Regional Architecture: Newton MA

I live in Newton MA, 10 miles from the dead center of Boston. I responded to Natalia’s post and provided some images and resources you all should check out! I am just adding some more information here. In Newton, there is a lot of brick-tudor and ENORMOUS Victorian homes. Talk about CO2 footprint…most of the people living in these homes consist of 2.7 people. http://www.ci.newton.ma.us/planning/demog.htm

http://www.city-data.com/city/Newton-Massachusetts.html

There are 85,000 people in Newton with 31,201 houses occupied. Therefor, 2.7 people on average occupy each house.  It is mainly suburban, single residency. However, there are some areas of multi-residence and mixed use. This is a great Zoning map: http://www.newtonma.gov/MIS/GIS/Maps/ZoningMap.pdf.  Newton is very unique with 14 villages: http://www.newtonma.gov/MIS/GIS/Maps/Villages.htm. I grew up in rural CT, so living in Newton is like a city to me. Some people call Newton a city, not a town. We have a “City Hall.” From our front door I can walk less than ½ a mile to the bank, the hardware store, the pastry shop, the fish market, the Italian sausage and pasta shop, the hairdresser, a few good restaurants and bars, an auto shop, the post office, a dry-cleaners, the list goes on and on! We live in Nonantum. The overall village walk score is 72: http://www.walkscore.com/score/nonantum-ma. Our street location rating is higher at 85: http://www.walkscore.com/score/faxon-st-nonantum-ma. Here is an image of mixed use, which lines Watertown Street through Nonantum:

 (We are literally 200 yrds from the entrance to this place, Yum!)

There are some wonderful green spaces within walking distance  from our front door. The two of us have a booklet that describes 30 Newton conservation areas. http://www.newtonconservators.org/trips.htm

Here are some photos of homes in Newton:

Victorian

These next three are on Lincoln St. that we have ridden our bikes down. I did not have the camera at the time, but wish I did! Here are some online images:

 (you can read more about the design of this house here: http://www.newtonma.gov/Election/NewtonHighlands/Highlands/14.htm. )

You will want to check out this Flickr album with 3 brightly colored Victorian homes on Lincoln St:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dghdeeo/3305282502/in/photostream/

Brick Tudor

 Laudholm Road

Take a look at the Community Rowing Building about 2 miles from us. The design is very unique. Read about it:

https://www.communityrowing.org/2010/01/12/boathouse-named-most-beautiful-new-building-in-boston/

This was a nice resource I found with some old sketches: http://www.lib.umassd.edu/digicoll/stickarch/aabn.cfm

Here are three from Newton:

    

Interesting demographic info on MA and surrounding towns (Newton was not there…but all its surrounding towns are!)

http://www.movingideas.org/boston-ma/