Around Town

Charles River Group Makes Case for Removing Watertown Dam During Public Tour

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Charlie BreitroseThe Watertown Dam near Watertown Square slows the flow of the Charles River. A group is advocating removing the dam. Around 50 people showed up Saturday morning to hear about a proposal to remove the Watertown Dam, and restore the area to how it was before the first dam was put there in the 1600s. The Charles River Watershed Association organized the tour, and the group is advocating for the dam to be removed to allow more fish and wildlife to travel up and down the Charles River, and also because it poses a risk of failure in a major storm, said CRWA Executive Director Emily Norton. The first dam in the area of the current Watertown Dam was a grist mill built in 1634 by early colonists.

Government

Town Council Moves Toward Creating Trust to Buy, Build More Affordable Housing in Watertown

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Watertown Town Hall

Watertown took a major step this week toward creating more affordable housing by starting the effort to create an affordable housing trust and looking into charging fees to new developments that would go toward affordable housing. Tuesday night, the Town Council voted unanimously to move forward with writing an ordinance that would create the Watertown Affordable Housing Trust, and would dissolve the Watertown Housing Partnership. The Council also approved a study of creating linkage fees for new commercial developments for affordable housing. The Trust would work to create and preserve housing for low- and moderate-income households. Among its powers the Trust would be able to receive properties as donations or gifts, and to buy and sell property.

Elections

Watch the Watertown Election Forum Featuring the Councilor At-Large Candidates

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The Councilor At-Large candidates appeared at the forum Thursday co-hosted by Watertown Cable Access TV and Watertown News. If you missed Thursday’s Councilor At-Large Candidate Forum, or want to see it again, you can watch it online. The forum was co-hosted by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access TV. The candidates responded to questions about hiring the new Town Manager, affordable housing, issues of diversity and equity, artificial turf and more. To view the form, click here: http://vodwcatv.org/CablecastPublicSite/show/1205?channel=1

Mark your calendar for the School Committee candidate forum on Oct.

Real Estate

Tons of Open Houses to Visit in Watertown This Weekend

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Check out all the open houses in town this weekend. $724,000 – 51 Irma Ave., Single Family – Detached Colonial, 1,806 Living Area Sq. Ft., 8 Room, 3 Bedroom, 1 Full & 1 Half Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12:30-2 Sunday 12:30-2

$599,000 – 72 Boylston St. Unit 72, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,069 Living Area Sq. Ft., 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Friday 5-6:30 Saturday 11-1 Sunday 11-1

$779,000 – 70 Boylston Unit 70, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,865 Living Area Sq.

Around Town

Three New Restaurants Opening in Watertown, One Changing Management

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Flavor Boom!Some of the dishes served up at Flavor Boom!, a new restaurant on Arsenal Street. The restaurant scene in Watertown is brimming with life, with the addition of three restaurants. Plus, an established eatery is changing hands. The three independent restaurants are on or near Arsenal Street, one features barbecue, another serves Central American and Mexican dishes, and a third has a variety of flavorful dishes from around the globe. Flavor Boom!