City of Newton, MA
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Unlike many North American cities, Newton has no Main Street and no single downtown. The city's landscape evolved over several centuries as mixed-use villages arose around rail stops and near Charles River mills, and commercial buildings emerged along busy thoroughfares.
The commercial geography of Newton reflects these historical settlement patterns. You will find commercial spaces in many settings: neighborhoods, village centers, commercial corridors, suburban malls, and professional office parks.
The following descriptions of "village centers" and "commercial clusters" draw upon the findings of the Newton Pattern Book (2018) which mapped historical land use and development patterns across the city.
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Convenience Centers
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Generally fewer than 25 storefronts and less than 200,000 square feet of commercial space, focusing on consumer errands: banking, food service, dry cleaning, groceries, and pharmacies—plus some professional offices and service stations. Convenience centers are located near residential neighborhoods with sidewalks that support light pedestrian traffic. Building heights range from one to three stories. Parking may be found on-street or in off-street lots.
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Neighborhood Centers
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Fewer than 50 storefronts and up to 500,000 square feet of commercial space. The business mix supports convenience and light shopping, including a selection of banks, small goods, salons, boutiques, and restaurants. These centers are surrounded by houses and apartments. Sidewalks are suitable for moderate pedestrian traffic. Building heights range from one to three stories. Public parking may be found on-street or in off-street lots.
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Village Centers
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50-100 storefronts and up to 1 million square feet of commercial space. The business mix supports shopping, dining, and entertainment—and provides a selection of banks, small goods, salons, clothing stores, and restaurants. These centers have a more established core of historical and newer buildings, a mix of both residential and commercial structures, with heights of one to four stories. Sidewalks support moderate pedestrian traffic. Parking may be found on-street, in public lots, and in private parking structures.
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Gateway Centers
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Up to 2 million square feet of predominantly commercial space with professional and medical offices above the ground floor. A mix of retail uses and support services are located nearby: banks, dry-cleaners, print shops, restaurants, and a hotel. Gateway centers like this are often found near major transportation hubs. Older and modern buildings in this center are street-facing and range from two to nine stories. Sidewalks are suitable for steady foot traffic. Parking may be found on street, in public lots, and in private parking structures. |
► Contact us
Call or text John Sisson, (617) 831-0101, or email him. John serves as ombudsman for both existing businesses and those considering a location in the Garden City.
City staff across departments are here to help. Contact Us.