineDay. Perfect day to talk housing in Coolidge Corner. We'll be here until 3pm!

A little bluegrass music at Brookline Day. Stop by the @brooklineforeveryone.com table and say hi! #brookline #brooklineday

We are just 1 week out from Jeff Speck's talk on a More Walkable Brookline! He is an acclaimed author of an excellent book, Walkable Cities, and his talk is sure to be a hit. RSVP here: buff.ly/fkIaLT7

Brookline Day is on September 14th! We will have a booth- swing by and say hi, or volunteer with us to spread the word about housing and how to get involved this fall. Volunteer shifts are here:

In two weeks, Jeff Speck (author of "Walkable Cities") will be presenting on "A More Walkable Brookline". Join his talk to learn about how we can build a better Brookline is safer, greener, and less car dependent. Sign up here:

Join us on Brookline Day! We will be recruiting new faces to B4E, spreading the word about housing, and getting people engaged in local policy. Swing by, or volunteer here:

3 weeks from today, Jeff Speck will be speaking about how we can turn the Center Street Lots into a community space that better supports our needs. Learn more and sign up here!

Remember to write to the Select Board in support of 16 Williams Street! The meeting is tonight-- you can submit public comment to [email protected]. We have provided a sample letter: buff.ly/G0otsZQ

Our friends at Newton for Everyone have been looking at the bright side. They examine statewide polling that shows support for more housing even when respondents have to choose between it and “protecting the character of neighborhoods” or local control.

Tonight's Select Board meeting includes a public hearing on much-needed 40B housing at 429 Harvard St. This will start at approximately 8PM. Register and join to make your voice heard here:

Remember to email the Select Board your support for the acquisition and preservation of 16 Williams St. by the Town to support a stable housing environment as families reunite after periods of separation

Did you know buildings with four units or more can only be built in 4% of the state? Our housing issues are statewide and need statewide zoning reform to fix them.

Remember to fill out fill out the survey about parking (bikes and vehicles) in Washington Square! Survey closes in September. buff.ly/YaJyQ7v

The Comp Plan Steering Committee is tonight! Agenda and zoom is here: buff.ly/bLniXS6 . Tonight's meeting will be critical in understanding how the CPSC is planning on taking the Town's feedback into consideration.

Remember to fill out the surveys about parking (vehicles and bikes) in Brookline Village! Survey closes in September. buff.ly/l285Vw1

The Town has launched Brookline Village and Washington Square Parking Surveys (open through September). This is your opportunity to register your thoughts about how best to get to and enjoy the many gems of these two business districts.

The state budget also includes funding for two new BLUEbike stations in Brookline, and the Town has set up a crowdsourced poll for you to suggest the best locations for them. Check it out here:

Thank you to everyone who came to our Garden Party last weekend!

Harvard has released a report on possibilities for “missing middle” housing in Massachusetts. The report is a good way to understand what “missing middle” means, why so little has been built in the past century, and how that can be remedied.

The state budget that Governor Healey just signed includes a provision outlawing renter-paid broker fees. As of August 1, landlords will be required to pay any broker fees unless a renter is the one to hire the broker!

The Town has set up a Near Miss Portal to report close calls involving different modes of transportation in Brookline. Records of crashes and injuries help the Town decide where traffic calming and other improvements are most needed. Check it out here:

Thanks to all who attended our Summer Garden Party this afternoon. We had a great time enjoying the beautiful day and connecting with supporters, volunteers, and new friends. Sign up to get involved with B4E to make sure you don't miss our next event! brooklineforeveryone.com/take-action/...

Join us tomorrow from 2 - 5pm off Pleasant Street at our Summer Garden Party. Grab a cool drink and chat about housing, Brookline, and everything else with the Brookline for Everyone community! RSVP here: secure.everyaction.com/IXQBdC6vJEuC...

The B4E Garden Party is only three days away, make sure you RSVP today!

The Planning Board is meeting tomorrow at 7:30 pm to review several matters, including two proposals that would both make significant payments to the Affordable Housing Trust. The Zoom registration is below!

The high cost of living in our area has vast ramifications for the rest of our economy. Business owners have indicated that rising housing costs make it difficult to recruit talent and fairly compensate employees. Read more below:

The B4E Garden Party is one week away! Make sure you sign up here:

We at B4E are excited to see that the 2026 budget passed in the Massachusetts legislature includes provisions eliminating broker fees for Massachusetts renters. This is an exciting development that we hope will lead to more progress!

Happy Independence Day! This July 4th, let’s recommit to a vision of freedom that includes the ability for families of all types, shapes, and incomes to live and grow in the community we love.

We're hopeful that the Housing Advisory Board & Select Board can successfully find a partner to preserve the property as Single Room Occupancy housing for residents in need. The Housing Trust can only support ~1/3 of the cost, but an implemented Real Estate Transfer Fee could have funded much more.

If you want more evidence of how wide & deep the statewide housing crisis is, a recent Boston Globe article reveals that as housing shortages & price spikes ripple outward, formerly affordable cities are facing a crisis of homelessness.

Just a reminder to join us for a Summer Garden Party on Sunday, July 13 from 2 - 5pm off Pleasant Street! RSVP here:

The Planning Board meets at 7:30 pm on Zoom tonight to discuss revised designs for the project at 40 Kent St-40 Webster Place, which will include up to 79 much-needed housing units, with at least 15% affordable, in Brookline Village. Register here:

The Joint Committee on Housing meets tomorrow at 1pm to discuss H.1542/S.964 (An Act to Study Single-Stair Residential Buildings) and H.1482/S.969 (An Act to Establish an Accessory Dwelling Unit Trust Fund). These are crucial bills that need our support!

The Comprehensive Plan Steering Committee meets at 7 pm tonight on Zoom. It will hear reports on the town’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP) and on small residential construction in Brookline. Register here:

The Town has launched a survey to help identify the best biking connection between South Brookline and Brookline High School. You can fill it out here:

As we confront the danger that the much-needed Chestnut Hill West development might sink amid endless public meetings, here is a brief article examining the perils of a process that usually excludes the young, renters, and people who say yes. www.governing.com/urban/housin...

Happy Juneteenth! Brookline for the Culture is hosting a Juneteenth Block Party to celebrate Black culture and continue the fight for justice today from 12 to 4 at Florida Ruffin Ridley School.

Save the date for our Summer Garden Party! Come celebrate a successful election campaign and relax after Spring Town Meeting. Bring a friend, grab a drink, and unwind with other pro-housing friends and neighbors. Families welcome. RSVP here! secure.everyaction.com/IXQBdC6vJEuC...

This Pride Month, we wanted to bring back our post from last year on the intersection between LGBTQ+ rights and housing:

The Chestnut Hill Commercial Area Study Community Advisory Group meets tonight at 6:30pm. We urge the Town to move aggressively to allow mixed-use development that will make a significant annual contribution to our tax base. Register here:

As Town Meeting approaches, we wanted to highlight Article 24. There is an amendment to change the Home Rule Petition to a resolution in support of RETFs. A Home Rule Petition would have a much greater impact, and we urge all TMMs to vote against the amendment/substitute motion.

Town Meeting continues tomorrow and Thursday! Contact your Town Meeting Members and let them know your thoughts on these articles.

Town Meeting had two sessions last week and approved the projects funded by the Community Preservation Act and new bylaws easing the way to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Stay tuned for more news as Town Meeting continues Wednesday! #Brookline

Happy Pride Month! Brookline for Everyone is proud to support all of Brookline’s LGBTQ+ residents. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

This Banker & Tradesman article talks more about the poll we mentioned yesterday. Over 80% of Massachusetts residents support laws that make building more housing easier!