Riverside T development in Newton draws 200 concerned residents

At the meeting, representatives from Boston-based Normandy Real Estate Partners laid out an update on its ambitious plans for the Riverside site, which had been scaled back after Newton residents previously voiced opposition to its scale.

ADD Inc architect Tamara Roy, said Normandy had listened to many concerns from the community and had responded to their concerns with a new design that was scaled down from what had previously been proposed

“We’ve heard requests to reduce the density, reduce the height of the project, reduce the number of parking spaces,” Roy said. “So we went back to the drawing board and looked to revise our scheme to be more responsive to some of those concepts.”

The new plan reduced the height of the proposed office buildings and added more residential units and retail space. The total square footage of the project was decreased by 74,200, according to figures from Normandy.

For over three hours, Roy, Normandy attorney Steve Buchbinder, and consultants Randy Hart and Richard Hollworth described the project in detail and took many questions and comments from the audience. Many in the crowd were largely skeptical of the developers plan, with its effect on traffic a chief concern.

“I do not believe this is going to work,” said Silvana Sawaya, a 10-year Newton resident. “I think the roundabouts will probably smooth things out a little, but I think this is going to be just as crowded as my street on Route 16 now.”

Several people spoke out in favor of having a specific exit from I-95 to the site, which would lessen the impact on Grove Street and the surrounding neighborhood. An idea the developers described as unlikely to gain approval from state and federal authorities.

After the meeting, ward alderman Jay Harney said he believed many people in attendance were still unconvinced by the developers' assurances that the proposed road improvements and roundabouts would mitigate the increased traffic that would inevitably come from the development.