Affordable Housing

Watertown Given Protection from 40B Projects by Using Little Used Method

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The Town of Watertown has some protection from having dense residential projects allowed under the Chapter 40B law after being certified by the state that the Town meets a rarely used qualification. Under Chapter 40B, communities in Massachusetts have to meet certain level of affordable housing or else they must allow the construction of housing projects with 25 percent affordable housing. Watertown currently requires 15 percent of units to be affordable new apartment complexes. To qualify to avoid a Chapter 40B project, communities can get “Safe Harbor” by having 10 percent or more of its housing units sold or rented at affordable rates. Some communities have met that criteria, but Watertown does not (it has just over 7 percent).

Schools

Residents Disagree Over Spot for New Watertown High School

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An illustration of how a new high school building with a four story academic wing could fit on the current WHS site. Architect Scott Dunlap stressed this is just a mock up to see if it would fit, not a design. Residents attending Tuesday’s Community Forum about the new Watertown High School project could not agree on which of the locations they would like to see the new school built.

The two most likely spots are the current WHS location on Columbia Street or building a school on part of the Victory Field complex on Orchard Street. Designers have eliminated the possibility of building on the Moxley Field site because it is too small, and said renovating the current building would be more costly than erecting a new school. Also, the design of the school, which dates back to the 1920s, would not work for modern teaching techniques.

Around Town

Watertown’s Effort to Bring MLK’s Teachings to Schools Honored at Unity Breakfast

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The Watertown High six students who received the Unity Award for their work spreading Kingian Non-violence teachings to WHS. Pictured from left, Fred Laboissiere, Tino Themelis, Eva Henry, Claire abian, Catherine Fabian and Shivani Sharma. The people who brought the teachings of Martin Luther King Jr. to the Watertown schools and the community came together, and were honored during the the 20th annual Watertown Unity Breakfast on Monday. The annual celebration on Martin Luther King Jr. Day has been put on by the World in Watertown for two decades, and at the 2020 breakfast the local efforts to teach the principles of Kingian Non-violence in town were at the forefront. The keynote speaker was one of those who trained Watertown teachers, students and police about applying King’s non-violence teachings today, and the Unity Award went to six students who spread MLK’s teachings to Watertown High School.

Boston Globe

ICYMI: Watertown High Boy’s Hockey Profiled in Boston Globe

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The Watertown boy’s hockey team looks to make the State Tournament for the second year in a row. Here, the Raiders celebrate after scoring in the Div. 3 North quarterfinal. Their improvement has been noticed by the Boston Globe. The Watertown High School boy’s hockey team has made big leaps in improvements since the varsity program was put on hold for a year in 2016-17, and the Boston Globe has taken notice.

Development

Large 40B Apartment Complex Proposed for Sterritt Lumber Site

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An illustration of the 40B apartment complex proposed for 148 Waltham St., the former Sterritt Lumber site. Developers proposing to build a 40B apartment complex on the site of the former Sterritt Lumber location will host a community meeting on the project. The community meeting will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020 from 7-9 p.m. in the Lecture Hall at Watertown High School, 50 Columbia St. The project is proposed for the Sterritt Lumber site at 148 Waltham St.

Business

Planned Pleasant St. Marijuana Dispensary to be Discussed at Community Meeting

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The company seeking to open a marijuana dispensary on Pleasant Street on the Westside of Watertown will hold a community meeting about the project on Feb. 6. The announcement was provided by Bud’s Goods & Provisions Corp., the firm seeking to open the adult-use marijuana dispensary at 330-350 Pleasant St. The dispensary would be part of the new mixed-use development going up near the intersection of Pleasant Street and Rosdale Road. According to the presentation sent to the Town, Bud’s would occupy a 5,000 sq.

Real Estate

Five Homes Sold in Watertown This Week

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See the three Watertown homes that was sold this week. $535,000 – 50 Olney St., Single Family – Detached Split Entry, 1,794 Living Area Sq. Ft. (Includes Finished Basement), 7 Room, 3 Bedroom, 1 Full & 1 Half Bathroom

$750,000 – 53 Maple St., Single Family – Detached Victorian, 2,216 Living Area Sq. Ft., 9 Room, 5 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom

$685,000 – 31 Charles St.