Newton’s economy has changed over the last 25 years. In 2000, commercial property taxes were 20% of total property taxes, in 2026, they are less than 8%. Recognizing that “economic development is critical for the health of our city,” Mayor Laredo has asked the City Council to move economic development from the Planning Department to the Mayor’s Office to support cross-department work and elevate its profile.
Economic priorities were discussed last week at the Zoning and Planning Committee and Economic Development Commission meetings, where the City’s new Economic Development team, Director Lauren Berman and Deputy Director Cheryl Lappin, introduced themselves. They said their top priorities in this “challenging economic environment” are to:
- Support and sustain Newton’s existing businesses
- Attract new business by positioning Newton as a premier place to do business in the Greater Boston Area
- Address vacant storefronts, which weaken village centers
- Streamline permit processes for new and expanding businesses, “to roll out the welcome mat”
- Increase business visibility and encourage foot traffic to village centers by partnering with other departments, such as Arts and Culture or Parks and Recreation.
Working with two interns from Harvard University, the Economic Development team is creating a database of vacant storefronts, which will be available on the City website, to apply for grants through the State’s Vacant Storefronts Program and to help businesses find a new location.
Councilor Lisle Baker expressed concerns about the impact of large corporations and the traffic they bring to the villages of Newton and about the ability of the Planning Department to support the City with two senior vacancies in addition to losing the Economic Development staff, but he voted to approve their move to the Mayor’s office.
Councilors John Oliver, David Kalis, and Stephen Farrell expressed frustration with large…