Representatives of the Newton Community Development Foundation told the Public Facilities Committee that Hamlet Street—an aging private way serving Houghton Village—has recurrent pothole and pavement failures and that abutters sought major temporary repairs under city ordinance procedures.

NCDF’s representative said Houghton Village is a 50-unit mixed-income townhouse community that historically maintained the roadway. After earlier minor repairs, the group obtained signatures from a majority of abutters for a petition and received city betterment estimates of roughly $101,000 to $119,000. NCDF presented two PaveTech proposals that are substantially lower: a maintenance overlay with milling for $41,500 and a full mill-and-fill for $47,500, with additional manhole adjustments and an estimated up-to-$5,000 police/traffic-detail cost.

The NCDF representative said the association would absorb approximately 67% of the project cost—about $80,000 under the city’s higher estimate—to reduce special assessments for neighboring owners. The representative told the committee contracting directly with a local vendor could save an estimated $25,000 over the projected city assessments and would allow scheduling the work in 2026.

Commissioner Sullivan told the committee the contractor would need to pull permits and may be required to file a traffic-management plan; the city will review potential utility or drainage impacts. Several councilors and abutters supported a path that allows the neighborhood to move forward while ensuring proper city review.

After questions about timing, costs, and how private contracting would affect assessments, the committee voted to hold the petition while the applicant secures clearer guidance from city staff on permit, review and assessment implications. The applicant said it will pursue permits and return when city review steps are clarified.