Brookline adopted new zoning for part of the Boylston Street corridor in Chestnut Hill in May 2026. The Chestnut Hill Commercial Overlay District sets out how property within the district can be redeveloped, including through mixed-use projects. City Realty’s proposal for the Chestnut Hill Office Park at 1280–1330 Boylston Street is moving through a separate special-permit process. Town commercial area study · Town project status
Where the new zoning applies
The Town’s study describes an area of about 28 acres along Boylston Street, from roughly one block east of Hammond Street toward the Newton line. The overlay sets different rules by subdistrict, including for building height, ground-floor uses and community benefits. Projects using the overlay require a special permit and design review. Use the Town’s zoning map and certified amendment to check a particular parcel. Town Meeting supplemental report · Certified zoning amendment and map materials
What Town Meeting voted on
On May 28, Town Meeting approved the overlay zoning 217–20, with six abstentions. In a separate 230–6 vote, also with six abstentions, members authorized the Select Board to enter into agreements with City Realty concerning the office park redevelopment, including a tax certainty agreement. The Massachusetts Attorney General approved the zoning amendment on August 26. Town commercial area study and vote results · Attorney General approval listed in the zoning bulletin
What’s proposed for the office park
Brookline’s project review page describes three proposed buildings with housing and a mix of hotel, retail and medical office space. The Town’s permit tracker says the applicant had begun the special-permit process as of October 2026. For the design, unit mix and timing, the next records to watch are the application materials, any revisions and the permit decision. Major Impact Project Review · Town permit tracker
What this means if you own nearby
Check the overlay map first. For a parcel inside the district, identify the subdistrict before drawing conclusions about what could be built. For a home outside the district, the project review can help you track proposed street access, public space and transportation changes. When evaluating a sale or purchase, use neighborhood comparables to assess price and keep the project’s current status in the property discussion. Town commercial area study · Bushari’s Chestnut Hill market and neighborhood guide
Project records checked November 10, 2026.
AI-generated editorial illustration of a commercial corridor and conceptual building forms.
