3 high-priority sites identified in Affordable Housing Site Feasibility Analysis (DREAM Collaborative)
A feasibility study commissioned by the Newton Affordable Housing Trust identified three publicly owned sites in Newton that could present opportunities to explore future development of affordable housing:
Norumbega Gardens (52 Ash Street, Auburndale)
Crescent Street municipal yard (Auburndale)
Newton Housing Authority parcels (Beaconwood Road, Hargrave Road, and Wilson Road in Four Corners/Newton Centre)
According to the study, these three properties together could potentially yield a net increase of 83 to 163 new housing units.
The study, conducted by the planning and design firm DREAM Collaborative, reviewed nearly 175 parcels owned by the City of Newton, the Newton Housing Authority, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to evaluate whether publicly owned land could potentially support new housing to expand affordable housing options while preserving existing housing.
The study focused on identifying sites that might accommodate housing for households earning below 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI), with particular attention to homes serving households at or below 60 percent of AMI.
An initial screening eliminated conservation land, parks and green spaces, school properties, and sites unsuitable for housing development such as flood-prone parcels, and sites that were too small or lacked adequate street access. Housing Authority properties were also evaluated using floor-area ratio (FAR), a measure of density comparing the total building floor area to the size of the parcel.
Following an initial screening, DREAM Collaborative worked with the Newton Planning Department, Newton Housing Authority, and the Newton Affordable Housing Trust to narrow the list through a series of meetings during the spring and summer of 2025. That produced a short list of 19 candidate sites, from which 10 sites were selected for conceptual…
