Arsenal Mall

Developers Show Plans for Renovating Arsenal Mall, Residents Say Project is Too Big

By |

After more than a year of planning developers presented their vision for the renovation of the Arsenal Mall to the Planning Board, but some residents said the proposal would be too big for Watertown. The major overhaul of the mall would remove some portions of the current mall, leave the historic buildings and adds new buildings. The project calls for 503 units of housing, some of which would be in a 12-story residential building. Three of the new buildings planned to go in the current front parking lot would have retail on the bottom floor and four or five stories of housing on top. Some of the new features include a movie theater and possibly a bowling alley.

Real Estate

Two Million Dollar Real Estate Listings in Watertown This Week

By |

There are dozens of open houses this week, including two for more than $1 million. $639,000 – 22 Waltham St., 8 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 1-3

$619,000 – 60 Forest St. Unit 60, 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30-1 Sunday 11:30-1

$799,000 – 11 Olney St., 7 room, 4 bed, 2.5 bath victorian, Open Houses: Saturday 10:30-12 Sunday 10:30-12

$1,625,000 – 18 Winsor Ave., 10 room, 4 bed, 3.5 bath victorian, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 Sunday 12-2

$419,000 – 36 Edgecliff Road Unit 1, 6 room, 3 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-2

Sponsored by:

$429,900 – 111 Pleasant St. Unit 17, 4 room, 2 bed, 2 bath mid-rise, Open House: Sunday 11-1

$609,999 – 37 Edenfield Ave., 6 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath cape, Open House: Sunday 12-2

$499,000 – 12 Oakland St., 6 room, 3 bed, 2 bath ranch, Open House: Sunday 11:30-12:30

$879,900 – 111 Watertown St. Unit 111, 9 room, 4 bed, 3.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 11-1

$539,000 – 44 Gilbert St., 6 room, 3 bed, 1.5 bath colonial, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30

$409,900 – 116 Walnut St.

Development

Planning Board Will Hear Arsenal Mall Renovation Plans Thursday

By |

The long awaited plans for the renovation of the Arsenal Mall will be presented to the Watertown Planning Board on Thursday night at 7 p.m. in Town Hall. 

While the master plan will be presented by developers from Boyslton Properties, Planning Board Chairman John Hawes said the staff report will not be completed by Thursday. The Planning Department’s report will presented at a future Planning Board meeting and a vote can happen then. There will be opportunity for the public to comment on the plans, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. Because the project sits in the recently created Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD) the Planning Board gives the final approval for the master pan. Most projects need approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Affordable Housing

Planning Board Supports Increasing Affordable Housing Requirements for New Developments

By |

The Planning Board voted to support a zoning change that would require developers building medium and large housing projects in Watertown to include more affordable housing. 

Last Thursday, the Planning Board discussed the zoning amendment and voted unanimously to recommend that the Town Council adopt the changes. The proposal was brought to the Town Council by the Watertown Housing Partnership. It was considered first by the Economic Development and Planning Subcommittee and then by the full Council, before being sent to the Planning Board to sign off on it, said Andrea Adams, senior planner in the Watertown Community Development and Planning Department. The town has a requirement that projects of 6 more units have 12.5 percent of units be rented or sold at an affordable rate. When the Town Council approved the Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD) for the section of east Arsenal Street earlier this year, the affordable housing requirement was increased to 15 percent for that area, Adams said.

Development

First Phase of Arsenal Renovation Approved, Including Large Parking Garage

By |

The first phase of the renovation of the Arsenal on the Charles, including a garage with more than 1,300 spaces, was unanimously approved by the Planning Board last week.  
The first phase of athenahealth’s master plan to expand and upgrade the Arsenal Complex consists of the new west parking garage, along with a new building on Arsenal Street and a pocket park along North Beacon Street. The new garage will have it has 1,390 spaces and is expandable to 1522 if stackers are put on the bottom floor of the garage, said Bob Corning, principal with Stantec. Using the stackers, one car will be put on a lift, raised up leaving space for a second car to park underneath. Some of the goals of athenahealth’s master plan is to make the campus more permeable for pedestrians, and accessible and inviting to the public, said Mark Blair, director of athenaenvironment. 
One way they are doing this is by widening the sidewalk in front of the new commercial building on Arsenal Street, near School Street. Landscaping and places to gather will be installed in that area.

Real Estate

A Large Number of Open Houses Around Watertown This Week

By |

There’s still plenty of homes to look at this weekend around town. $499,000 – 191 Pleasant St. Unit 2, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11-2 Sunday 2:30-5

$599,000 – 72 Hillside Road, 7 room, 4 bed, 1.5 bath colonial, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$520,000 – 217 Common St. Unit 2, 7 room, 3 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open House: Sunday 12-1

$879,900 – 111 Watertown St. Unit 111, 9 room, 4 bed, 3.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 11-1

$469,900 – 66 Winter St.

Real Estate

Three Watertown Homes Sold This Week, See How Much they Sold For

By |

A ranch and two condos sold this week in Watertown, here are the details. $500,000 – 10 Pine St. 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Ranch single-family home

$435,000 – 199 Coolidge Ave. Unit 201, 3 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse

$455,000 – 313 Common St. Unit 1, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

Sponsored by: