Watertown News (https://www.watertownmanews.com/author/cbreitro/page/526/)
The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Nov. 6, 8:13 p.m.: Police received word from the State Probation Department that a Watertown man was wanted on a warrant. Officers went to Waverley Avenue to make the arrest. The 59-year-old Watertown man was arrested on the warrant for probation violations.
These three Watertown homes sold this week. $600,000 – 113 Winsor Ave. Unit 113, 9 room, 4 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse
$702,000 – 95-97 Spring St., 2 unit, 10 total room, 4 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Side by Side multi-family home
$836,000 – 7 Molloy St. Unit 7, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, condo/townhouse
Sponsored by:
The following piece was provided by State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D – Belmont) who represents Watertown:
Thousands of commuters on Mount Auburn Street and on Fresh Pond Parkway had a very rough ten days starting on Monday, November 5. That is the day that a contractor swapped in a new controller for the traffic signals and failed to properly program it. The new Siemens 60 signal controller is so sophisticated that only a few engineers have the expertise to properly program it. Commuters endured ten days of bad timing until the right specialist was able to get it working as intended. As of Thursday, Nov.
After many meetings looking at the proposals to reconstruct Mt. Auburn Street, including the controversial road diet, the Town Council voted to approve the preliminary designs Tuesday. The project now moves to the state transportation officials for their input, but there are still many steps before it becomes a reality.
The Town Council’s Public Works subcommittee recently held two meetings to take a closer look at the plans for the major corridor through town, particularly focusing on Coolidge Square and the business district near the intersection with Common Street. Residents and business owners had a lot of concerns, ranging from reducing the lanes from two to one each way, loss of parking and loading areas for businesses, and bicycle and pedestrian safety. On Tuesday, Councilors weighed whether to approve the plans recommended by the Public Works Committee, and send them to the state’s Department of Transportation (MassDOT) for the 25 percent design review.
Watertown has a number of properties hosting open houses this weekend. $649,000 – 256 Sycamore Unit 0, 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2
$874,900 – 188 Summer St. Unit, 7 room, 3 bed, 4.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-2
$879,000 – 15-17 Hardy Ave, 2 unit, 11 total room, 5 total bedroom, Open House: Sunday 11-12:30
$849,000 – 57 Spruce St., 9 room, 4 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 11:30-1
$669,900 – 155 Highland Ave., 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 1:30-3
$859,000 – 626 Belmont St., 10 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 11-12:30
Sponsored by:
$1,269,900 – 37-39 Hillcrest Cir., 2 unit, 10 total room, 5 total bedroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2
$565,000 – 151 Coolidge Ave. Unit 510, 5 room, 2 bed, 2 bath high-rise, Open House: Sunday 12:30-2
$785,000 – 199 Coolidge Ave. Unit 105, 5 room, 2 bed, 2.5 bath high-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 12:30-2 Sunday 12:30-2
$575,000 – 37 Hillcrest Cir.
Major renovations are planned for all three of Watertown’s elementary schools, but Hosmer School will go through the most significant changes, and endure the longest construction period. Wednesday night, the School Building Committee visited Hosmer to share the latest plans and hear from parents and neighbors. Concerns included loss of green space and play area, as well as the impact of construction on the students. The school is first up on the schedule of renovations, and current plans call for demolishing the current classroom wing and building a new building on the Mt. Auburn Street side of the current cafeteria/gymnasium building.
The average Watertown residential tax bill will be going up between $160 and $285 next year, depending on the type of property.
Tuesday night, the Town Council approved the tax rates for Fiscal Year 2019, which includes as 23 percent residential exemption for qualifying properties. They also approved a 175 percent shift from residential to CIP (commercial, industrial and personal) properties. The exemption and shift were approved at the same rate as last year. The average tax bill for homeowners who live in their homes will rise: $160 for single-family homes, $285 for condominiums and two-family homes, and $367 for three-family homes. The rate will be $12.92 per $1,000 of assessed value of properties.
A Funeral Mass for Patricia E. (Brophy) Russo will be celebrated on Saturday, Nov. 17, 2018 in the Church of St. Patrick, Watertown at 9 a.m.
Mrs. Russo, a daughter of the late Gordon & Bertha R. (Donnelly) Brophy passed away on Friday morning. She was 97. Patricia was the beloved wife of the late Michael J. Russo.