Business

More Than a Dozen Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

By Charlie Breitrose | July 14, 2017

Check out all the open houses around town this weekend. $544,900 – 52 Edward Road, 7 room, 3 bed, 1 bath cape, Open House: Sunday 1:30-2:30

$320,000 – 10 Williams St. Unit 52, 4 room, 1 bed, 1 bath garden, Open House: Sunday 2-3:30

$649,900 – 35 Forest St. Unit 35, 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$829,000 – 7 Fletcher Ter., 7 room, 4 bed, 2.5 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 1-2:30 Sunday 1-2:30

$589,900 – 478-480 Main St. Unit 478, 9 room, 4 bed, 2 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30

$298,000 – 290 Pleasant St.

Planning Board Approves Hotel and Garage at Arsenal Yards

By Charlie Breitrose | July 13, 2017

After hearing complaints about the design of the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites hotel at Arsenal Yards, designers simplified the look and reduced the number of colors to be used. The Planning Board approved of the changes and voted to approve Phase 2 of the renovation of the former Arsenal Mall on Wednesday night. Phase 2 includes Building B which has retail space on the ground floor and above it a hotel on Arsenal Street with a garage as you go back from the street. When the drawings were first presented at a community meeting in May, people complained materials used were not the red brick of the historic Watertown Arsenal, and that too many colors and materials were used on the outside. Planning Board member Janet Buck said that she did not like the first rendering of the hotel.

Watertown’s Celebrity Chef Joining Forces with The Talk Restaurant

By Charlie Breitrose | July 12, 2017

Two of the biggest names in the Watertown food scene have teamed up. Food Network featured chef Mike Fucci has become the head chef at The Talk Restaurant, the Watertown Square spot owned by Kaz and Lisa Keuchkarian. Fucci has run Chef Mike’s Kitchen catering business for many years, and has not worked in a restaurant for about 15 years. In February, he appeared on Food Network’s Cutthroat Kitchen and won the challenge for football food called “Fry-Day Night Bites.” Moving into a restaurant kitchen is an exciting and sudden opportunity for Fucci, who got a call on July 5 asking him if he wanted the job.

Development

New Hotel Proposed for Arsenal Mall to be Discussed by Planning Board

By Charlie Breitrose | July 10, 2017

The Planning Board will discuss the second phase of the Arsenal Yards project, which includes a hotel to be added in a new building planned for what is now the parking lot of the Arsenal Mall.

Phase 2 focuses on Building B, which is on the west sided of the site, next to the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates offices. Along with the retail space on the ground floor there will be a hotel and a parking structure (see architectural drawings here). Developers Boyslton Properties announced they plan to build a Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton with 150 rooms. The six-story hotel replaces the 79-unit residential building originally planned for Building B. It will have a garage with six levels, including an underground level. The plans got mixed reviews from the public during a community meeting held in May. See the documents submitted to the Town can be seen here (click on Phase Two Building B in the left column).

Real Estate

Four Properties Sold This Week in Watertown, See Details Here

By Charlie Breitrose | July 9, 2017

Four properties sold in Watertown this weekend, including a single family home.

$850,000 – 35 Harnden Ave. Unit 2, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$564,500 – 22 Springfield St., 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Colonial single-family home

Real Estate

Watertown Victorian Selling for Just Under $1 Million, One of Many Open Houses

By Charlie Breitrose | July 7, 2017

Watertown has many open houses to visit this weekend, with a mix of condos, townhouses and some single families. $999,999 – 137 Marshall St., 12 room, 7 bed, 3 bath victorian, Open House: Saturday 11:30-1

$575,000 – 27 Church Lane, 6 room, 3 bed, 2 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$789,900 – 118-120 Waverley Ave., 2 unit, 13 total room, 4 total bedroom, Open House: Sunday 12-2:30

$479,900 – 31 Charles St., 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$449,000 – 53 Crawford St. Unit 2, 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-2

$414,900 – 478-480 Main St. Unit 480, 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$699,900 – 32 Harrington St. Unit 32, 7 room, 3 bed, 3.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 1:30-3

$699,900 – 30 Harrington St.

Development

Developers of Morse Street Project Go Back to Drawing Board Again

By Charlie Breitrose | July 5, 2017

The developers seeking to turn the commercial building that used to be home to a massage school into an apartment complex will go back to the drawing board for a second time in hopes of getting approval from the Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals. The 101-103 Morse Street project shown to the ZBA on June 28 changed from the initial proposal submitted to the ZBA in April. The number of units was reduced from 44 to 40. Three pairs of one-bedroom units were combined to make three two-bedroom units, while two more one-bedrooms were combined to make a three-bedroom unit, said owner and developer Kamran Shahbazi.

Other changes include: adding four feet to the width driveway to make it 22 feet in total, moving the garbage dumpster from next to an abutting property to against the building, and moving air conditioner condensers from ground level to the roof of the building, said architect Gary Hendren. Board members said that they have concerns about the quality of the proposed apartments.

Real Estate

Watertown Home Sales Include a Four-Family for Nearly $1.5 Million

By Charlie Breitrose | July 2, 2017

Four homes sold this weekend, including a four-family home for seven figures. $620,000 – 10 Elmwood Ave., 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Bungalow single-family home

$447,000 – 186 Waverley Ave. Unit 186, 7 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse