Development

Residents Question $25 Million in Improvements Proposed by Athenahealth, Town

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Watertown could get $25 million in improvements to roads, parks and paths without putting up a dime, but attendees of a meeting last Thursday were not leaping to seal the deal. 

The proposed work would be part of the I-Cubed program, in which a developer – in this case Athenahealth – bonds money from the state to pay for the infrastructure and teams with public entities – the Town of Watertown and the Department of Conservation and Recreation – to do the improvements. The bonds will be paid by the increased tax revenue going to the state from Athenahealth’s campus expansion and the additional jobs it will create. None of the money can be spent on Athenahealth’s property. Thursday night, Athenahealth officials presented the list of projects it would do with the money. They include:
$7.5 million – Arsenal Street: roadway and sidewalk improvements, upgraded traffic lights and timing
$900,000 – Sewer improvements on North Beacon Street and Greenough Boulevard
$6.3 million – Roadway improvements to North Beacon, a cycling and pedestrian path, signal upgrades
$1.7 million – Watertown Square repaving, sidewalk improvements, upgrades to traffic, pedestrian signals and timing, and realigning Charles River Road
$700,000 – Completing the improvements of the Watertown Riverfront Park on the north bank of the Charles River
$1.7 million – Greenough Boulevard: bicycle and pedestrian path upgrades, improvements to the roadway and signal upgrades (including a traffic light at Greenough and North Beacon)
$2.7 million – Squibnocket Park: adding a canoe/kayak launch, a boardwalk and river overlook, and landscaping
$400,000 – School Street/Dexter Avenue/Walnut Street: sight-line improvements and curb realignments
$400,000 – Arsenal Park: extension of the Community Path through the park
$2.7 million – Drainage and parking improvement on Talcott Avenue near the Commander’s Mansion, cosmetic improvements to the Mansion and grounds and realignment of Talcott Avenue, and possibly linking it to either North Beacon or Greenough
The I-Cubed program would be a “win-win” for Athenahealth and the town, said  Mark Blair, the company’s Manager of Environment and Construction.

Business

Four WHS Students Among Winners of Watertown Savings Photo Contest

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Twelve winners have been chosen in Watertown Savings Bank’s (WSB) Annual High School Photo Contest. More than 280 photos were submitted from 130 different students who live or attend high school in: Arlington, Belmont, Lexington, Newton, Waltham, and Watertown. The winning photographs will appear in WSB’s 2018 calendar, available to bank customers each December. A panel of judges composed of WSB staff selected the winners. Watertown High School Junior Kian Rice is the First Place Winner for Watertown Dog Park.

Development

Neighbors Fed Up With Impact of Atheahealth Construction Project

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Residents living near the east end of North Beacon Street in Watertown reached the end of their patience this week and let officials at Athenahealth know about how upset they are with the impact the company’s construction project is having on their neighborhood. Athenahealth has started construction on a new parking garage on the westside of its campus at the Arsenal on the Charles – which is the beginning of a multiphase project to expand the campus. Neighbors say cars have spilled out of the campus and are parking on North Beacon Street and side streets. Then this week construction trucks began coming up Charles River Road – normally a no-truck route – and are using a driveway that they were told would only be used by emergency vehicles. “Monday, trucks starting coming out of the curb cut and one gets stuck and State Police had to come and close North Beacon Street for 15 minutes,” said North Beacon Street resident Kathy Santoian.

Real Estate

Watertown Open Houses Include a $1.6 Million Two-Family Home

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Open houses will be held three days this weekend in Watertown. $679,000 – 46 Hall Ave. Unit 2, 8 room, 4 bed, 2 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 2-4 Sunday 2-4

$599,999 – 49 Gilbert St., 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$534,900 – 61 Highland Ave., 6 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 10-11:30

$699,000 – 38 Knowles Road Unit 38, 7 room, 3 beds 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 1-3 Sunday 1-3

$809,900 – 35 Harnden Ave. Unit 2, 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 11:30-3:30

$369,000 – 91 Pierce Road Unit 91, 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$815,000 – 86-88 Fitchburg St., 2 unit, 11 total room, 4 total bedrooms, Open House: Saturday 1-3

Sponsored by:

$950,000 – 240 Westminster Ave. Unit 240, 8 room, 4 bed, 4.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$1,649,000 – 50 Bailey Road, 2 unit, 18 total room, 8 total bedroom 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$429,000 – 15 Jefferson Ave., 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath ranch, Open Houses: Friday 5-7 Saturday 12-2

$999,000 – 182 Standish Road, 11 room, 5 bed, 2.5 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$689,000 – 149 Hillside Road Unit 2, 10 room, 5 bed, 2.5 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Saturday 11:30-1

$799,000 – 21 Lovell Road, 8 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 12:30-2

$849,900 – 97 Edenfield Ave.

Development

First Phase of Mall Renovation Approved, Questions on Meeting Green Goal Remain

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The Watertown Planning Board voted Tuesday night to approve the first phase of the renovation of the former Arsenal Mall, which includes the two historic buildings, but developers said they may not be able to meet the energy efficiency goals without impacting the historic look. This part of the Arsenal Yards project focuses on Building A (where Marshall’s and the food court are located) and Building E (Old Navy and Golfsmith). Meanwhile, the addition made in the 1980s which connects the two large historic building will be demolished, said Project Manager Jeff Heidelberg of Boylston Properties. Building A will have two stories, and include a new glassed main entrance near Chipotle. Another entrance will be created on the east end of the building, which will open into what developers have dubbed the River Green.

Development

Developers of Arsenal Yards Want Deal With Town to Cap Property Taxes

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The developers behind the renovation of the Arsenal Mall have asked Town officials for something that has never been given in Watertown – a cap on the amount of property taxes. Bill McQuillan, principal of Boylston Properties, sent Town Council President Mark Sideris a letter last week requesting a “tax certainty” deal with the town. On Tuesday night, the Town Council referred the request to two subcommittees – Budget and Fiscal Oversight and Economic Development and Planning. Representatives from Boyslton and The Wilder Cos. said they need the certainty to get the funding required to pay for the $400 million project.

Aerial Circus Arts

Aerial Circus Arts Training Center Opening in Watertown

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A new Watertown business will allow people to learn to twist, flip and hang in the air. 

Gravity Alternative Movement is an aerial circus arts training facilities which will offer classes for trapeze, aerial fabric, and aerial hoop, said owner and instructor Trevor Kafka. “With aerial fabric, or silks there are two pieces of fabric and you can do rolls down it, drops and other moves,” Kafka said. “Trapeze is like the flying trapeze, but there is no swinging. You move around a bar, a little bit like gymnastics. In hoop there is a huge metal hoop where you create shapes.”