Monday, March 25, 2013
Tiny Post is an app that allows users to upload photos, select a photo filter, and write captions over the photo to tell a story.
Newton-based TripAdvisor (soon to be in Needham) announced last week that it has acquired Tiny Post, an iPhone app that involves users writing captions over photos to share a story or review. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, according to a report from the Associated Press. Tiny Post was founded as Tiny Review in 2011 by Dick Brouwer and Melissa Miranda. They intended for their app to be used to add text to photos for reviews, but clever app users began creating internet memes that you can see all over Facebook and elsewhere. The Palo Alto, Calif. company shifted gears and rebranded as Tiny Post in July 2012, according to the Tiny Post website. TripAdvisor will base the Tiny Post operations out of TripAdvisor's Palo Alto office, …
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Selectmen vote in favor of a name for the neighborhood which will soon house TripAdvisor.
There was an early leader in the quest for a new neighborhood name, and it seems to have stuck. Needham Crossing is the name the Board of Selectmen announced and voted on at last night's meeting. The Board unanimously accepted the Council of Economic Advisors' recommendation to name the area between Route 128 and the border of Newton. "Needham Crossing is a good fit geographically." Selectman Chair Daniel Matthews explained that the name "establishes that it is part of the town, but you can’t get there without crossing one of the principal geographic features of the area: Route 128 or the Charles River." After kicking around a few suggestions of their own, the Council of Economic Advisors threw the question open to residents. Citizens …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Town is still taking suggestions, although a favorite seems to be emerging.
How does a neighborhood get a name? This time, it's a committee and a council's decision. In hopes of getting the New England Business Center area "buzzing," the council of economic advisors has made some zoning changes in the area. They also plan to re-name it. After kicking around a few suggestions of their own, the Council of Economic Advisors threw the question open to residents. An announcement on the town website said they were looking at a construction using the name “Needham,” with a two-syllable word. Such as, “Needham [modifier]” or “[modifier] Needham.” At Tuesday's meeting, Selectman David Matthews expressed his preference for the name "Needham Crossing," which other officials echoed. Although a favorite has emerged, the …
Monday, December 10, 2012
If you have a creative name for the area east of 128 (future home of TripAdvisor), the Board of Selectmen want to know.
What's in a name? Will a business park by any other name still sound as vibrant? The Council of Economic Advisors hopes so, and are seeking your input on the name of the New England Business Center. The Tuesday, Dec. 18 Board of Selectmen meeting will seek some input on the name, and the Selectmen will accept suggestions by email until Dec. 31. According to the Town Website's announcement on Friday. One strategy is to pair the town name with a word that flows, and makes it sound like a neighborhood. From the announcement: The working group’s recommended strategy has been to identify the area as a distinct Needham neighborhood, focusing on naming options including one or two syllables that work vocally with “Needham,” i.e., “Needham […
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
In a majority vote, with some arguments against, the tax incentive financing plan proposed by the Selectmen was approved at last night's Special Town Meeting.
The vote needed to bring TripAdvisor back to town passed last night's Special Town Meeting. Town Meeting Members descended on Town Hall to learn more about the the tax increment financing (TIF) program proposed by the Selectmen to bring travel site TripAdvisor to Needham's growing business park. It was the only article on the warrant Town Meeting also voted to amend the article with an "emergency preamble," a section of language which would put the article into effect immediately with no option for citizen petition. Before the agreement is official, it must be approved by a state board, which has shifted its deadlines to accommodate the Town's vote, Moderator Michael Fee said at the beginning of the evening. Needham Selectman Jerry …
Monday, December 3, 2012
The Board of Selectmen tonight includes a special town meeting with one article on the warrant, the approval of the TripAdvisor plans.
The fate of the New Business Park which could tempt TripAdvisor back to Needham will be decided by the end of the day, as Needham's Special Town Meeting takes a vote on the tax increment financing (TIF) program proposed by the Selectmen. At 7:30 p.m., Town Meeting will discuss and vote on Article 1: to Approve a Tax Increment Financing Plan and TIF Agreement. The warrant is available on the town website, or to the right. The town aims to redevelop an area along Route 128, a process which began in 2007, and to create a business park. TripAdvisor should be their first big catch, and town officialls hope it will cause other tech companies to flock to town. TripAdvisor will be bringing 450 jobs from their Newton offices, and have committed …
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Needham Special Town Meeting votes next week on a tax increment financing program for TripAdvisor's intended Needham offices. Information session later this week.
Pending a vote by Needham Town Meeting next week, TripAdvisor could well be coming home. At last night's Board of Selectmen meeting, officials and TripAdvisor representatives answered some questions from Needham residents about the tax increment financing (TIF) program proposed by the Selectmen. This will come before Needham Town Meeting next week, as article 1 of the Dec. 3 Special Town Meeting. "We did site search and focused on 128 corridor." Tyler Young, Vice President, Finance and Administration commented, "Needham is our top choice, pending the TIF approval. Will be excited to move back to home town of Needham." TripAdvisor will be bringing 450 jobs from their Newton offices, and have committed to adding 50 jobs a year for the first…
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Tax incentive program and new business park along 128 could bring TripAdvisor back to Needham.
A business-world homecoming may be in the cards for one large company which got its start in Needham. Last Wednesday, Needham's Selectmen voted to approve a tax incentive proposal, which will make the transition for TripAdvisor easier, via a report on YourTown Needham. The company, which began in 2000 here in Needham is outgrowing its Newton headquarters, Town Administrator Kate Fitzpatrick told YourTown. After completing an office building project, the company is looking into building a second office space. Should the town get TripAdvisor back, this will bring 450 relocated employees and 205 new jobs over the coming years, and that construction is intended to begin next summer. Devra Bailin, Needham’s economic development director …
Bernard A. Kansky
8:59 am on Thursday, December 20, 2012
How about the name "The Central Park West Executive Office Park." Bernard A. Kansky, 103 Aletha Road, Needham, MA 02492 Berakan@aol.com (617) 227-2020/Fax (617) 227-5717 more ›