Practice Areas:
Land use, zoning, permitting, and licensing matters; real estate transactions related to the acquisition, sale, financing, and leasing of properties for retail, office, and residential use; and corporate transactions related to the purchase and sale of businesses.
Representative Projects:
Steve recently has obtained zoning approvals for the following projects:
— Mixed-use development at the Riverside MBTA site (Newton) consisting of 10 buildings with 550 residential units, 362,000 square feet of office and/or life science space, and 21,000 square feet of retail space
— 40B development with 302 residential units and 8,300 square feet of ancillary retail space near West Newton Square
— 40B development with 204 residential units and 4,463 square feet of ancillary retail and community space along the Charles River near the Newton/Watertown line
— Mixed-use development of 140 residential units and 45,000 square feet of retail space in Newtonville
— Along with his partner, Alan Schlesinger, the Northland/Newton development consisting of 14 buildings with 800 residential units, 193,000 square feet of office space, and 115,000 square feet of retail space in Newton Upper Falls— Elderly housing with services community with 110 beds in Newton Corner
— Conversion of 185,000 square feet from office use to life science use at 275 Grove Street, Newton
— 34-unit condominium development at Four Corners in Newton
— 20-unit residential development in Newton Centre
— Renovation of the historic Nathaniel Allen House in West Newton
— Newtonville campus of the Russian School of Mathematics
— Wayland campus of the Carroll School
— Cannabis dispensaries in Newton, Sturbridge, and Provincetown
Presently, Steve is working on the following projects:
— Elderly housing with services community with 90 units and 120 beds in Chestnut Hill
— Proposed expansion and renovation at Lasell Village in Auburndale
— Mixed-use development with 43 residential units and 3,850 square feet of retail space in Newtonville
— Elderly housing with services community with independent living, assisted living, and memory care components on Crafts Street in Newton
— 40B development with 411 residential units on Charlemont Street in Newton Highlands
Representative Clients:
Real Estate Development, Zoning Approvals, and Leasing
Both local and national real estate development firms rely on Steve’s experience and expertise in navigating the complexities of all aspects of the permitting process. Clients include Mark Development, LLC, Criterion Development Partners, Sunrise Senior Living, Northland Investment Corporation, Village Bank, Carabetta Enterprises, Inc., Cabot, Cabot & Forbes, and the Micozzi Companies. Steve also has obtained zoning approvals for improvements at Brae Burn Country Club, Charles River Country Club, Woodland Golf Club, Milton’s Store for Men, The Carroll Center for the Blind, Riverside Children’s Center, Hess Express, Sovereign Bank, Bank of America, Fay School, Russian School of Mathematics, The Carroll School, Exxcel Gymnastics and Climbing, and Happy Munchkins Day School, LLC.
Hospitality Industry Permitting
Steve has guided several local food and beverage establishments through the municipal approval process including The Capital Grille, Tatte Bakery & Café, Panera Bread, Dunn Gaherin’s, O’Hara’s Food & Spirits, Paddy’s Public House, Fiorella’s, Cook, Rox Diner, Farm Grill and Rotisserie, The Local, Tartufo, The Biltmore Bar & Grille, The Village Cafe, Bill’s Pizzeria, Peet’s Coffee, Baza, Four Spoons, Comedor, DePasquale’s Market, The Paint Bar, and Vinodivino.
Cannabis Approvals
Along with his colleague Katherine Adams, Steve has represented both national and local entities through the evolving cannabis permitting process. Clients include MedMen, Cypress Tree Management, Inc. (Redi), Heal, Inc., and Green Lady.
Education: Bowdoin College (cum laude) 1970; Boston College Law School (J.D. cum laude) 1974; Boston College Industrial and Commercial Law Review; Order of the Coif.
Admitted: 1974 Massachusetts; 1975 United States District Court, Massachusetts; 1975 United States Court of Appeals, First Circuit; 1980 United States Supreme Court.
Community: Steve served as Chairman of the Newton Housing Authority for 15 years and coached youth basketball and Little League.
Little known facts: Steve is a certified high school basketball official, an avid tennis player, and enjoys hiking.
Email Attorney Stephen J. Buchbinder
