Development

Second Meeting Planned for 85 Walnut St. Project, Discussion Will Include Traffic Report

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An overhead illustration of the proposed redevelopment of the Doble Engineering site at 85 Walnut St. in Watertown. The second Community Meeting will be held for a project proposed on Walnut Street, which would create space for a life science building, a garage and a public park. The project would redevelop the former Doble Engineering site, 85 Walnut St., and put up a four story, 213,500 sq. ft.

Arsenal Yards

Life Science Company Moving into Watertown’s Arsenal Yards

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The following announcement was provided by Boylston Properties:

Boylston Properties, a Boston-based real estate developer of distinctive places, today announced that  Kymera Therapeutics  has signed a lease for approximately 34,500 square feet at Arsenal Yards’ new state-of-the-art life science lab space. With the Charles River and Arsenal Park on its south side and energized shops and restaurants on its north side, the life science lab space is set within an original 1800s Arsenal historic building, offering a number of amenities and a private shuttle to the Harvard Square red line T stop. Life science companies are flocking to Watertown to secure space in the town’s booming biotech scene. Kymera Therapeutics continues this trend, joining SQZ Biotech in moving to Arsenal Yards’ life science lab space. The new development is located across the street from LINX, 185,000 square feet of currently fully leased lab space, also developed by Boylston Properties.

Development

Developers Discussing Self Storage Facility Proposed in East Watertown

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An illustration of the proposed self-storage facility planned for 19 Coolidge Hill Road, at the corner of Arlington Street. The developers proposing to build a self-storage facility that would overlook Arlington Street will discuss their plans at a community meeting. The project is planned for 19 Coolidge Hill Road, and the meeting will be held at the property at that location on Oct. 9, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.

Developers, 19 Coolidge Hill LLC, submitted information to the Watertown Planning Department. The plans show five levels of self storage in a building that would be 53 feet tall, and the building footprint is 14,946 sq.

Development

Oakley Country Club Taking Town to Court Over ZBA’s Ruling on Wall

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Oakley Country Club is appealing the Zoning Board’s decision that ruled that the wall that went up near Oakley and Arden roads was built without proper permitting from the Town. The case was filed in the State Land Court. The case of the wall built by Oakley Country Club on the edge of their property will continue, after the club filed an appeal in state Land Court to try to overturn the Zoning Board of Appeals ruling that the wall was built without getting proper permits from the Town. The appeal was filed in Land Court on Sept. 25, and notice was sent to the Watertown Town Clerk’s office on Sept.

Development

LETTER: Boylston Properties Responds to End of Agreement with Town Over Arsenal Park

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A view of the planned renovation of Arsenal Park. The following letter is in response to the Sept. 11, 2019 story “Partnership Between Town, Arsenal Yards to Renovate Town Park Over Before it Began”

Editor,

I want to clear up the facts of the state of our partnership with the Town on the Arsenal Park renovation, and to also put into context the recent exchange between the Town and Boylston Properties that you detailed in your piece. Mark Reich has been a great contributor to our early progress in this hoped for partnership, but his letter to the Town was a one-sided summary of that process. As you know, we firmly believe that Arsenal Yards will be of great benefit to Watertown.

Around Town

Partnership Between Town, Arsenal Yards to Renovate Town Park Over Before it Began

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An overhead view of Arsenal Park. The long red building is the Arsenal Mall, and to the left is the Commander’s Mansion and the Arsenal on the Charles complex. A public-private partnership between the Town of Watertown and the developers of Arsenal Yards, which was to speed up renovation of part of Arsenal Park, has ended, Town Manager Michael Driscoll announced Tuesday night. A disagreement over a construction management fee that Boylston wanted to charge the Town to oversee the construction was the main sticking point, according to Driscoll, who read from a letter from the Town’s attorney Mark Reich of KP Law. “Of particular concern, and the primary impetus for this letter, is the insistence of Mr. (William) McQuillan that the Town pay Boylston Properties a 5 percent construction management fee as part of the proposed public-private partnership,” the letter reads.

Development

Zoning Board Rejects Oakley Country Club’s Appeal on Wall

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The Zoning Board of Appeals recently made its ruling on this wall that was constructed on the Oakley Country Club property near Oakley and Arden roads. The Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals rejected Oakley Country Club’s appeal to reverse a decision by the Zoning Enforcement Officer that a wall built by the club near a residential area violates the Town’s zoning rules. The 10 foot high wall stretches 175 feet along an area of the perimeter of the golf course, and stands over homes on Arden and Oakley roads. The Zoning Board heard not only from representatives of the Country Club, but also from neighbors who have complaints about the wall including that it has cause flooding in the area. In April, the Town’s Department of Community Development and Planning issued a stop work order for the project because it did not have a building permit.

Development

Community Meeting Scheduled for Property Across from Town Hall

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A residential building with a commercial space on the ground floor has been proposed for 166 Main St. Developers have submitted a proposal to turn a former convenience store into a five-story residential building with a commercial space on the ground floor. The project has been proposed for the property at 166 Main St., in Watertown Square. The property is across the street from Town Hall and used to be a Tedeschi Food Shop. A community meeting will be held to provide more information and allow residents to ask questions.