Cambridge Real Estate Developments:
Context for Hill’s Crossing Overlay District
By Vincent Stanton, Jr.
At Town Meeting this fall (or possibly next spring), the Belmont Planning Board, in collaboration with the Office of Planning and Building, will sponsor an article proposing a new zoning overlay for the Brighton Street General Business district, the Hill’s
Crossing Overlay District (HCOD). Vincent Stanton Jr. explains what to expect.
Cambridge Point campus, with building uses colorcoded (commercial, residential, parking) and building heights marked on the roof. Note that the actual buildings will be slightly taller under a provision of Cambridge zoning law that allows taller first floors in flood prone areas. Credit: HEALTHPEAK AND ELKUS MANFREDI ARCHITECTS, APRIL 28, 2026 PRESENTATION SLIDE 9
87-101 Blanchard Road to be Redeveloped as Housing
By Vincent Stanton, Jr.
Although Cambridge Point is the most substantial of the Cambridge developments that could influence Belmont’s plans for Brighton Street, the neighboring proposal on Blanchard Road is also poised to reshape the neighborhood significantly. Read more.
Completing Belmont’s Community Path Will Pay Dividends
By Jeffrey North
Completing Belmont’s section of the Mass Central Rail Trail could have implications well beyond getting from point A to point B. In this article, Jeffrey North looks at the research behind the growing field of “bikenomics” and what it might mean for Belmont’s future. Read more.
Fighting Algal Blooms: A Belmont High Schooler Has a Solution
By Omar Albarbari
Harmful algal blooms are becoming an increasing concern for communities across Massachusetts. One Belmont High School student is working on a novel approach that could help local officials and environmental groups detect problems earlier and better protect public health. Read more.
Our Environmental Stewards: Tim Johnson, Native Plant Trust
BCF Newsletter’s series continues on environmental leadership in Massachusetts with an interview with Tim Johnson, CEO of Native Plant Trust. He discusses its work in conservation, eco-horticulture, and public education, and about how residents and municipalities can help expand native-plant habitat in communities like Belmont. Interview conducted by Jeffrey North. Read more.
Holding On and Letting Go
By Anne Marie Mahoney
Can lessons from grief and loss help a community navigate change? Drawing on her work in bereavement support, Anne Marie Mahoney offers a thoughtful perspective on recent Belmont controversies, exploring the tension between preserving what residents value and embracing the changes that shape the town’s future. Read more.
4-H: A Place to Learn, Lead, and Belong
By Amalia Müller
From public speaking and leadership to animals, fairs, and lifelong friendships, 4-H offers young people a wide range of experiences. Belmont High School freshman Amalia Müller introduces readers to a program that has had a lasting impact on her life. Read more.
Stonefield Farm and Boston Area Gleaners:
Growing and Moving Food to Relieve Hunger
By Jeffrey North
Stonefield Farm is more than a preserved piece of farmland. It is part of a larger effort to connect surplus food with people facing food insecurity. Jeffrey North looks at how one local organization is rethinking the relationship between farming, food access, and community service. Read more.
Letters to the Editor
From community feedback to opportunities for civic engagement, this issue’s letters section features readers’ perspectives as well as information about a Boston University study seeking participants for Lyme disease research. Read more.
Volunteer with Belmont Citizens Forum
Help shine a light on the people, places, and issues that matter in Belmont. The Belmont Citizens Forum is seeking a profiler, along with writers, researchers, photographers, and other community members who want to help inform and engage their neighbors. Read more.
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