Business

Perkins Partners with Company to Provides High Tech Assistance for the Blind

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Some employees at Perkins School for the Blind have been testing some high tech glasses that give the blind and visually impaired new independence. They don’t let users see better, per se, but instead they have a camera that allows someone to watch a live stream video and give the wearer instant descriptions and directions. The technology was developed by San Diego-based startup Aira, which this week announced a partnership with the school in Watertown – the first of its kind in the country. One of those who piloted Aira was Kim Charlson, executive director of the Perkins Library. Charlson is visually impaired and uses her seeing-eye dog Dolly to help her get around.

Business

Watertown Belmont Chamber of Commerce Closing After Nearly 50 Years

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The board of directors of the Watertown Belmont Chamber of Commerce announce that the organization will be closing after nearly half a century of existence. 

In an announcement sent to members and other members of the community, the board of directors said that they believe members will be better served by being part of a larger chamber group, and encouraged members to join the Newton-Needham Regional Chamber of Commerce. The NNRCC is offering WBCC members a 50 percent off the annual membership to join. The Watertown-Belmont Chamber has been without a permanent executive director for more than a year, and moved out of its office space on Main Street in February 2017. Among the events the Chamber hosts in Watertown is the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. The Newton-Needham Chamber is expected to host events in Watertown.

Real Estate

Watertown Colonial Revival Home Sells for Well over $1 Million

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Two homes sold this week, including a Colonial for more than $1 million. $1,380,000 – 64 Russell Ave. 9 room, 5 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial Revival single-family home

$720,000 – 32 Royal St., 2 unit, 10 total room, 5 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home

Sponsored by:

$720,000 – 49 Bradford Road Unit 2, 8 room, 4 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

Real Estate

Nearly a Dozen Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

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Homeseekers have several open houses to choose from this weekend. $925,000 – 67-69 Dexter Ave., 2 unit, 13 total room, 6 total bedroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12:30-2, Sunday 12:30-2

$750,000 – 691 Main St., 2 unit, 12 total room, 4 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 1-2 Sunday 1-2

$389,900 – 120 Pierce Road U: 120, 5 room, 2 bed, 1.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1 Sunday 1-2

$599,000 – 16 Commonwealth Unit 16, 10 room, 4 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$599,000 – 12 Flint Road Unit 2, 7 room, 4 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

Sponsored by:

$829,900 – 784 Belmont St., 2 unit, 9 total room, 5 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$489,000 – 40 Waltham St., Unit 2, 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$799,900 – 122- 124 Waverley Ave., 2 unit, 13 total room, 4 total bedroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$489,000 – 37 Copeland St., 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath bungalow, Open House: Saturday 1:30-2:30

$529,000 – 24 Franklin St. Unit 24, 4 room, 2 bed, 1 bath low-rise, Open House: Saturday 12-2

$641,000 – 49 Bradford Road Unit 1, 6 room, 2 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

Development

Planning Board Scrutinizes Pleasant Street Project, Sends it Back for Redesign

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The proposed project on a thin strip of land at 385-393 Pleasant Street ran into problems at the Watertown Planning Board, when board members had problems with the density of the project and particularly with how close some of the new buildings would be to houses behind the project. 

The Planning Board voted last week to continue the discussion of the project at the intersection of Pleasant and Rosedale Road, which proposes to have 58 apartments, townhouses and 11,500 sq. ft. of commercial space. The design team for the developers – Amstel Heritage Watertown LLC – already appeared before the Planning Board in November and brought back an altered plan that removed one of the townhouse buildings on the east end of the site. The unites were moved on top of the existing warehouse building on the west side of the project.

Real Estate

Five Homes Sold This Week in Watertown

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Here are the five homes that sold this week in Watertown. $342,500 – 59 Grant Ave. Unit 59, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$584,025 – 122 Winsor Ave. Unit 122A, 9 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$720,000 – 22 Irving St. Unit 1, 13 room, 4 bedroom, 4 full bathroom, Low-Rise condo/townhouse

Sponsored by:

$650,000 – 178 Palfrey St., 8 room, 4 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Bungalow single-family home

$460,000 – 8 Oakland St., 5 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Cape single-family home

Real Estate

Several Open Houses Around Watertown This Weekend

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A variety of homes are having open houses in town this week. $439,000 – 32 Whites Ave. Unit D33, 4 room, 2 bed, 2 bath mid-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 2-3:30 Sunday 11:30-1

$489,000 – 37 Copeland St., 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath bungalow, Open House: Saturday 1:30-2:30

$859,000 – 456 Belmont St. Unit 7, 5 room, 2 bed, 2 bath condo, Handicap Access/Equipped, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

Sponsored by:

$629,000 – 70 Edenfield Ave. Unit 70, 6 room, 3 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30

$499,000 – 40 Waltham St.

Development

Town Council Splits on Zoning Change for Self Storage Facilities

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A change in the number of parking spots required for a self-storage facility in Watertown received the Town Council’s approval Tuesday night, but concerns over whether such a facility was wanted in town and where it should go led to some votes against the zoning change. The proposal called for changing the formula for determining the number of spots needed at a storage facility from one spot for every three storage units, to two spots per every 10,000 sq. ft. of gross floor area. Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Director of Community Development and Planning, said under old standard a 50,000 sq.