Development

Design Standards and Guidelines Get Final Approval With Some Dissent

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After more than nine months of work, Watertown’s new Design Standards and Guidelines have been approved, but not without some concerns. Before Watertown began working on the design guidelines and standards, developers only really knew what they could not build on a piece of land, said Assistant Town Manager and Community Development and Planning Director Steve Magoon. The standards and guidelines were one of the recommendations of the town’s Comprehensive Plan, passed last week. They were also the result of a push for something to deal with the development boom in town. The new standards and guidelines will give developers an idea of what the town would like the project to look like, said David Gamble, the town’s consultant in drawing up the standards and guidelines.

Business

Hundreds of Tufts Employees Volunteer Around Watertown

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Nearly 220 Tufts Health Plan employees demonstrated with their actions that community matters during the company’s annual volunteer day. Embodying Tufts Health Plan’s mission to improve the health and wellness of the diverse communities it serves, teams set out to clean and beautify three Watertown landmarks, made cards for the elderly, and helped homeless and low-income children get new clothes and toys. “Our employees are generous in giving of their time, treasure and talent to support the communities where they live, work and play,” said Nora Moreno Cargie, Tufts Health Plan Foundation president and Tufts Health Plan vice president of corporate citizenship. “We’re committed to magnifying their passions and commitment through these efforts especially our Corporate Volunteer Day.”

“Employee volunteering is at the heart of our Corporate Citizenship program, and it’s clear from testimonials and surveys that employees appreciate the chance to give back to their communities,” said Stacey Mann, Tufts Health Plan’s enterprise manager for corporate citizenship. Corporate Volunteer Day service projects included:

Sprucing up and planting spring and summer perennials at The Old Burying Place in Watertown
Painting a retaining wall and railing in Watertown’s Coolidge Square in preparation for a public art mural students and residents will paint involving Watertown High School
Scraping and painting the water feature and removing debris at Filippello Park in Watertown
Making “Happy Summer” cards for elderly Meals on Wheels recipients through Ethos
Inspecting and sorting donations, stocking shelves and compiling packages for Brighton-based Cradles to Crayons

Development

Mixed Reactions to Hotel Proposed for Eastside of Watertown

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The Zoning Board of Appeals heard a split view of the hotel proposed to be built on Elm Street, with most of the those opposing the project living on or near the East Watertown street. The five-story hotel which would have more than 100 rooms would go right next to the back of Target in the Watertown Mall. The layout of the hotel on the property has changed so at the building now sits near the street, instead of having a parking lot in front. Also, some of the parking has been put underneath the building. Also part of the project would be removal of contaminated soil from the site, which used to be home to Atlantic Battery Company and had been a hazardous site monitored by the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Real Estate

Take a Look at the Seven Watertown Homes That Sold This Week

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Here are the four homes that sold in Watertown this week. See the details below. $730,000 – 35 Bennett Road, 9 room, 4 bedroom, 3 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$426,500 – 38 Pine St., 5 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Ranch single-family home

$488,500 – 92 Brookline St., 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Ranch single-family home

Story Sponsored by:

$517,500 – 669 Main St., 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$607,000 – 21 Warwick, 2 unit, 11 total room, 5 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down multi-family home

$586,500 – 7 Ellen Ter., 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Ranch single-family home

$461,000 – 38 Chauncey St. Unit A, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

Real Estate

Plenty of Two-Families and Town Houses on the Market This Week

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Watertown has 17 open houses this week, with plenty of options for home seekers. $454,500 – 63 Piermont St., 7 room, 4 bed, 2 bath cape, Open Houses: Saturday 12-2 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m.

$385,000 – 770 Belmont St. Unit 770, 7 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday 2-3:30 p.m.

$545,000 – 46 Spruce St. Unit 46, 7 room, 3 bed, 1 bath low-rise, Open Houses: Friday 5-6:30 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 12-2 p.m. Monday 5-6 p.m.

$450,000 – 10 Locust Lane Unit C, 6 room, 3 bed, 2.5 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

Sponsored by:

$314,900 – 253 Sycamore St. Unit 253, 6 room, 2 bed, 1 bath 2 family, Open Houses: Saturday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

$432,000 – 475 Arsenal Court Unit K, 5 room, 2 bed, 2 bath townhouse, Open House: Sunday 1-2:30 p.m.

$419,000 – 249 Lexington St.

Development

ZBA Approves Major Apartment Complex, Park Must Be Planned

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The major apartment complex with a retail section on Arsenal Street at Irving Street received final approval from the Watertown Zoning Board of Appeals, but a small park remains to be designed with the help of the community. Known as Elan, the project being developed by Greystar will have 282 apartments and more than 10,000 square feet of retail space. The retail will be on the west end of the complex, and face other stores in the next-door apartment/retail complex being constructed by Hanover/Cresset across a shared driveway. Developers made a few changes to the plans approved by the Planning Board in May. The project features a glassed-in bridge connecting the east and west buildings.

Business

Watertown Company Named One of the Best Places to Work in Boston

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A Watertown-based company made the list of Best Places to Work picked by the Boston Business Journal. Bright Horizons Family Solutions, a leading provider of employer-sponsored child care, early education, and work-life solutions, has been recognized as one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Boston Business Journal, according to an announcement from the company. This marks the ninth year in a row that Bright Horizons has been named to the list. Bright Horizons was ranked number three in the “extra-large company” category. “The Bright Horizons family is honored to again be named to the BBJ’s ‘Best Places to Work’ list,” said Bright Horizons Chief Executive Officer David Lissy.

Real Estate

See How Much These Homes Sold For in Watertown

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See the three homes that sold in Watertown this week. $660,000 – 58 Hall Ave., 6 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, single-family home

$434,000 – 32 Commonwealth Road Unit 1, 7 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$399,900 – 7 Bromfield St. Unit 7, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

Story Sponsored by:

$525,000 – 29 Harrington St., 7 room, 4 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$343,500 – 10 Williams St. Unit 45, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse

$777,500 – 456 Belmont St. Unit 24, 5 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse