Around Town

Replacement & Larger Recycling Toters Available from DPW

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Recycling toters are available from the Department of Public Works. The following information came from the City of Watertown:

The Watertown Department of Public Works (DPW) is currently offering 96-gallon recycle totes for purchase as an option for broken totes and as part of the 2nd tote program. These can be purchased at the DPW at 124 Orchard Street and can be delivered if needed. The prices per bin are: $76 for a replacement and $90 for an additional tote.The DPW believes that this program change will make it easier for residents to increase the amount of recyclable material put out for pickup on each collection day. 64-gallon totes are currently still available for purchase if residents prefer to replace a broken bin with that size.

Around Town

Mt. Auburn Street Renovation Includes Reduced Travel Lanes, Buffered Bike Lanes & Pedestrian Gathering Areas

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A rendering of the new landscaped area in Coolidge Square at Bigelow Avenue as part of the Mt. Auburn Street Project. (Courtesy of Tighe & Bond)

When work finishes on one of Watertown’s major arteries, the street will have fewer lanes in some places, protected bike lanes, and landscaped areas for people to gather. Mt. Auburn Street will receive a major facelift, and be redesigned in some places, during the project that will impact almost the entire length of the artery that runs from Watertown Square to the Cambridge line.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Pair Caught Shoplifting, Fire at Newlywed Foods

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

July 8, 3:18 p.m.: Security at Perkins School for the Blind spotted an unknown person walking around on the school property. They attempted to speak to the man but he left the property. Police located the man on North Beacon Street, and he said he was walking on the property because it was shady and quiet. Officers learned that he was wanted on a warrant.

Around Town

Watertown Housing Authority Director Elected President of State-Wide Group

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Watertown Housing Authority Executive Director Michael Lara. Michael Lara, the executive director of the Watertown Housing Authority, has been voted as the president of a statewide affordable housing organization. In this role, he will advocate for preserving, protecting, and expanding public and affordable housing in Massachusetts. Lara has been leading the Watertown Housing Authority since July 2019, after former Executive Director Brian Costello retired. Lara has served on the board of MassNAHRO (National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) since November 2020, and in June, he was elected as the organization’s 31st President.

Government

Council Rejects 2 Resident Petitions, Ideas Remain Alive in Zoning Discussions

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Watertown City Hall

The City Council did not pass two citizen petitions seeking to change Watertown’s zoning rules, but Councilors said they heard the frustration expressed by the supporters and signers and said they support many of the ideas contained in the petitions. The first petition called for reducing the floor area ratio (FAR) allowed for new buildings in the Watertown Square area, while the second called for more protections for residential neighborhoods located next to areas where large commercial or residential projects could be built.

While the Council rejected the petitions — the first not going to a vote after receiving no second, and the second unanimously voted against — City Council President Mark Sideris said he has heard the signers of the petitions concerns. “I want to take a moment to thank the 600 people who signed the petitions because I think there is some frustration — and we noticed that this evening — with the process. I think we can always do a better job with process, and I think the Manager’s FY24 budget had proposed additional ways that we can communicate with the citizens and we approved that, ” Sideris said. “There is clearly a sense of frustration and I am not sure that any actions that we are going to take are going to satisfy those frustrations until, as somebody pointed out, that we come together and talk about things comprehensively.” 

Petition 1: Watertown Square Building Size

The Council heard from people supporting and opposing the petitions.

Around Town

Walk N Talk: Get Moving & Learn About Perkins School for the Blind

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The second Walk N Talk of the summer will take place Thursday, July 13 at Perkins School for the Blind. The events take place monthly and are co-sponsored by the City of Watertown’s Live Well Watertown program and the Watertown Business Coalition. Walk N Talks last about an hour. “The WALK N’ TALKS are designed to get us outside and walking while learning a bit more about our city! Bring a friend or meet someone new,” said the announcement from Live Well Watertown. Visit the historic Perkins School for the Blind campus to Move, Walk and Talk!