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eedham, MA is experiencing a boom in transit‑oriented projects after adopting zoning under the state’s MBTA Communities Act. Two major developments are now underway.
**242 Hillside Ave – 14‑Unit Apartment Complex**
Developer Matt Borrelli, a former Needham Select Board member, plans to replace a 1940s duplex at 242 Hillside Ave. with a three‑story, 14‑unit building. The property sold in August 2024 for $1.825 million to Needham Enterprises and was submitted to the Design Review Board (DRB) on November 17. The DRB largely approved the plan, noting landscaping and design that “fits in well with the neighborhood” while remaining environmentally friendly, according to architect Scott Melching.
The 12,000‑sq‑ft structure will contain eight two‑bedroom units (800–920 sq‑ft) and six one‑bedroom units (540–670 sq‑ft). Two units—one on the first floor and one on the third—will be affordable. The building will be fully electric and meet Massachusetts’ stringent energy code. Parking will provide 17 spaces, satisfying the one‑space‑per‑unit requirement.
Borrelli explained that without MBTA zoning the lot could support fewer than half the proposed units, likely as luxury rentals. “Under this plan I am seeking 14 units that will be much smaller and marketed to commuters, people in the workforce and people looking to downsize with an affordable component,” he said.
This is the second Needham project approved under the new zoning. The first, a 189‑unit development at 100‑110 West St., is just over a mile away in the Avery Square district.
**100‑110 West St – 189‑Unit Transit‑Oriented Development**
Greystar, the developer behind several Everett projects, has secured approval from Needham’s Planning Board for a 189‑unit complex across from the Needham Heights MBTA commuter rail station. The site, once considered for senior housing, was purchased by Welltower in 2002 for $14 million. Greystar plans to begin site work early next year.
The project reflects the MBTA Communities law’s goal of encouraging higher‑density residential development in towns with MBTA stations. Needham voters initially approved zoning that would have allowed 3,300 new units but rejected it in a January referendum. A scaled‑down plan passed in May, permitting up to 1,784 units, bringing the town into compliance with the law.
**Impact on Needham Housing**
Both developments signal a shift toward diverse housing options in a town traditionally dominated by single‑family homes. Melching noted that MBTA zoning “provides a different kind of living, a different housing typology… This will bring more types of folks to our town, which is really a good thing.” The Hillside Ave project and the West St development illustrate how MBTA zoning is reshaping Needham’s housing landscape, offering choices for commuters, downsizers, and workforce residents while promoting sustainable, transit‑oriented growth.
