Chair Auction a 'Night To Remember'

More than 40 pieces of artwork, among other items, were sold on Saturday, Sept. 29.

Needham Director of Economic Development Devra Bailin shared this recap of last weekend's "A Chair To Remember" auction event. Several of the chairs sold brought in more than $500 each. Funds raised will go toward scholarships for local high school students and town beautification projects. ---- By Devra Bailin, Needham Economic Development Director On Saturday, Sept. 29, the Needham community gathered in the festooned James Hugh Powers Hall, surrounded by the unique Adirondack chairs of “A Chair to Remember” and the music of talented Needham High School musicians, and celebrated the collaborative effort of local merchants, restaurateurs and community groups who purchased the chairs designed and painted by Needham artists.  More than 30 …

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Needham's 'Sizzling Sidewalk Sale' Set Aug. 11

Economic Development Director Devra Bailin encourages shoppers to visit the downtown this weekend and explains why residents should shop locally.

Shoppers will have quite a few reasons to stop by Needham businesses this Saturday. Not only is it a sales tax-free weekend, thanks to a recent vote by the Massachusetts Legislature, but there will also be all kinds of deals offered at local businesses as part of Needham's 2012 Sizzling Sidewalk Sale. Sales will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11. Shoppers can look for the "Discover Needham, Local First" logo in store windows to know exactly where special deals will be offered. In addition, shoppers can pick up the free Discover Needham Gold Card at participating businesses to enjoy discounts throughout the year. Below is a letter written about the upcoming event by Needham Economic Development Director Devra Bailin. In it, Bailin talks…

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Town Ready to Tackle Streetscaping Project

Improvements to Needham's downtown could include wider sidewalks, angled parking, better traffic flow and features such as new trees and street furniture.

Now that Town Hall renovations are completed and senior center construction is underway, Needham officials are looking to focus on the next big town project—a downtown “streetscaping” plan that will make Needham Center more vibrant and accessible. At the selectmen’s meeting on Tuesday, May 22, Department of Public Works Director Richard Merson announced the “beginning of another exciting project,” saying he and others in town are ready to get to work on development of the downtown area based on a series of studies the town has conducted over the past several years. The project will involve developing “complete streets” that incorporate different modes of travel such as motor vehicles, bicycles and more—all within the town’s current …

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Visions For Vacancies: What Should Move in to Lee Building?

An occasional look at vacant storefronts or open space around Needham.

It's a natural process: Businesses move in, businesses move out. Although town officials and residents typically prefer to see the former happening, vacant storefronts and empty lots are a part of life in a suburban town—start-ups shut down, national chains cut back and falling profits sometimes force a mom-and-pop business to shutter. In a new feature on Needham Patch, we will be asking readers what you would like to see move in to various vacant spots around town. Through Visions for Vacancies, readers can have their say and sound off on what a business property should become before plans are drawn. About once every week, or as vacancies become available, Needham Patch will highlight a vacant building or structure in the Needham …

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Digital Realty Trust Breaks Ground on New Building

Three-story data center and office facility will be located at 105 Cabot St. in Needham

Digital Realty Trust Inc., a leading global datacenter provider, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday morning, March 21 celebrating the start of construction at its 105 Cabot St. building in Needham. The new three-story 130,335-square-foot world-class data center and office facility will be located approximately 1/4-mile from Route 128/I-95. The event was attended by Needham town officials, Digital Realty executives and project team managers. Jones Lang LaSalle is serving as the leasing agent. “This new development is a very welcome addition to Needham’s New England Business Center,” Needham Board of Selectmen chairman Moe Handel said. “It is exactly the kind of development that was envisioned for this area. We welcome Digital …

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Needham Selectmen Encourage Legislators To Find New Solutions For MBTA

The board voted on March 13 to send a letter to state officials supporting arguments raised at a Transportation Committee hearing in February

Needham selectmen have joined a host of voices speaking out against the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s proposed service cuts and rate hikes. The board unanimously voted Tuesday, March 13 to send a letter to state Sen. Richard Ross and Sen. Michael Rush and state Rep. Denise Garlick that shares their “collective concern” over the plan, which seeks to close a $161 million budget gap in fiscal year 2013. To address that budget gap, the MBTA and Massachusetts Department of Transportation have put forward two possible scenarios that have received considerable criticism over the past month or so. In the first scenario, overall public transit fares would increase by about 43 percent; in the second, fares would increase by about 35 …

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You Ask ... Patch Answers

You Ask ... Patch Answers: What's the Scoop on the Friendly's Building?

Send in your questions about Needham!

After closing its doors suddenly last October when the Friendly's Ice Cream Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the Needham Friendly's has sat empty, leaving many to wonder what will take its place. The restaurant had been a Needham staple for more than 25 years, serving up sundaes, ice cream cones and other fare to families as well as employees of local businesses such as Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham, located directly across from Frendly's on Chestnut Street. For this week's "You Ask ... Patch Answers," I sought some news on the restaurant building, asking, "Is anything in the works for the old Friendly's building at 173 Chestnut St.?" To find the answer, I reached out to Needham Economic Development Director Devra …

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Route 128 Towns Look To Grow Office Parks

Zoning changes key in developing economic centers.

Needham isn't the only community along Route 128 looking to grow local revenue by growing its business base. The Boston Globe reports that Newton and Waltham are also working on plans to boost economic development in their towns, and nearby Dedham is "reaping millions in new tax revenue" thanks to the development of its Legacy Place shopping center, according to a recent article published on Boston.com. Following passage of several key zoning changes at Needham's fall special Town Meeting, the Globe reports that Economic Development Director Devra Bailin and the Council of Economic Advisors are continuing to meet with property owners, businesses and local tenants to consider the best way to develop Needham's New England Business Center, …

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The Benefits of Shopping Local This Holiday Season

Consumers encouraged to spend dollars in Needham on Small Business Saturday, Nov. 26.

By Devra Bailin, Town of Needham’s Economic Development Director This year’s Holiday Stroll and Blue Tree Lighting event, sponsored by the Needham Business Association on Saturday, Nov. 26, corresponds with the national Small Business Saturday event. The average consumer, according to the National Retail Federation, spends about $700 during the holiday season. By shifting 10 percent of those purchases from non-local businesses to independently owned private local businesses, we can have a profound impact on our local Needham economy because of the multiplier effect. Unlike a dollar spent at large chain stores or businesses outside Needham, half or more of each dollar spent at a local business stays in Needham. Spending even a small …

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