Development

Approval of Arsenal Mall Renovation Delayed, Planning Board Wants More Info on Traffic

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The redesign of the Arsenal Mall will have to wait until next month for approval after the Planning Board told developers they wanted results of the traffic study to be approved by the town’s consultants. Representatives for Boylston Properties and The Wilder Cos. appeared before the Planning Board for the second time Wednesday night, focusing on the traffic impact of the project. The proposal includes removing some portions of the current mall, leaving the historic buildings and adding new buildings. The project calls for 503 units of housing, some of which would be in a 12-story residential building.

Boston Marathon Bombing

Watertown Police Officer Gets the Hollywood Treatment for ‘Patriots Day’ Movie

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The past several months have been a whirlwind Hollywood experience for Watertown Police Sgt. Jeff Pugliese. As one of the Watertown Police officers who faced off in a firefight with the Boston Marathon Bombers, Pugliese is portrayed in the movie “Patriots Day,” by veteran actor J.K. Simmons. Wednesday night, Pugliese and his wife attended the first Boston premiere of the movie (which stars Mark Wahlberg) at the Wang Theater, and before Thanksgiving the couple was whisked off to Los Angeles for the premiere. “We got the red carpet treatment in L.A. It was an experience,” Pugliese said.

Weather

Windy Weather in Watertown Today, Frigid Temperatures Friday

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Watertown will be hit by windy weather Thursday, followed by bitter cold temperatures on Friday. 

The National Weather Service has issued a High Wind Warning from 5 p.m. on Thursday until 4 a.m. on Friday. Sustained winds will be between 15 and 25 mph, with gusts up to 60 mph. The strongest winds are expected after 8 p.m.

The winds could bring down branches and trees, which could lead to power outages. Be prepared with heating alternatives that do not rely on electricity. The winds, combined with low temperatures will create the possibility of wind chills below zero.

Charity

Time Running Out to Vote for Your Favorite Local Charity, Non-Profit

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There’s still about two weeks left to vote for your favorite local non-profit group or charity in the Watertown Savings Bank’s Customer Choice Awards. 

The bank will hand out $75,000 in funds based on how bank customers vote in the campaign. Anyone with a Watertown Savings Bank account may vote. Every customer will receive a ballot with their monthly statements in November (or will be mailed a ballot directly). Ballots are also available at WSB branches. Bank customers can also go to the watertownsavings.com homepage to cast their vote.

Development

Town Council Increases Requirement for Affordable Housing in New Projects

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Developers will be required to provide more affordable housing in most residential projects built in Watertown after the Town Council’s vote on Tuesday night. The Council approved changes to the Town’s Inclusionary Zoning Requirements, but there were questions about who would qualify to live in the affordable units. Previously the requirement was 12.5 percent of the units for most areas of town, but that amount was increased for projects of 20 units or more. The requirement for projects with 6-19 unit projects will remain at 12.5 percent. Also, the income requirements change for the projects that would have to provide 15 percent affordable units. For projects of 20 or more units, 10 percent of units in a rental project (or 2/3 of the affordable units) will be for people who meet the 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) standard, and 5 percent of the units are for those meeting the 65 percent of the AMI threshold, which would be $63,800 for a family of four, according to the Boston Redevelopment Authority.

Cancer

Watertown Woman Survived Cancer for 20 Years, Became in Expert in How Meditation Heals

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Catherine Kerr did not stand still when she received a diagnosis of cancer, instead, she got very involved in her treatment – at times going against doctors’ recommendations. As an academic she went in a new direction of study, focusing on meditation and traditional Eastern healing, which eventually lead her to a meeting with the Dalai Lama. In 1995, the Watertown resident received the diagnosis of multiple myeloma, a type of cancer that attacks the plasma cells in people’s bone marrow. Doctors estimated she had 5 years to live, but Kerr lived more than two decades. She passed away in November at the age of 52. 
At the time, multiple myeloma was not a well-understood disease.

Arsenal Street

Town Working With Developers to Fix Issues on Arsenal Street

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Travelers of Arsenal Street will have noticed the sticking point as you head west toward Watertown Square near the Lexus dealer. Town officials are working with the developers of a nearby apartment complex to fix the situation. The problem has been caused by the new raised bicycle path that runs in front of the block of businesses on that area of Arsenal Street and stretches a bit too far. The extra section causes a choke point when drivers try to turn left onto Louise Street because cars have no room to go around, said Town Engineer Matt Shuman. “The bump out was supposed to end west of Louise,” Shuman said.