Arsenal Park

Lights at Watertown’s Fields and Parks a Priority for Rec Department

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With field space difficult to find in Watertown, Recreation Director Peter Centola told the Town Council Thursday that lighting at fields is one of the main priorities for his Fiscal 2018 budget. 

Some fields would get new lights, while others would get the ones already there in better working shape, Centola said. Finding practice and game time has become a problem for Watetown youth sports groups, so lights would enable the fields to be used longer. Centola noted that discussion about Phase II of the Victory Field renovation is about to start, but is not in his budget for Fiscal 2018. Updating the electrical boxes at Casey Park’s baseball field, Filippello Park and Saltonstall Park are key projects, Centola said. The three are part of one project.

Development

Ordinance Requires New Developments to Cut Number of Solo Drivers

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The Town Council passed regulations that would require new developments to work on reducing the number of people making solo driving trips to and from their business or residential property. 

The new Transportation Demand Management (TDM) Ordinance (see details here) applies to new projects, and at their May 9 meeting Councilors said it puts into policy a practice it has had with developments over the past few years. Some residents worried that it would prevent them from using their car freely around town. Creating a TDM plan is required for developments of 10,000 square feet or more or residential projects with 10 or more units, if the project requires a special permit and site plan review from the town. It also applies to projects that projects that generate 150 average daily trips (someone driving to and from a complex would count as two trips), or more than 15 at peak hours that current previous conditions. Plans could include steps like educating employees or residents about public transit options, providing free MBTA passes, organizing carpools and providing facilities for people bicycling to work to cleanup and dress for work.

Real Estate

Victorian on Market for $1.3 Million is Just One Watertown Open House

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The long list of open houses this week has properties ranging from the $300,000s to $1.3 million! $499,900 – 33 Howard St. Unit 2, 6 room, 2 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$775,000 – 70 Robbins Road, 8 room, 3 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$365,000 – 1 Grant Ave. Unit 1, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Friday 12-1, Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-2

$389,000 – 16 Hunt St. Unit 2, 4 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Friday 11:30-12:30 Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 11:30-1

$725,000 – 99 Franklin St., 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 1-3 Sunday 1-3

$249,000 – 194 Lexington St.

Government

Temporary Home for HATCH Found, Library Officials Seek Permanent Spot for Makerspace

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Watertown’s HATCH Makerspace has a temporary home when it loses its space in the Arsenal Mall, but library officials still need to find a permanent home. 

Leone Cole, director of the Watertown Free Public Library, said officials are close to finalizing an agreement with The Residence at Watertown Square to move the makerspace into a vacant commercial space on the ground floor of the assisted living building at Spring and Summer streets. That combined with the hiring of a full-time coordinator for HATCH will expand the offerings of the makerspace. “We will be able to have more hours and better classes,” Cole said. The space in The Residence is 1,200 square feet, but it will need to be completely outfitted inside, including a handicap bathroom and enough electrical service for all the equipment at HATCH. Assistant Town Manager Steve said that The Residence has agreed to split the cost of the renovations for the HATCH space.

Shuttle

Will Watertown TMA be Managed by Own Director or Consulting Firm?

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As the Watertown TMA moves towards reality, the board of directors must make some key decisions, including whether it will be managed by a devoted executive director of a team from a consulting firm. Consultant Allison Simmons of Ease Connect told the Town Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on Transportation that she does not strongly favor either option for management of the Watertown TMA (Transportation Management Association). She hopes that the official launch of the Watertown TMA will be in July. She anticipates that slightly more than half the $158,000 budget will go toward salaries. The pros of a full-time executive director include that the person would be dedicated to the Watertown TMA, however the person would have to do everything.

Government

Committee to Begin Discussion of Renovation of Track, Courts at Victory Field

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After more than two and a half years, the discussion about how to renovate the track and courts area of Victory Field will begin once again. 

The Ad Hoc Committee on Victory Field Renovations will meet on Wednesday, May 31 at 7 p.m. in the Council Chamber of Town Hall. The group is made up of two Town Councilors, two Town officials, and five residents representing the surrounding neighborhood and sports groups (see the members here). The committee will discuss what is being called Phase II of the Victory Field renovation. The first phase was the installation of artificial turf on the football/baseball fields at the complex. Artificial turf was among the reasons the first attempt to do Phase II stalled in October 2014.

Around Town

Watertown Townwide Yard Sale Taking Place This Weekend

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On Saturday, May 20 there will be more than 50 yard sales across town as part of the annual Townwide Yard Sale, benefiting Watertown Community Education. The list of addresses list available on Friday, May 19 at the Watertown Library, Town Hall and online at www.watertown.k12.ma.us/dept/wce
Sponsored by Watertown Community Education

Around Town

Mount Auburn Hospital Seeking to Join Other Hospital Systems in Mass.

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The Board of Trustees for Mount Auburn Hospital has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to explore joining the proposed combined system of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Lahey Health, New England Baptist Hospital and Anna Jaques Hospital. Mount Auburn Hospital would become a part of an integrated health care delivery system that will extend across Eastern Massachusetts. “The BIDMC/Lahey/Baptist/Anna Jaques health system comes at a time when providing the highest quality cost effective care is a nationwide priority,” says Jeanette Clough, President &CEO of Mount Auburn Hospital. “The Mount Auburn Hospital Board of Trustees has carefully reviewed the opportunity and is now ready to accept the invitation to join what we believe will be a robust and value driven system that aligns with our mission of excellence with compassion. We believe this combined new system will offer our patients’ opportunities to access an enhanced network of clinical services while continuing to provide them with excellent care they have come to expect from Mount Auburn Hospital.”

“Mount Auburn has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in clinical care and medical education,” said Kevin Tabb, MD, CEO of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.