Development

Phase 3 of Arsenal Yards, with 7 Story Building, Approved by Planning Board

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The third phase of the Arsenal Yards project got the go ahead from members of the Planning Board on Thursday night. 

The latest portion of the former Arsenal Mall to be approved is Building F (see plans here), a seven story structure with ground floor retail, multiple levels of parking and topped by three stories of apartments. This is the building where a grocery store may be built, according to the design team, and will be located in the space where the bridge goes over the underpass in the Arsenal Mall parking lot. The size of the building was increased from what was proposed in the Master Plan, which required the Planning Board to approve an amendment to the Master Plan along with approving the site plan. The Board approved both unanimously. Originally the building was planned to have six stories, and be 83-feet, 6-inches tall, but the new height is 89 feet, 4 inches.

Police/Fire

Watertown & Belmont Fire Departments Place Wager on Thanksgiving Game

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When Belmont High School’s football team travels to Watertown this Thanksgiving for a football game, more will be on the line than just the game. Captain Ken Gardiner, Fire Inspector with the Belmont Fire Department, and Captain Ryan Nicholson, Fire Inspector with the Watertown Fire Department, agreed on a wager after being approached by Kidde, a manufacturer of smoke alarms based in Mebane, NC, the fire inspectors announced. The wager is simple: The winning fire department will receive 50 smoke alarms
and the losing department will receive 25 alarms. The inspector of the losing town will install smoke alarms in their community wearing the football jersey of the winning team’s school. Both inspectors also agreed that the alarms will be installed in high-risk homes (elderly and low-income). The Kidde smoke alarms being donated feature a sealed 10-year battery which eliminates the need to replace batteries for the life of the alarm.

Football

Watertown Football Team Makes the State Tourney, See Who They Will Face

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Watertown High School’s football team made the MIAA State Tournament for the fifth straight season, despite a losing record. 

The Raiders (3-4) are the sixth seed in the Div. 5 North Section, and will travel to face third-seeded Swampscott (6-1) for the section quarterfinal. The game will be played on Saturday, Oct. 28 at noon. In the past, Watertown has found success starting on the road in the playoffs.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Contractor Scams Resident for $68K, Employee Caught Keying Car

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
Oct. 11, 8:45 a.m.: Maynard Police contacted Watertown Police to say a woman wanted on a charges of violating a harassment order in Maynard was in Watertown. Police located the woman at Main Street and Myrtle Street and arrested her. The 28-year-old Watertown woman was brought to the Watertown Police Station where Maynard Police took her into custody.

Real Estate

Home Sales: Five Watertown Properties Sold, Including 2 Single Families

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These five properties in Watertown sold this week. $480,000 – 55 Webster St., 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Ranch single-family home

$467,000 – 31 Pequossette St., 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Bungalow single-family home

$162,000 – 290 Pleasant St. Unit 109, 1 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$500,000 – 36 Salisbury Road Unit 36, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$521,000 – 183 Lexington St. Unit 183, 7 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Low-Rise condo/townhouse

Field Hockey

WHS Sports: Football Falls in Last Minute, Field Hockey Rolling, Soccer Racking up Wins

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The Watertown football team fought back after being down to Wakefield, but could not hold off the Warriors Friday night. Down in the fourth quarter, the Raiders tied the game at 14 with just over 5 minutes left in the game. Wakefield got the ball late and had first and goal at the 1 with 32 seconds left in the fourth. Watertown’s defense held the Warriors for two downs but Wakefield scored with 14 ticks remaining to win 21-14 in Wakefield. The loss puts the Raiders’ record at 3-4 for the season and 1-4 in the Middlesex League. Watertown should make the MIAA North Section Div.

Election 2017

See What the Town Councilor At-Large Hopefuls Said at the Candidate Forum

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The six people seeking to be Town Councilor At-Large appeared together for the first time Thursday to answer questions at a Candidate Forum co-sponsored by Watertown News and Watertown Cable Access Television. A full room at the Watertown Library’s Watertown Savings Bank Room watched the forum, along with a live TV audience. The forum will be rebroadcast on Watertown Cable. Candidates answered questions from both the forum organizers and residents attending the event. Here are some of the issues they tackled:
Development
The candidates were asked about what can be done about huge amount of development in Watertown and how they can look out for neighbors of the projects

Michael Dattoli, who is seeking re-election, said he was not comfortable with the level of development going on and noted that he voted against the Regional Mixed Use District that allowed for bigger projects in the area of the two malls and beyond.

Police/Fire

Major Accident on Main Street Closes Traffic Both Ways

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{Updated Oct. 21 at 11:13 a.m.}

Watertown Police announced that a major accident on Main Street Friday afternoon has closed the road to traffic in both directions. The accident which involved a motorcycle and a car occurred near the line with Waltham between Longfellow Road and Warren Street in Waltham around 2 p.m. Serious injuries resulted from the crash. The incident remains under investigation by the Watertown Police Department, according to Lt. James O’Connor. One lane of traffic was open at 2:30 p.m. and all lanes were opened by 5:20 p.m.