Business

Arsenal Mall Owners Seeking Special Zoning for Area

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The owners of the Arsenal Project have proposed creating new zoning for the property to allow more types of developments to be allowed, with the goal of making the project a gateway to Watertown. Last week, the Town Council referred the proposal for creating a Regional Mixed Use District to the Planning Board. “An amendment has been proposed, but it is not sign, sealed delivered,” said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. “They proposal would allow broader uses of the property.” William McQuillan, principal of Boylston Properties – the owners of the Arsenal Project (formerly Arsenal Mall) – submitted the proposal under the name BP Watertown Retail LLC.

Development

Officials Want to Discuss Ways of Protecting Watertown’s Neighborhoods

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With single family homes being torn down in Watertown and being replaced by two-family or larger developments, residents have pleaded with town officials to do something to preserve their neighborhoods. Wednesday night, the Economic Development and Planning Subcommittee discussed creating a set of design guidelines for residential neighborhoods and other steps that can be taken to stop what many residents see as unsightly and oversized projects replacing homes in town. Susan Steele, a member of the Watertown Historical Commission, said that several times residents have come to the commission’s hearings trying to save a home due to be demolished and replaced with a bigger project. “They were saying, ‘Can’t you help us?'” Steele said. “We are very limited in what we can do.”

Development

Design Firm Wins Architectural Award for Watertown Design Guidelines

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The firm that put together the Watertown Design Guidelines was honored for its work by being named a finalist for an award from the Boston Society of Architects. This month, the BSA announced the Watertown Design Guidelines has been chosen as one of the finalists for the Campus and Urban Planning Awards category. The awards will be announced at the BSA’s Design Awards Gala on Jan. 28. David Gamble, principal of Gamble Associates, put together the design guidelines after holding a series of community forums, as well as working with town officials and the developer of a major project on Arsenal Street.

Development

Changes to Pleasant Street Zoning Approved, Some Still Have Concerns

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Tuesday night, the Town Council approved some major changes in what kinds of developments will be allowed in the Pleasant Street Corridor. The changes to the Pleasant Street Corridor District Come just seven years after the area first got special zoning. Town Council President Mark Sideris said the original intent to provide a variety of new developments on unused or underused property did not turn out the way the Council had intended. Instead of a mix of properties, the town got several large residential projects. “Several members were on the Council when we put in the Pleasant Street Corridor District zoning,” Sideris said.

Development

Public Input Wanted on Proposed Changes to Pleasant Street Zoning

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The Town Council wants to hear from Watertown residents and others about proposed changes to the Pleasant Street Corridor District. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 18 at 6:30 p.m. to gather input from residents about the proposed changes. A number of changes have been proposed for the area on the Westside of town. The major change would be creating three sub-zones within the Pleasant Street Corridor.

Development

Arsenal St. Office Project Approved Despite Concerns About New Entrance

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The Linx office complex which has an Arsenal Street address but backs onto the streets of Coolidge Square received approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals. As part of the project, which will turn the underused Verizon building into a 185,000-square foot office building, a new entrance will be added on the north side of the site onto Nichols Avenue. This feature was a plus for some and a minus for others. Architect John Sullivan said the new entrance will help the office be part of the area. “It will reunite the site back into Watertown and tie it into Coolidge Square and Arsenal Street,” Sullivan said.

Development

Planning Board Approves Office Complex, Worries About New Entrance

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The renovation of the Verizon facility on Arsenal Street received approval from the Planning Board, but not without concerns for how the project would impact the nearby neighborhood of Coolidge Square. The proposed project, called Linx Watertown, would have 185,000 square feet of office space, featuring a two-story atrium lobby with a cafe. It would have a significant amount of green space and would be located along the Watertown Community Path so developers hope it some employees will ride their bicycles to work. Developer Boylston Properties also believes the location close to Coolidge Square will help attract companies, which they believe will relocate from areas such as Kendall Square in Cambridge and Rte. 128.

Development

Residents Share Ideas for Small Park on Irving Street

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Residents told developers of the half-acre park on Irving Street that they would like to see a nice green space where they can get outside, relax and perhaps play ball with their little kids. 

Representatives from Greystar, which is building the Elan apartment and retail complex at Arsenal and Irving streets, gathered ideas during the first of two meetings held to help design the small park. The park would be owned and run by the developers of the complex. Landscape architect Blair Hines of Blair Hines Design Associates, said the park is quite small. It could fit one full-sized basketball court, but he said that would likely not be the right use of the land. It sits across from the new apartments, and near existing homes on Irving Street.