Networking Events In and Around Watertown Being Hosted by Newton Needham Chamber

The Newton Needham Regional Chamber has some events coming up in and around Watertown. The following information is from the Newton Needham Chamber:

Business After Hours at Watertown Savings Bank
Wed. Oct. 17, 5:30-7 p.m.
60 Main St., Watertown
Free for members and nonmembers

Join us in the heart of Watertown at the iconic Watertown Savings Bank for a Business After Hours networking event. Make lots of new connections while enjoying complimentary refreshments courtesy of our hosts.

Watertown Man to be Honored as One of the 25 Most Influential Millennials of Color

The following information was provided by Get Konnected!:

Get Konnected! will unveil its list of the 25 Most Influential Millennials of Color in Greater Boston, plus three founder’s choices, during the GK25: Who is Who event on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at WeWork Cambridge (625 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge) from 6:00-8:30 p.m. Among the honorees will include Rick Fredkin, president and founder of Watertown-based education and technology company Eduporium. Eduporium, whose mission is “empowering the future with technology,” brings the Watertown community together by offering STEM/STEAM technology to individuals of all ages from Kindergarten to higher education. Fredkin has over 20 years of experience in the technology field and is actively involved in the community with advisory panels that promote education, workforce readiness and diversity in the technology sector.

Many, Many Open Houses to Visit in Watertown This Week

Home seekers have dozens of open houses to check out this weekend in Watertown. $525,000 – 16-18 School Lane Unit 16-1, 6 room, 4 bed, 2 bath, Open Houses: Saturday 12:30-2 Sunday 12:30-2

$1,414,995 – 20-22 Hillcrest Cir., 2 unit, 10 total room, 6 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Friday 6-7 Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$714,995 – 22 Hillcrest Cir. Unit 22, 5 room, 3 bed, 2 bath low-rise, Open Houses: Friday 6-7 Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$699,995 – 20 Hillcrest Cir. Unit 20, 5 room, 3 bed, 2 bath low-rise, Open Houses: Friday 6-7 Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$499,000 – 9 Fifield St., 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath gambrel/dutch, Open House: Sunday 11-12:30

$649,900 – 95-97 Spring St., 2 unit, 10 total room, 4 total bedroom, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$569,000 – 11 Adams Unit 1, 5 room, 3 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11-12:30 Sunday 1-2:30

$979,000 – 113 Watertown St. Unit 113, 10 room, 4 bed, 6f 1h bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12:30-2 Sunday 12:30-2

$649,900 – 113 Winsor Ave.

Planning Board Approves Having Biotech Companies at Arsenal Yards

The Planning Board gave its approval to allow biotech labs to be located on the second floor of the historic building in the former Arsenal Mall where Marshall’s is located. 

The proposal by Boylston Properties, the developer of Arsenal Yards, had been delayed a month because there were questions about whether labs where biotech research should be located in the same building where retail and restaurants will be located. There was concern that the Town of Watertown did not have the same local safeguards as other area communities. Wednesday night the Planning Board heard from the developers, who also brought in consultants who work with biotech companies and outfit buildings for such lab use. Mark Deschenes from Boylston Properties said his firm did a study of biotech companies in the area and that there are already at least 23 biotech companies in Watertown, with most in East Watertown, and a few on the Westside. He added that there are several examples of biotech companies sharing buildings with retail and other businesses, and that are located near residential buildings.

Watertown Had Four Home Sales This Week

Four Watertown homes sold this week. $400,000 – 71 Jensen Road U:71, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$701,000 – 3 Quincy Unit 3, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Half-Duplex condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$645,000 – 56 Westminster Ave., 9 room, 3 bedroom, 3 full bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$570,000 – 97 Poplar St. Unit 97, 8 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

See All the Open Houses Around Watertown This Week

Watertown has a wide array of open houses this week. $775,000 – 30-32 Royal St. Unit 30, 7 room, 4 bed, 2.5 bath 2 family, Open Houses: Friday 5-6 Saturday 2-3:30 Sunday 2-3:30

$775,000 – 30-32 Royal St. Unit 32, 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath 2 family Open Houses: Friday 5-6 Saturday 2-3:30 Sunday 2-3:30

$599,500 – 22 Irving Park Unit 22, 8 room, 4 bed, 1.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$829,000 – 133 Dexter Ave. 2 unit, 11 total room, 5 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11-12:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$739,900 – 234 Edenfield Ave.

Council Asks Board of Health to Create Rules, Oversight of Biotech Companies

Following a wave of input from concerned residents, Watertown officials will look at ways to make sure that biotech labs in town are safe. 

The issue arose in August when the developers of Arsenal Yards proposed changing office space in the renovated Arsenal Mall into space for biotech research and development. The issue is not likely an isolated one, with biotech being one of the fastest growing industries in the United States and in Massachusetts, and other communities in the area are taking steps to attract this sort of company. Residents noted that other towns have regulations for laboratories and some have committees to oversee biotech companies and advise the Board of Health. At Tuesday’s Town Council meeting, Council President Mark Siders said steps will be taken in Watertown to increase oversight of biotech facilities. “Watertown falls a little short when regulating these types of laboratories,”  Sideris said. A memo from Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon to the Town Council said that the Watertown Board of Health will develop a framework for overseeing biotech companies.