Development

Plans for Biotech Building in East Watertown to be Discussed at Public Meeting

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A map showing the proposed location for a three-story biotech building at 23 Elm St. in Watertown. The following information was provided by the Town of Watertown regarding a project at 23 Elm Street, just off Arsenal Street in East Watertown. Elm Street Partners will be hosting a virtual community meeting on November 23rd at 6:30 PM for the review and discussion of conceptual plans and specifics of the redevelopment of the site known as 23-29 Elm Street. The use of the site will be transitioned to research & development/lab-life sciences and ancillary office space with on-site parking.

Development

Developers Discuss Project on Galen Street, Traffic & Transit Improvements

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A view looking south from Galen Street of the proposed life science building at 66 Galen Street. Developers of the parcel on Galen Street that includes for former Colonial GMC dealership, say their project will bring millions in property taxes with the new biotech space, and also improve traffic in and around the Galen Street area. Residents remain worried that the gridlock will continue, or move onto side streets. Boston Development Group hosted a virtual community meeting on Oct. 1 to present the planned building, and ways they want to improve the traffic and public transportation in the area.

Business

Find Out About Proposed Galen St. Project at 2 Virtual Community Meetings

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The areas on Galen Street proposed to become life science lab space. In February, the orange area was rezoned from Limited Business to Industrial 2, the same as the grey area. The developers of a project at the former Colonial Buick GMC dealer on Galen Street will be discussing plans for the site at a pair of virtual community meetings. Developers seek to build life science lab space with some publicly accessible open space on the land, which sits next to the MBTA’s Watertown Yard bus stop. The rezoning of the area became a topic of heated discussion by both residents and the Town Council earlier this year.

Development

Developers to Discuss Plans for Property on Arsenal St. During Online Community Forum

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A rendering of the proposed lab/office/retail building at 202 Arsenal St. The developers of 202 Arsenal Street will discuss their change of plans for the property from retail to mixed use, with lab, office and retail. Cresset WS Venture will host the online meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (see how to participate below). The property is located between to major Arsenal Street apartment building complexes: Elan Union Market and The Gables.

Business

Developer Changes Plans for Redevelopment of Sterritt Lumber Site

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The developers of the former Sterritt Lumber site announced that they have changed the proposed project for the site on Waltham Street. The company sent out the following announcement:

Long-time Boston area, real estate developer Nordblom Company, has withdrawn its comprehensive permit for residential and instead plans to build a new commercial/light-industrial building at 148 Waltham Street. Nordblom purchased the land – the former home of F. D. Sterritt Lumber Company in 2019 and initially proposed a residential building. After the Town said apartments would not be welcomed at this location, Nordblom began investigating the next best use for the site. The proposed 1-2 story commercial building would be much smaller than the initial residential building.

Development

Zoning Board OKs Landscaping Business on Mt. Auburn St.

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A drawing of the plans for the property at 735 Mt. Auburn St., which is becoming a landscaping company office with space for three pickup trucks. The eight spots on the bottom left of the drawing will be four extra long spaces. A landscaping business got approval from the Zoning Board Wednesday night to alter a former auto repair garage on Mt. Auburn Street and use the property as an office with a small garage on the property.

85 Walnut St.

Life Science Building With Garage & Park Approved by Zoning Board

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A rendering of what the life science building at 85 Walnut St. will look like from Arsenal Street. The Zoning Board of Appeals gave final approval to a life science building on the former Doble Engineering property. The four story building near Arsenal Street will also have a parking garage and a park along Walnut Street. The project came before the board for the second time Wednesday night, and the board approve the project with some additional requirements.

Development

Zoning Board Asserts Safe Harbor to Stop Proposed 40B Apartment Project

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A rendering of the proposed apartment complex at 148 Waltham St., the former Sterritt Lumber site. The 253-unit residential project proposed for the former Sterritt Lumber site on the Westside of town was stopped by the Zoning Board on Wednesday night when it asserted that the Town has met the state requirements for subsidized housing. The developers of the project at 148 Waltham St., Nordblom Development Company, submitted the request for a comprehensive plan under the Chapter 40B law, which allows for denser housing developments in communities that have not met the minimum standards for subsidized housing. The project would have had more than a quarter of its units, 64, rented at below market rate. The ZBA, however, asserted “Safe Harbor” which allows towns with more than 1.5 percent of the land zoned for residential, commercial or industrial use is being used for subsidized housing, said ZBA member Kelly Donato when she made the motion.