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John Koot

Rising septuagenarian; 40-year resident of Newton, though a Northern Californian by birth. Married, with two Millennial daughters who are products of the Newton school system (Countryside, Brown, NSHS).

Land Use Committee Approves Washington Place

Well, at last it’s happened: After a year of public hearings, developer presentations, and questions and comments from the members of the Land Use …

June 7, 2017 June 13, 2017 by John Koot

Faulty Towers: Rezoning as a Gift to Developers

Developers often like to present an image of themselves as risk-takers in the mold of Leif Erikson, Vasco DaGama, and Christopher Columbus—or the captain …

October 7, 2016 by John Koot

Austin Street as a Clinical Trial

Before a new drug is released to the public, it must undergo a series of trials, first on animals in the laboratory, then on …

August 7, 2016 August 7, 2016 by John Koot

Look Who Wants to Upzone Your Neighborhood

Back at the end of March when I was writing what I intended to be a humorous piece for April Fools’ Day on zoning, …

July 7, 2016 July 10, 2016 by John Koot

Smaller Homes—Vanishing, but Still Needed

Last week my younger daughter, after having spent nearly 11 years in Cleveland in college, postgraduate education, and residency, returned to Massachusetts with her …

June 7, 2016 June 7, 2016 by John Koot

The Meaning of “Discrimination” in Newton

In one of my favorite books (and movies), “The Princess Bride,” one of the villains repeatedly uses the word “Inconceivable!” at the hero’s ability …

May 7, 2016 by John Koot

Thoughts on the Universality of Proverbs

In a nod to my approaching seventieth birthday, I thought I’d take a break from municipal matters and talk about an aspect of language …

April 7, 2016 April 8, 2016 by John Koot

Scaling [Back] the Heights

During the recent prolonged public debate over the Austin Street project and the much briefer introduction of Mr. Korff’s plans for the Orr Block, …

March 7, 2016 March 7, 2016 by John Koot

The ISD Money Machine

While reading reporter Jonathan Dame’s excellent article on Newton’s Inspectional Services Department (ISD) in the February 24, 2016 Newton TAB, I was struck by …

March 1, 2016 March 2, 2016 by John Koot

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