Government

Board Sends Housing Section of Comprehensive Plan Back for Overhaul

By |

The Housing section of the Watertown Comprehensive Plan focuses too much on affordable housing and does not have a clear stance on what kind of residential developments should be built in town, said the boards reviewing the plan. Looking at the goals in the housing section of the Watertown Comprehensive Plan, the members of the Town Council’s Economic Development and Planning Committee and the Planning Board said the recommendations focus too much on creating affordable housing and not enough on what kind of housing should be added. Town Councilor Susan Falkoff said she has heard differing views from residents. “Do we want families or do we not want families,” Falkoff said. The large developments with mostly one- and two-bedroom units tend to attract single people or childless couples.

Obituaries

OBIT: Ryan James Eaton, 18, Watertown Resident, Chef in Training

By |

A Funeral Mass for Ryan James Eaton will be celebrated on Thursday July 24th at 10:30 a.m. in the Church of Saint Patrick, Watertown. Born at the Winchester Hospital, Ryan was a life long resident of Watertown. A graduate of the Minuteman Technical High School, Lexington, Class of 2014. Ryan was enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America College in Hyde Park, NY. He was 18 years of age.

Environment

Long Awaited Charles River Improvements Will Have Something for Everyone

By |

Efforts to upgrade the path and park along the Charles River, east of Watertown Square, started more than seven years ago, and Monday morning workers officially broke ground on a project that will improve the path, the park and add a special feature for the visually impaired. 

The park sits just blocks from Perkins School for the Blind, and a chorus from the school kicked off the ceremony by singing the National Anthem. The school is just one of several groups who helped make the project a reality, said Jack Murray, Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation. The $1.4 million project is a partnership between the state, the town, private organizations, foundations and more. The Lawrence and Lillian Solomon Foundation donated $175,000, the Town of Watertown added $100,000, the Bilezikian Foundation added $50,000, Perkins School for the Blind gave $25,000, the Watertown Commission on Disabilities put in $15,000 and the Watertown Community Foundation added $5,000. Improvements

One of the new features of the park will be a Sensory Garden and Braille Trail, which will allow the blind and visually impaired to learn about nature.

Real Estate

These Homes Sold This Week in Watertown

By |

A number of homes sold in Watertown this week. See where they were and how much they sold for. $800,000 – 16 – 18 Saint Marys St., 2 unit, 4 total bedroom

$602,000 – 41-43 Carroll St., 2 unit, 4 total bedroom 2 family

$565,000 – 14-16 Washburn St. Unit 14, 4 bedroom, 3 bathroom townhouse

$950,000 – 213 Palfrey Street, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bathroom contemporary

$301,000 – 308 Lexington Street Unit 308, 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom townhouse

Police/Fire

Police Log: Mother, Daughter Busted for Shoplifting and More

By |

The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests

July 1, 3:49 p.m.: A woman and her mother were seen in Target allegedly shoplifting. The woman appeared to be keeping lookout while her mother took items and put them in a bag. The pair tried to leave without paying. The 30-year-old woman from Revere was arrested on a charge of shoplifting.

Around Town

DCR Celebrating Groundbreaking for Charles River Riverfront Project

By |

A flurry of work can already be seen along the Charles River, east of Watertown Square, and the official groundbreaking for the construction project will be held on Monday, July 21. The work is phase I of the Watertown Riverfront Park Project and goes from the Founders Monument to Perkins Hill. Improvements include reconstructing pathways, additions of river overlooks and a sensory trail for vision impaired students. The work is due to be completed this fall. Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Bartlett, DCR Commissioner Jack Murray, Senator Will Brownsberger, State Rep. Jonathan Hecht and other local officials will be at the ceremony.

Development

Council, Planning Board Worry Comprehensive Plan is Too Specific

By |

As they started to delve into the draft of the 200-plus pages of the Watertown Comprehensive Plan, members of the Planning Board and Town Council said some of it has too many details that could lock the town into something that does not make sense. The group, made up of the Planning Board and the Council’s Economic Development and Planning subcommittee, looked at the vision statement and the Land Use portion of the plan on July 14. Some of the things that worried them was that some of the goals had specific numbers for how to change zoning or building requirements. Planning Board Chairman John Hawes said he is not comfortable the statement in the Arsenal Street Corridor section saying that residential projects with frontages right on the street should be allowed, as well as the statement that the setback should be reduced from the current 25 feet. “I think that needs more discussion,” Hawes said.