Government

This Week: Council Discussing Whether to Rename for Delta in Watertown Square

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Watertown City Hall

This week, the City Councilors will discuss whether to rename the delta in Watertown Square. Also, the Affordable Housing Trust will look at housing priorities for the City’s ARPA funds, and the Board of Health and School Building Committee also have meetings this week. Since 1940, the grassy area with large trees in Watertown Square has been known as Columbus Delta. In June 2022, the City Council voted to consider renaming the area after being petitioned by a resident. On Tuesday, the Council’s Committee on Public Works will make a recommendation on the petition asking to the rename the Columbus Delta.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Scammer Posed as Customs Agent, Car Stolen from Gas Station

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

April 8, 6:43 p.m.: A shoplifter at Target grabbed a bike buggy, left the store without paying and fled. Police received a description, and they located the man walking toward the bike path behind Target. He had hidden the buggy behind a dumpster near the path, but officers found it and returned it to the store. Police also determined the man was wanted on a warrant from South Boston District Court for possession of a Class A drug, possession of a Class B drug, and intent to distribute a Class B drug.

Around Town

Helicopters Flying Over Watertown for Marathon & on Friday for Search for Kayaker

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(UPDATED on April 16 at 8:10 a.m.)

Helicopters have been flying over the Watertown area this weekend, both in preparation for the Boston Marthon and in the search for a kayaker reported missing . Friday night a State Police helicopter patrolled over Watertown after a kayaker was reported missing. The man was later found safe at his home,.according tonl Watertown Police, who assisted with the search. The City of Watertown announced that helicopters will be flying over Watertown from in the days leading up to the Boston Marathon as well as Marathon Monday. The City sent out the following announcement:

Even though the Boston Marathon does not go through Watertown, if you see low flying helicopters in the sky, please be aware that they are conducting surveillance/safety checks along the Marathon route.

Around Town

Watertown Man Running First Marathon in Honor of Friend Lost to Gun Violence

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Shane Garey, left, will be running the Boston Marathon for the first time. He is on the West End House Dawnn for Peace Team. On Monday, Watertown’s Shane Garey will run his first Boston Marathon, and will do so to raise money for a youth center named for a friend of his who died from gun violence. Garey grew up in Brighton, and said the Marathon has always been one of his favorite occasions. “I’ve always wanted to run it, growing up in Boston.

Around Town

Planning Board Wants Some Changes to Main St. Project, Developers Trying to Work with Post Office

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An illustration of the project at 104-126 Main St. submitted to the City. Designed by Icon Architecture. The Planning Board saw the plans for the major project on Main Street for the first time Wednesday night, and asked designers to tinker with the design after they had questions about the retail space and the pedestrian passage between Main and Pleasant Street, as well as the height of the building. The 104-126 Main Street project proposed by O’Connor Capital Partners is six stories tall and includes 143 apartments in five stories and 6,201 sq.

Government

Linkage Fee Approved by City Council, Developers Have Longer to Make Payment

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Charlie BreitroseWatertown City Hall

The City Council approved a linkage fee on large developments that would be used to create affordable housing in Watertown. The ordinance also spreads the fees into two payments and the City can consider offers of housing units or land in lieu of the fee. Before they deliberated and voted, the Council heard from people advocating for changes to the proposed ordinance. Charles River Regional Chamber President Greg Reibman, who represented multiple developers who do business in Watertown, asked to delay the start of the fees until 2024, and phase in the amount starting with $5.56 per sq. ft.