Around Town

Boston Will Name Playground After Fallen Firefighters, Including Ed Walsh

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The two Boston firefighters killed in a blaze in March, including Watertown-native Edward Walsh, will be honored by having a tot lot in West Roxbury dedicated in their names. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will reopen the Billings Field playground at 369 LaGrange Street in West Roxbury on Saturday, July 26, at 10 a.m. The tot lot will be named for Walsh, a fire lieutenant, and Firefighter Michael Kennedy, who died in a 9-alarm fire in the Back Bay. The nearly $500,000 playground improvement project includes the Lt. Edward Walsh and Firefighter Michael Kennedy Tot Lot which will include two new fire truck panels to be placed in the 2 to 5-year-old and 5 to 12-year-old play areas. The panels resemble the front of a fire truck and are adorned with the Boston Fire Department logo and the names of Engine 33 and Ladder 15, as well as interactive elements such as steering wheels and a fire bell. Two park benches will also be named in Walsh and Kennedy’s honor.

Business

Planning Board Wary of Volkswagen’s Plans for Sullivan Tire Site

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Boston Volkswagen wants to turn the site where Sullivan Tire is located into a used car showroom, but the Planning Board and others said the plan does not fit with the vision to improve Watertown Square. The Comprehensive Plan, which is currently being worked on by the Town Council and Planning Board, calls for making Watertown Square more attractive to shoppers and pedestrians. Boston Volkswagen’s plans would be to keep the same building at 21 North Beacon St., but make some upgrades. The building is just down the street from the current Boston Volkswagen dealership, at 43 North Beacon St. Greg Sampson, the attorney for Boston Volkswagen, said that the new use would have a smaller portion of the building used for auto service, and it would improve the look of the building.

Development

New Hotel on Arsenal Street Passes Muster With Planning Board

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The proposed 148-room Residence Inn by Marriott hotel proposed on Arsenal Street took a major step forward Wednesday night when the Planning Board gave its support to the project. The hotel would go on the former Charles River Saab site and would be owned by Boylston Properties, which also owns the Arsenal Project. The hotel would have a modern look, with a mix of materials, including metal, a product that looks like wood and light colored tiles, said Fred Kramer, an architect with ADD Inc.

The hotel will not be a full service hotel, said Bill McQuillan, principle of Boylston Properties, meaning it will not have room service, bell hops, a place to buy coffee, a bar and a small meeting room. It will also have a pool and a patio on the top floor, both of which are only for guests. Planning Board members and the public said they would like to see the hotel more welcoming to the public.

Schools

See How Much Athletic Fees Might Go Up Next Year

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Parents of Watertown middle and high school athletes may be shelling out more for their children to play sports in the fall. The increase has been proposed by Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald to cover a shortfall of $90,000 in the athletic budget. The Watertown School Committee will debate whether to increase the athletic fees and by how much at their meeting on Aug. 5. The recommended increase is $125 at the high school, which would make it $325.

Business

10 Local Companies Showcase New Products at Athenahealth

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On Wednesday, July 9, 10 companies will showcase new products at athenahealth as part of the Mass Innovation Nights series. The event will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. at athenahealth in the 311 Center Atrium at the Arsenal on the Charles. Register Now: bit.ly/massinno64

See information about the companies and their products by clicking this link: MIN64 athena flyer w descr

Development

LETTER: Town Officials Out of Sync With Constituents on Development

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To the Editor:

I write in response to Councilor Piccirilli’s recent statements in which he warns that the moratorium on development in the Arsenal Corridor could impact town and school budgets. Indeed the Councillor is one of many who plan on funding new priorities with revenues generated by new development. On its face, this appears to be a good strategy, but it is not a justification to rush ahead and make bad concessions that will affect generations to come. The town has already suffered a good deal of bad real estate development. I support the moratorium, but only with reservations.

Police/Fire

Man Attacked, Robbed While Walking Through Arsenal Park at Night

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A man was attacked and robbed by three men while he walked through Arsenal Park on the evening of July 1. 

Police received a call at 9:28 p.m. from the victim, a 28-year-old man from Newton, who went over to the IHOP on Soldiers Field Road after the attack. “The victim was visibly shaken and had lacerations on both knees and had pain on his head and back,” said Watertown Police Lt. Michael Lawn. The man left work at the Arsenal Project and said he walked through nearby Arsenal Park. “He was struck from behind and knocked to the ground,” Lawn said. “He was kicked in the midsection and was attacked by 3-4 black males, possibly wearing backpacks.”

Schools

Problem with Fire Sprinklers Floods the Lowell School

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A problem with the fire suppression system over the weekend at the Lowell School damaged parts of the building, said Superintendent Jean Fitzgerald. At Monday night’s School Committee meeting Fitzgerald said that the school is not accessible because of the damage. “It caused significant damage and right now we can’t go in at all,” Fitzgerald said. The power has been shut off and the boiler room was flooded, she said. The school had a new boiler delivered, but it has not been installed yet, Fitzgerald said.