Development

Developer Taking Town to Court Over ZBA’s Denial of Hotel Project

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The developer of the hotel project rejected by the Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals has taken the town to state Land Court to appeal the decision. Cherag Patel, the head of Elm Hospitality LLC, filed the appeal in Land Court on Oct. 28, and named as defendants the members of the ZBA: Melissa SantucciRozzi, Christopher Heep, David Ferris, Neeraj Chander and Kelly Donato. Patel is being represented by attorney Curtis Dooling of Pierce & Mandell of Boston. The appeal claims the ZBA wrongfully denied the special permit for the 104 room hotel project at 80 Elm Street when it made its ruling on Sept.

Real Estate

Halloween Weekend Full of Open Houses in Watertown

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Plenty of choices of open houses in Watertown on this Halloween Weekend. $569,000 – 188 Boylston St. Unit 2, 7 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$429,000 – 186 Boylston St. Unit 1, 5 room, 2 bed, 1.5 bath garden condo, Open House: Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$319,900 – 9 Pierce Road Unit 9, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open House: Saturday 12-1:30 p.m.

$319,000 – 81 Pierce Road Unit 81, 5 room, 2 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

$669,000 – 20 Norseman Ave., 2 unit, 11 total room, 5 total bedroom, Open House: Sunday 2:30-4 p.m.

$449,000 – 98 Franklin St. Unit 98, 8 room, 4 bed, 1 bath townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1 p.m. Sunday 2-3:30 p.m.

$399,000 – 28 Franklin St.

Business

Still Time to Get Tickets to Chamber Awards Dinner Featuring the Lt. Gov.

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The Watertown Belmont Chamber of Commerce 42nd Annual Business and Community Awards will be held Nov. 5, but it is not too late to get tickets. Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will be the featured speaker at the awards dinner to be held at the Belmont Country Club, 181 Winter St. in Belmont, on Thursday, Nov. 5 from 5:30-8 p.m.

Tickets cost $100, and the price includes hors d’oeuvres, hot stations, dessert and coffee.

Business

Belmont Savings Now a Lender for Low-, Moderate-Income Homebuyers

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MassHousing announced today that Belmont Savings Bank is now an approved lender of MassHousing’s affordable, fixed-rate, home loan products for low- and moderate-income homebuyers, according to an announcement sent out by the bank. Headquartered in Belmont, Belmont Savings Bank also has branches in Watertown, Cambridge, Waltham and Newton. MassHousing, a quasi-public authority charged with increasing affordable home ownership opportunities in Massachusetts, does not originate its own loans. As a MassHousing-approved lender, Belmont Savings Bank will be able to originate MassHousing’s home mortgage loans for income-eligible homebuyers. These loans have low down payment options and competitive 30-year fixed interest rates.

Development

Residents Chime in on Development in Watertown’s Residential Neighborhoods

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Town officials have asked for the opinions of residents for some design guidelines that would apply to single- and two-family projects in Watertown’s residential neighborhoods, and they got a variety of opinions on Tuesday night. 

The Community Listening Session at Town Hall was the second of three, with the third one taking place Thursday, Oct. 29 at the Police Station from 6:30-8 p.m.

The session was led by David Gamble, a design consultant hired by the town to work on creating Residential Design Guidelines. He previously helped create Design Guidelines for bigger commercial and residential projects in Watertown’s business districts and main arteries. This process will be more difficult, he said. “I, like many of you, believe your home is like your castle,” Gamble said.

Business

Watertown’s Newest Restaurant Making Waves Among Boston Foodies

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Watertown’s newest restaurant may be tucked inside the Arsenal on the Charles Complex, but Branch Line had received a lot of attention since it opened last Wednesday. 

The restaurant was started by Garrett Harker, who runs Eastern Standard in Kenmore Square among other restaurants, along with Watertown native Andrew Holden, general manager of Eastern Standard. The Boston Globe wrote of Branch Line “It’s the hottest restaurant opening of the week or maybe the season …” The restaurant is located in the back end of the building where Panera Bread is located. It will feature rotisserie chicken, as well as dishes from a wood-fired oven. It could also become a favorite with craft beer lovers – with about 16 taps, all featuring well known craft breweries from around Massachusetts and across the United States.

Real Estate

Check Out All the Open Houses Around Watertown This Week

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Homebuyers have many, many open houses to choose from this weekend, including many on Saturday. $449,000 – 51 Crawford St. Unit 51, 8 room, 4 bed, 2 bath 2/3 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

$242,500 – 38 Carey Ave. Unit 9, 4 room, 2 bed, 1 bath mid-rise, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

$949,000 – 222 Main St. Unit 222, 8 room, 5 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

$995,000 – 224 Main St.