Five Things You Missed at Board of Aldermen: New Needham St. Project; Carr School

Five things you may have missed from the Board of Aldermen's meeting on Monday, Nov. 5:

1. Needham Street shops approved. 

Following approval from the board's Land Use Committee, the full Board of Aldermen voted Monday, Nov. 5, to approve special permits for construction of a two-story commercial building at 49, 55 and 71 Needham St., also known as the former Skipjack's restaurant and the current International Bicycle site. 

The gross floor area of the new space will total more than 19,000 square feet and contain space for a restaurant up to 110 seats, according to city documents.

2. Carr School funding.

As the construction of a new Angier Elementary School moves forward, the city is simultaneously working on the renovation of the Carr School, also known as the Newton Cultural Center.

This building will act as "swing space" for Angier students while the new school is being constructed. 

Monday night, the full Board of Aldermen approved $695,558 to fund design services through the construction administration phase of the Carr School Building renovation project. This item was previously approved by the Finance and Public Facilities committees

3. Carr School site plan.

In addition to approving some design services, the Board of Aldermen also approved Monday night the site plan for the Carr School project, which was previously approved by the Design Review Committee and Public Facilities Committee.

4. Next Riverside Station public hearing. 

After an initial public hearing was held last month, the Board of Aldermen voted Monday night to approve Tuesday, Nov. 27, as the next public hearing date for the Riverside Station development project.

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The developers, BH Normandy, are petitioning for special permits that would allow construction of the mixed-use project. 

5. First year of FDA grant.

Back in September,  to help improve food safety at Newton restaurants and grocery stores. 

Monday night, the Board of Aldermen agreed to spend the first year of that grant ($70,000) "for the purpose of strengthening, standardizing, and documenting food safety inspection and community outreach activities of the Health and Human Services Department."

This item was previously approved by the Finance Committee.

All the above items were approved by the Board of Aldermen 23-0, with Alderman Susan Albright absent. Information provided by minutes from the meeting.