Development

Athenahealth Reveals Latest Plans, Residents Worry About Parking & Traffic

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Athenahealth’s latest draft of its campus master plan includes fewer buildings, but slightly more parking in its new multi-story parking garage, which concerns nearby residents. Tuesday night, athenahealth officials presented the master plan during the first of two planned community meetings on the project. The company owns the Arsenal on the Charles Complex and plans to add more office buildings, create a large glass enclosure over the “finger” buildings near the Arsenal Center for the Arts and remove much of the surface parking to make way for more open space and storm water management systems.

Along with making the campus big enough for it to be the healthcare technology company’s headquarters, the plan calls for making it more welcoming to residents, said Larry Beals, of Beals Associates, who has been hired by the company. “For years it was an Army facility with iron fences around it and entry by the public forbidden,” Beals said. “(athenahealth President and CEO) Jonathan Bush would like to do the opposite.

Conservation Commmision

Watertown High School Students Use Town Forest as a Living Laboratory

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When the Conservation Commission wanted to find out exactly what trees, plants and animals can be found in the town’s largest forested area, Commissioner Patick Fairbairn decided to enlist the help of students from Watertown High School. Last week, two honors biology classes spent the morning walking around Whitney Hill, the area overlooking Victory Field, detailing which species are located in 31 plots being studied on the hill. After coming up with the idea to enlist the help of students, Fairbairn approached School Committee Chairwoman Eileen Hsu-Balzer to ask if a combined effort with the schools could be possible. After speaking with a number of people, he found a WHS teacher who was interested. “Erik Hiltunen was a teacher who saw the value of observation over a long period of time,” Fairbairn said.

Around Town

Belmont Savings Foundation Gives Boys & Girls Club Big Donation

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The Watertown Boys and Girls Club received a large donation from the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation. The foundation gave the Boys and Girls Club a $10,000 donation this week. The money will support the club’s Power Hour Education Program, a homework help and tutoring program for Club members ages 6 to 18. The grant is a result of winning a voting program held in Watertown by the Belmont Savings Bank Foundation, according the bank announcement

Real Estate

Choose from Many Open Houses in Watertown This Week

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Check out all the open houses around Watertown this week. $549,900 – 1043-1045 Belmont St., 2 unit, 11 total room, 4 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday 2-4 p.m.

$629,000 – 75-77 Commonwealth Road, 2 unit, 10 total room, 4 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 2-4 p.m. Sunday 2-4 p.m.

$649,000 – 267-269 North Beacon St., 2 unit, 14 total room, 6 total bedroom duplex, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$619,900 – 33-35 Forest St. Unit 35, 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday 1:30-3 p.m.

$709,000 – 125 Boylston St., 2 unit, 13 total room, 6 total bedroom, Open Houses: Friday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$799,000 – 15-17 Fairview Ave., 2 unit, 15 total room, 4 total bedroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1 p.m. Sunday 1-2 p.m.

$549,900 – 92 Cypress St. Unit 90, 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-2 p.m.

Sponsored by:

$395,000 – 10-12 Fairfield St. Unit 10, 6 room, 2 bed, 1f 0h bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$995,000 – 24-26 Morse St., 2 unit, 14 total room, 7 total bedroom 2 family, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30 p.m.

$575,000 – 24-26 Morse St.

Police/Fire

Police: Call About Hostage Situation Ends Up Being a False Report

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Watertown Police closed down a block in East Watertown after receiving a call about a possible hostage situation, but the call ended up being a false alarm. A man called police around noon Thursday and said he saw a man in an apartment on Adams Street with a gun, and thought the man was holding someone hostage, said Watertown Police Lt. James O’Connor. As police continued to speak with the man, however, the story began falling apart, said Interim Police Chief Ray Dupuis. “The more he talked, the more it changed,” Dupuis said. When police finally entered the apartment, they found that it was empty.

Police/Fire

Watertown Police Holding Training for Active Shooter Situations

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The Watertown Police will hold a training for community members interested in learning about dealing with an active shooter event. The training features parts of the ALICE model for schools, and the Department of Homeland Security Run, Hide, Fight model for businesses, according to the Watertown Police announcement. ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate (see below for more info). “In light of recent events, the WPD feels that it is important to empower the community with response options for active shooter events should the unthinkable happen,” the announcement said. The training will be held on Thursday, Dec. 3 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at the Community Room in the Watertown Police Station, 552 Main St.

Around Town

Watertown Church to Hold Service for Those Feeling Blue During the Holidays

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Watertown’s Church of the Good Shepherd will hold its annual Blue Christmas service for people who feel blue during the holidays. The Blue Christmas Service is one of hope and healing. This interfaith gathering is particularly for those who are lonely, down, or feel the weight of loss during the holiday season, according to the announcement from the church. “We welcome all people who want to stand together in honesty at a time when the culture presses us to be ‘jolly,'” the announcement said. The service is by candlelight and includes song, reflection and silence. A light reception follows.

Development

Controlling Residential Development Weighed Against Property Rights

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A group of residents have joined with the town to try to come up with a way to prevent Watertown’s neighborhoods from being changed drastically and overbuilt, while at the same time not creating “design police.” During last week’s “Preserving Our Neighborhoods” forum at Watertown Middle School, some in attendance wanted to look for ways to control the teardown of smaller homes and replaced with larger ones. Others did not want any new rules that limit what they can do on their property. David Gamble, a consultant hired by the town to come up with the Residential Design Guidelines – ways to control the development in residential neighborhoods. He said there must be a balance.