Neighbors for a Better Newtonville (NBN) is a group of residents who want to preserve and strengthen the best of what our village offers while encouraging such change as will enhance and invigorate it.

You are probably familiar with the Senior Center (formerly the Newtonville Library) on Walnut Street. Even if you haven't been inside, the facade is familiar. The city intends to create a bigger and better space for seniors at the same location. They are planning to reconstruct the whole building – including the outside of it – to make this new center.

We applaud the bigger and better part. But it would be a huge mistake to destroy the facade. The lovely historic appearance would be gone. The green space in the front would be gone. Instead of keeping a lovely building set in a green frame, Newton would lose an historic gem.

It needn't be so. In an earlier design, the facade was kept intact and simply enlarged in the rear. But now the plan is to create an entirely new structure (see below).

There are two things you can do to convince the city to keep the current historic facade.

  1. Sign the petition (online version).

Or print out the petition-sign, and return it (per instructions at bottom of the petition).

Print copies for neighbors etc. Covid is making this process cumbersome so please take the extra bit of time.


  1. Write a personal letter to the Mayor. Letters carry a lot of weight.

Sign Petition Online and forward to others OR print and sign the PDF petition. Drop off or mail to “Neighbors for a Better Newtonville c/o 359 Cabot Street, Newtonville, 02460.” Or photo/scan and email to: Info@betternewtonville.org For questions, call 617-969-2050.