Brookline by Design
Endorsement Questionnaire

Below is the questionnaire requested by Brookline by Design.

Thank you for your interest in Brookline’s future and for taking the time to apply for 2025 Brookline by Design candidate endorsement.

What do you see as the value of Brookline’s recently launched Comprehensive Planning Process for shaping the Town's future land use?

I fully support Brookline’s Comprehensive Plan and am committed to advancing its recommendations. As an architect, I bring a professional perspective that uniquely positions me to help implement its vision. I will work collaboratively with Town staff, the Town Administrator, fellow Select Board members, and Town Meeting to move the plan forward as soon as feasible.

Brookline is a vibrant, diverse town composed of distinct neighborhoods, each with its own identity. The Comprehensive Plan allows us to thoughtfully assess each area—both at the micro level (neighborhood) and the macro level (town-wide)—to determine what types of development are most appropriate. This tailored approach is far more effective than one-size-fits-all or piecemeal solutions.

One of the plan’s greatest strengths is its focus on sustainability, equity, and long-term resilience. Through broad community engagement, it provides a roadmap for future land use that reflects our shared values, including affordable housing, economic opportunity, and historic preservation. It also helps guide how we manage zoning, density, and infrastructure investments—while maintaining the character that makes Brookline unique.

By integrating climate resilience, walkability, mobility alternatives, and green space preservation into our land use decisions, the plan sets a foundation for a more inclusive, sustainable future. This proactive, community-driven process is essential to meeting today’s challenges and shaping a future that works for everyone in Brookline.

What do you consider to be the pros and cons of additional development in Brookline?

Brookline is poised to continue growing for the foreseeable future, and we must be proactive in shaping how that growth occurs. Growth brings both opportunities and challenges. On the positive side, increased development—especially commercial or mixed-use—can expand the tax base, strengthen the local economy, and provide greater access to amenities such as dining, retail, and services. Commercial development also brings local jobs and can diversify the town’s economic landscape. Residential development, meanwhile, adds much-needed housing options.

New buildings tend to be significantly more sustainable than our aging building stock, thanks to modern code requirements like the energy stretch code and fossil fuel–free mandates. And when development is located near public transit hubs, it encourages the use of mass transit for commuting, helping to reduce traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.

However, without thoughtful planning, growth can also bring real challenges. Increased density, especially in already dense areas, can strain public infrastructure—including parks, streets, and schools. It may reduce opportunities to preserve or expand open space. Added development contributes to both vehicular and pedestrian traffic on already congested streets, and it places added pressure on school systems that are already navigating tight budgets. Public safety demands also rise with more residents and housing units, increasing the volume of emergency calls and the need for responsive services. Together, these pressures can impact overall quality of life for Brookline residents.

Additionally, new development often changes the character of existing neighborhoods. In well-established areas, the scale, design, and materials of new buildings can disrupt the historic or small-town feel that many value. There’s also the risk of reduced affordability: new construction tends to cater to the luxury market, which can lead to the displacement of long-time residents and the erosion of naturally occurring affordable housing. Without strong policies in place, the market is unlikely to produce truly affordable options in the near term.

In some cases, instead of replacing existing buildings, we should consider renovating and electrifying them. This approach can improve sustainability while preserving neighborhood character and affordability—offering a balanced alternative to full-scale redevelopment.

Do you think Brookline can meaningfully address the housing affordability issue? How, for whom, and by how much? What other effects might those measures have (e.g., on the built environment, services, or open space)?

Yes, Brookline can meaningfully address the housing affordability crisis—but it requires strategic action and collaboration. One important avenue is partnering with nonprofit housing developers to create deed-restricted affordable units on town-owned land, as outlined in the Housing Production Plan. (I was part of the working group that developed the latest version of that plan.) We should also explore expanded use of the Affordable Housing Trust to help fund new projects, as we’ve successfully done in the past with developments like the Colonel Floyd Apartments.

Last fall, Town Meeting took a positive step by expanding the ability to create Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) in single-family homes. These smaller units are likely to be more affordable than typical market-rate housing, due to their scale and the homeowners’ motivations. In some cases, homeowners may choose to move into the ADU and rent out the main house to a family—creating additional, flexible housing options.

The town should continue to support the development of multifamily housing that meets the threshold for our inclusionary zoning bylaw, which requires 15% of new units to be affordable. However, it’s important to note that some developers try to skirt this requirement by proposing luxury developments just below the unit threshold. This loophole needs to be addressed to ensure we’re truly expanding our affordable housing stock.

We also need to carefully weigh the fiscal impacts of different types of development. As highlighted by RKG, the consultant working with the Chestnut Hill West Advisory Group, purely residential development often generates more municipal and school costs than it contributes in property taxes. In contrast, mixed-use or commercial development—such as hotels—can be revenue-neutral or even positive. These trade-offs should be a central consideration when planning future growth.

Finally, as we continue to develop, it’s essential that we protect and expand Brookline’s limited open space and address the ongoing loss of our urban tree canopy. Housing affordability and environmental sustainability must go hand in hand if we’re going to create a livable, inclusive future for all residents.

Tell us about yourself, your community involvement, and your goals for Brookline’s future.

I immigrated to the United States to pursue my architectural studies, earning both a Bachelor of Architecture and a Master of Architecture. After completing graduate school, I met my wife, and in 2005, we chose Brookline as the ideal place to raise their family. Our son currently attends Runkle School within the Brookline Public Schools system.

I gained extensive experience working with several renowned, award-winning local architecture and planning firms before founding my own multidisciplinary practice, specializing in architecture, graphic design, and brand development. Many of my graphic design and branding clients include local nonprofit and community leaders in their respective fields.

I have always been an active volunteer, but my commitment to Brookline deepened after becoming a U.S. citizen in 2016, igniting my passion for civic engagement. I view Brookline as a shining example of what a community can achieve when its members care deeply for one another.

In 2019, I was appointed to Brookline’s Advisory Committee, the fiscal advisory body to Town Meeting, where my expertise as a Massachusetts-registered architect and a US Green Building LEED B+C-accredited professional has been highly valued. Serving on this committee has provided me with invaluable insight into the workings of municipal government. I have contributed significantly as a member of the Land Use, Zoning, and Sustainability Subcommittee and the Capital Subcommittee, reviewing and preparing reports on Warrant Articles to advise Town Meeting.

Over the past six years, I have served on various advisory, review, and selection committees, deepening my understanding of how the Town operates. my work has enabled him to build strong, mutually respectful relationships with Town department heads, further strengthening my commitment to Brookline.

Advisory Committee, Brookline’s finance committee (2019-)
- Member of the Capital Sub-Committee.
- Member of the Land Use, Zoning and Sustainability Sub-Committee
- Member of the Sustainability Sub-Committee

Chestnut Hill Commercial Area Study Community Advisory Group (2024-)

Town of Brookline Housing Production Plan (HPP) Working Group (2021-2021)

Yes on Question 3 Brookline Campaign (2020)

Fisher Hill West Uses Advisory Committee (2024-)

Boylston Street Corridor Study Committee (2020-2023)

Newbury Campus Zoning Study Committee (2020)

Town of Brookline Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) Update Team (2021-2023)

Centre Street Zoning Committee (2021)

Balfour at Brookline Design Advisory Team (DAT) (2020)

20 Boylston Design Advisory Team (DAT) (2017)

Brookline Reservoir Park Design Review Committee (DRC) (2017)

209 Harvard Street Design Advisory Team (DAT) (2018)

118 Gerry Road and 121 Independence Drive Design Advisory Team (DAT) (2018-2019

Waldo-Durgin Development Design Advisory Team (DAT) (2022)

Recreation Director Screening Committee (2024)

Finance Director Screening Committee (2022

Club House Master Plan RFT Selection Committee (2023)

My vision for Brookline:

Housing affordability is a top priority.

As Brookline grows—and it will—we must thoughtfully plan where and how that growth happens. This includes creating housing that has neighborhood support while being a financially viable undertaking for developers. Expanding residential and, especially commercial development can help to alleviate financial pressures that impact all property owners. The completion and acceptance of the Comprehensive Plan will provide a clear blueprint for Brookline’s growth, while zoning changes, such as allowing expanding the use of accessory dwelling units, can create realistic affordable housing options. One of my priorities would be to support the immediate implementation of the Comprehensive Plan so we can increase the number of housing units as provided by the overarching planning process.

Climate and sustainability goals must remain central to all development efforts.

Residential and commercial projects should prioritize decarbonization and electrification. I will work to identify affordable ways for all sectors—residential, commercial, non-profit and municipal—to take advantage of climate action opportunities. Community-based utility initiatives like neighborhood network geothermal or solar pilot programs should be encouraged, alongside support for expanding Brookline’s urban forest canopy and protecting parks and open spaces. Continuation of climate resilience planning is also critical, ensuring that essential municipal facilities are safeguarded against vulnerabilities identified in the recently updated emergency management plan.

As Brookline’s population grows, our municipal services and infrastructure must keep up.

We need strong advocates for these essential services, including investments in public safety—such as completing firehouse renovations and adding a ladder truck—expanding recreational facilities, and maintaining a balance between open space and development. Additionally, improving sidewalks and roads with a focus on accessibility and multimodal transportation is crucial. I support completing cross-town multimodal routes and enhancing the pedestrian experience throughout Brookline.

All of this must be achieved while ensuring affordability.

It is crucial to address the financial pressures residents face, particularly seniors and those on fixed incomes. Small businesses owners also face similar financial challenges. Balancing spending across town services and schools is essential to building a more diverse and inclusive community. I will advocate for a more comprehensive look with greater transparency in financial policy and expenditures, ensuring that residents and taxpayers clearly understand how and why limited resources are allocated.