Police/Fire

Police Log: Gaggle of Teens Steals Items from Victoria’s Secret, Checks Taken

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Arrests
May 4, 2:51 p.m.: An officer pulled over a vehicle for speeding at Irving Street and Riverside Street. When he asked for the man’s license, the officer discovered the man was driving without a license. The 27-year-old Sharon man was arrested for driving without a license and was cited for speeding. May 6, 7:11 p.m.: An officer patrolling on Watertown Street spotted a man known to be wanted on an arrest warrant.

Development

Neighbors Fed Up With Impact of Atheahealth Construction Project

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Residents living near the east end of North Beacon Street in Watertown reached the end of their patience this week and let officials at Athenahealth know about how upset they are with the impact the company’s construction project is having on their neighborhood. Athenahealth has started construction on a new parking garage on the westside of its campus at the Arsenal on the Charles – which is the beginning of a multiphase project to expand the campus. Neighbors say cars have spilled out of the campus and are parking on North Beacon Street and side streets. Then this week construction trucks began coming up Charles River Road – normally a no-truck route – and are using a driveway that they were told would only be used by emergency vehicles. “Monday, trucks starting coming out of the curb cut and one gets stuck and State Police had to come and close North Beacon Street for 15 minutes,” said North Beacon Street resident Kathy Santoian.

Government

Find Out About Major Utility Project on North Beacon, Arsenal and Louise Streets

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A major utility project that will impact all of Louise Street and parts of North Beacon and Arsenal streets will be discussed during a community meeting on May 17 hosted by Eversource and National Grid. The project includes work by both utilities on Louise Street, National Grid gas main replacement on North Beacon Street and Eversource electrical work on Arsenal Street. Planning for the work began five or six years ago when Eversource began planning to build a new substation in Brighton, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. “It is important for Watertown to be connected into that to bring service into Watertown,” Magoon told the Town Council in April. Eversource will install four manholes and more than 2,800 feet of electrical conduit.

Real Estate

Watertown Open Houses Include a $1.6 Million Two-Family Home

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Open houses will be held three days this weekend in Watertown. $679,000 – 46 Hall Ave. Unit 2, 8 room, 4 bed, 2 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 2-4 Sunday 2-4

$599,999 – 49 Gilbert St., 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$534,900 – 61 Highland Ave., 6 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 10-11:30

$699,000 – 38 Knowles Road Unit 38, 7 room, 3 beds 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 1-3 Sunday 1-3

$809,900 – 35 Harnden Ave. Unit 2, 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 11:30-3:30

$369,000 – 91 Pierce Road Unit 91, 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$815,000 – 86-88 Fitchburg St., 2 unit, 11 total room, 4 total bedrooms, Open House: Saturday 1-3

Sponsored by:

$950,000 – 240 Westminster Ave. Unit 240, 8 room, 4 bed, 4.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$1,649,000 – 50 Bailey Road, 2 unit, 18 total room, 8 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$429,000 – 15 Jefferson Ave., 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath ranch, Open Houses: Friday 5-7 Saturday 12-2

$999,000 – 182 Standish Road, 11 room, 5 bed, 2.5 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$689,000 – 149 Hillside Road Unit 2, 10 room, 5 bed, 2.5 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Saturday 11:30-1

$799,000 – 21 Lovell Road, 8 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 12:30-2

$849,900 – 97 Edenfield Ave.

Development

First Phase of Mall Renovation Approved, Questions on Meeting Green Goal Remain

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The Watertown Planning Board voted Tuesday night to approve the first phase of the renovation of the former Arsenal Mall, which includes the two historic buildings, but developers said they may not be able to meet the energy efficiency goals without impacting the historic look. This part of the Arsenal Yards project focuses on Building A (where Marshall’s and the food court are located) and Building E (Old Navy and Golfsmith). Meanwhile, the addition made in the 1980s which connects the two large historic building will be demolished, said Project Manager Jeff Heidelberg of Boylston Properties. Building A will have two stories, and include a new glassed main entrance near Chipotle. Another entrance will be created on the east end of the building, which will open into what developers have dubbed the River Green.

Schools

Watertown Preschool Running Summer Program Full of Fun, Learning

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A Watertown early childhood center will offer 11 week-long sessions, each with a different theme, but all designed to be fun for the children. The Goddard School in Watertown will offer its summer program for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years from June 19 and runs through the end of August. While the school is part of a group of nationwide early childhood development centers, most will not have a summer camp of this style, said Sunny Verma, who owns and runs the school along with his wife Simmi. “We are a new school – we’ve been around for seven months,” Verma said. “Most new schools would be conservative and have a more generic theme.”

AAU Baseball

UPDATE: Youth Baseball Playing Double Headers Under the Lights, Hosting Cookout

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{CHANGE IN TIME: The Watertown AAU Baseball games originally scheduled for Saturday night will be moved to 11:30 a.m. at Filippello Park. No food will be served.}

Watertown Youth Baseball’s AAU teams will be playing a double header under the lights at Victory Field on Saturday night, and invite the public to come down to enjoy a cookout as part of the fundraiser. Last year, the program started a 12 and under AAU team to give Watertown players better competition, said Ken Swift, coach and founder of the AAU team. This year they added a 10 and under team. They play AAU teams from other towns and programs such as New England Blazers and Northeast Longhorns.

Development

Developers of Arsenal Yards Want Deal With Town to Cap Property Taxes

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The developers behind the renovation of the Arsenal Mall have asked Town officials for something that has never been given in Watertown – a cap on the amount of property taxes. Bill McQuillan, principal of Boylston Properties, sent Town Council President Mark Sideris a letter last week requesting a “tax certainty” deal with the town. On Tuesday night, the Town Council referred the request to two subcommittees – Budget and Fiscal Oversight and Economic Development and Planning. Representatives from Boyslton and The Wilder Cos. said they need the certainty to get the funding required to pay for the $400 million project.