Hill Estates Moves Closer to Sale As Well-Known Boston RE Firm Signs P&S For $175 Million

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Photo: A purchase and sales agreement has been signed for the Hill Estates

A purchase and sale agreement for the Hill Estates, Belmont’s largest residential development, has been signed by the CEO of one of Boston’s best known and largest residential firms.

According to the PSA signed on April 15, the nearly 400 apartments and a small commercial space off Brighton Street is to be purchased from the DiGiovanni family by Hill Estates NERA, LLC which has offices at 39 Brighton Ave. in Boston. Hill Estates NERA propose to buy the nealy 15-acre site for $175 million: $173 million for the residential portion and $3 million in commercial property on the site.

The PSA can be found on Justia, a website specializing in legal information retrieval. 

A signed purchase and sale agreement does not constitute a sale; it simply sets the terms for a potential sale by outlying the obligations of the buyer and seller to complete the transaction. The actual sale occurs when the property is formally transferred at the closing. 

Signing for Hill Estates NERA is Jameson Brown, co-CEO of the Hamilton Company, one of the largest privately-held real estate organizations in New England. Now in its 71st year, the firm manages and leases approximately 1.5 million square feet of commercial space and in excess of 5,600 residential units, while developing and constructing both residential and commercial projects throughout Greater Boston.

The company was founded by Harold Brown, one of the true titans of Boston real estate. In six decades, Brown amassed billions of dollars worth of Boston-area property: if you were a student living along Commonwealth Avenue since the 1960s, you likely paid rent to Brown.

Belmont High Girls Hockey Off To The Sweet 16 With 2-0 Shutout Of Arlington Catholic

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Photo: Belmont High Co-capt. Sadie Taylor (18) celebrates a goal against Arlington Catholic in the Marauders first round victory in the MIAA Division 1 state girls’ hockey tournament

First-period goals from Belmont High’s most experienced and one of its youngest players provided the winning margin as the Marauders advanced to the Sweet 16 of the MIAA State Division 1 Girls Hockey tournament with a 2-0 blanking of Arlington Catholic on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

Co-capt. Sadie Taylor – the team’s only senior – opened the scoring 52 seconds into the match on a bang-bang strike while 8th grader defender Amelia Long scored her first point of the season when her shot from just inside the blue line handcuffed AC’s senior goalie Katlin Sacco with 15 seconds remaining in the first period. Belmont’s junior goalie, Jil Costa, was troubled only a few times in earning the clean sheet as the Marauder’s defensive pairings got the better of the Cougar’s speedy forwards. 

“I’m extremely proud of the girls. They worked so hard all season, and we got the home game. Take nothing away from Arlington Catholic but we got two in the first and never looked back,” said Belmont Head Coach Brendan Kelleher. “And now we get to keep the rink open for another couple of days, and that was our goal when we went into the tournament.”

The Marauders (16-1-4) will face a familiar foe in the next round in Middlesex Liberty league rival Reading Memorial (14-6-1). Eight-seed Belmont defeated the number nine-ranked Rockets at home in January, 4-3, before drawing the February return fixture, 3-3. On Tuesday, the Rockets defeated Bishop Feehan, 2-0, to earn the opportunity to take on Belmont for the third time this season.

The match date and time have yet to be determined.

Kelleher said the key to the win was Taylor scoring in the first minute “which took the wind out of [AC’s] sails. While they had players who were flying out there but played out system and slowed them down,” he said. The initial goal came after first-year winger Alexcia Fici patiently headed behind the AC net and found her linemate streaking for the crease with a pin-point pass.

“Taylor’s engine never stops and the first line feeds off her,” said Kelleher.

The Cougar’s outstanding 7th grader Amelia Paes – who came closest scoring hitting the post late in the first – and 8th grade defender Addy Boczenowski applied the pressure on the Marauders. Still Costa came up with another seemingly effortless performance to secure the shutout.

“I don’t breath easy during tournament games but when you have Jil Costa in net, she makes me feel a lot better just how composed she is back there,” said Kelleher.

And Long waited for the perfect time to get her first point all year with a solid drive from the point that found its way off her blocker and glove into the net.

“It was really cool. I was really excited when it went in,” said Long.

“Every now and then, I’ll get nervous because it’s my first year playing. But after the first or second shift, I get excited and then I’m fine.”

State Rep Rogers Sets February Office Hours In Belmont

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Photo: State Rep. Dave Rogers

State Rep. Dave Rogers has announced his February office hours in Belmont:

  • Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Beech Street Center, 266 Beech St.
  • Friday, Feb. 21, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Bellmont Caffe in
    Belmont Center, 80 Leonard St.

Feel free to contact Rogers’ office at any time with questions by phone at 617-722-2263 or by email at dave.rogers@mahouse.gov

MLK Community Breakfast Back In-Person At BHS, Free Registration

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Photo: Keynote speaker Jeneé Osterheldt of the Boston Globe (Credit: Screenshot of Boston Globe video)

Belmont’s 31s annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Breakfast will be returning to an in person event this year after being virtual due to the global pandemic. Join the community on Jan. 20, 2025, at 9 a.m. at Belmont High School for a celebration of Dr. King’s legacy. This event is co-sponsored by Belmont Against Racism (BAR) and the Belmont Human Rights Commission (BHRC).

Event Highlights

  • Keynote Speaker: Jeneé Osterheldt, the Deputy Managing Editor for Culture, Talent and Development at the Boston Globe will speak on “A BEAUTIFUL RESISTANCE.” Osterheldt is a culture columnist who covers identity and social justice through the lens of culture and the arts. 
  • Musical Performance by Belmont Middle and High School students.
  • METCO Updates.
  • Child Care Available.

RESERVE YOUR FREE TICKET TODAY.

Epstein Nixes Select Board Re-election Run; Backing Planning Board’s Yates To Fill Vacancy

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Photo: Roy Epstein

Roy Epstein, a two-term member of the Belmont Select Board, has decided not to seek re-election for the seat he’s held since April 2019.

“I wanted to tell you that after months of thinking about it, I’ve decided not to seek a third term on the Select Board this spring,” said Epstein.  “This has honestly been one of the greatest privileges and one of the most interesting jobs I’ve ever had.  As those of you know who have been there, it’s hard to give it up.  I thank everyone who asked me to run again.  It’s very rewarding to have served and to feel that people believe I’ve done a good job,” he said.

“Thank you … for being part of the community in Belmont that is vitally concerned with how our little democracy can continue to thrive,” Epstein noted. “I said in 2019 that good government doesn’t just happen. It takes constant work. And you are key partners in helping to make it happen.

Epstein was first elected to the board in one of the closest races in town election history, defeating Jessica Bennett by 128 votes out of roughly 5,150 ballots cast. He was re-elected in 2022 by a comfortable two-third margin.

In an email sent on Monday night, Nov. 25, Epstein said he will be backing the candidacy of Taylor Yates, the Planning Board chair who has taken out nomination papers for Select Board.

As for his support of Yates, Epstein said he had been impressed with Yates in his support of the leaf blower bylaw in 2022 and his leadership of the Yes for Appointed Treasurer Committee and championing the MBTA Communities Act that came before this month’s Special Town Meeting.

“I know that [appointed treasurer] was controversial and not all of you agreed with the decision.  But Taylor organized a fair, fact-based campaign and events have proved that an appointed treasurer has worked out well,” said Epstein.

Epstein pointed to his experience leading the Planning Board as “an excellent training ground” to fill the seat on the board. “[Yates] showed the intelligence, maturity, and demeanor we need on the Select Board,” he said.

“By the end of the Special Town Meeting, I felt strongly that we had just seen the next member of the Select Board.”

Ring In The Season At 34th Annual Holiday Tree Lighting In Belmont Center, Thursday, Dec. 5

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Photo: People celebrating the holiday season in Belmont Center at the annual tree lighting.

Santa Claus continues to find his way back to Belmont. And this year, ol’ St. Nick will visit Belmont Center on Thursday, Dec. 5, for the 34th annual Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony from 5:45 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The night’s highlight will be Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving on Leonard Street around 6:15 p.m., on top of one of Belmont Fire Department’s engines. Santa will flip on the Center’s holiday lights on a tree adjacent to Bellmont Cafe which is donated by the Belmont Lions Club.

Team Santa will travel down Leonard Street to the M&T Bank branch – the former Belmont Savings Bank – where he and the Mrs. will greet their most significant constituency: children. Parents will get the opportunity to take photos with the jolly old man. Santa will be giving out candy canes and a promise to bring that special present on Dec. 24. 

Leonard Street will be closed, and family and friends are invited to gather and enjoy the holiday lights, meet with Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman, listen to Belmont High School’s amazing Madrigal Singers, and enjoy some fried treats. Local business members of the Belmont Center Business Association organize the night’s events.

Belmont Native Gets Pinned As Newest Member Of The Belmont Fire Department

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Photo: Brendan Shea and his wife, Jess, during the pinning ceremony held at Belmont Town Hall

One of Belmont’s own is joining his hometown public safety family as Brendan Shea was welcomed to the Belmont Fire Department.

At a ceremony held during the Select Board meeting last month, Shea – who grew up in town – received his helmet shield from Belmont Fire Chief David DeStefano while his wife, Jess, pinned his badge to his uniform.

A graduate of UMass-Lowell, Shea was appointed to the department in March and attended the Massachusetts Fire Academy, graduating in August. Currently a probationary firefighter, Shea is assigned to Group One.

DeStefano told the Board that two of the next three people that will be hired are Belmont residents.

What To Do With Pumpkins After ‘alloween? Belmont Helps Will ‘Rescue’ Them At Town Hall Sunday, Nov. 3

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Photo: Bring your pumpkins to Town Hall … but only on Sunday, Nov. 3!

Halloween has come – along with a late fall “heat” wave – and gone. For many residents, the most pressing question facing them is what to do with all their pumpkins. The usual options are limited to letting them rot on your front stoop, toss them into the woods (the wildlife will thank you), or wait for some mischief youngster to smash them in the middle of the street.

But what is becoming a welcome tradition, Belmont Helps is holding a “Pumpkin Rescue and Charity Donation Drive Thru” on Sunday, Nov. 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Just load up those giant winter squash in the van or SUV to 455 Concord Ave. in Belmont Center and volunteers – or you can do it also – will fling the orange fruit into a truck waiting to drive the collection to a composting pile.

Belmont Help’s Amy Kirsch said the non-profit – founded in 2020 to alleviate food insecurity in Belmont and respond to the pressing needs of its neighbors – will also be collecting donations of cash, coins, and gift cards that will help the volunteer organization to provide assistance to those seeking help during the coming holiday season.

Belmont High Football Gets Off The Schneid With 9-6 Road Victory At Lexington

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Photo: Belmont High kicker John Townsend lines up the winning field goal vs. Lexington High.

After being blown out (and shutout) in three of its first four games, Belmont High Football finally put together just enough offense to support an outstanding defensive performance to walk off of Lexington High grass field with its first victory of the season, 9-6, over hosts the Minutemen.

A 80 yard kick off return by junior Casey Regan to start the second half and a clutch 26 yard field goal from senior John Townsend with just under five minutes remaining put Belmont in the win column (1-4) and gave Belmont Head Coach Francois Joseph his first career varsity victory.

“It feels great,” said Joseph, with what was left of his voice, after the game held on Thursday night in windy and cold conditions that included a rare peek of the aurora borealis.

“It’s our first year with a whole new group and we didn’t want to go 0-for. I just wanted to give the seniors an experience and just wanted to win one game for them. I want them to remember this game and how they gutted it out,” said Joseph.

While there were several candidates for “player of the match”, the honor would certainly be handed out to the four defensive linemen – seniors Daniel Martins and Zak Zaddem and juniors Enzo Passos and Seamus Murphy – that made the night a Halloween-like nightmare for the Minutemen offense.

The match itself wasn’t pretty in any manner of speaking. The first half resembled a reenactment of a medieval battle with both sides ramming into each other in between the 20s, ending in a characterless 0-0 stale-mate. But all that changed when Regan gathered the second half kick then sprinted down the right sideline untouched, giving Belmont its first lead of the season and scoring for only the second time since the final minute against Cambridge.

Belmont would show streaks of offensive punch with senior QB Wyatt Sclafani at the helm including flipping the field when a quarterback scramble picked up 28 yards to the Minutemen 39 yard line in the third quarter.

Belmont experienced some anxiety in the final quarter after Sclafani left the game suffering from an acute calf injury. But replacement signal caller junior Kyle Curtis produced a timely 15 yard pass over the middle to junior Andre Chavushian placing the ball on the Lexington 9 yard line with 7 minutes to go. Four plays later, Townsend – an outstanding kicker on Belmont’s top-ranked rugby squad – coolly drilled the ball through the uprights to increase Belmont’s advantage to 9-0 with 4:48 to play.

“[Townsend] is one of the best kickers in the state and we haven’t been able to get him close enough to make kicks like that,” said Joseph, who says Townsend routinely kicks 40-45 yard field goals in practice.

Lexington quickly cut the Marauders’ lead back to one possession with a 79-yard pitch and catch to wide receiver Amari Mow to cut Belmont’s lead to 9-6 after the missed PAT. And the Minutemen would have one final opportunity after blocking Townsend’s attempted punt with 2:23 to go. But the D line would come up big keeping the Minutemen in check. A 4th down pass was knocked down to seal the W.

“With the win, the team can now look ahead for a second win and then a third,” said Joseph.

Belmont will travel to neighboring Arlington on Friday night, kick off at 6:30 p.m.