Business

Tufts Health Plan Drive Brings in Gifts for Hundreds of Children

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Employees of Tufts Health Plan donated nearly 300 gifts to give out to those in need. 

Each year, the names, ages and requests of children and adults in need are strung on Wish Trees at Tufts Health Plan, giving employees the chance to grant those holiday wishes. This year, the nearly 300 gifts donated by employees were given to clients of three local service organizations: the Cambridge Salvation Army, the Malden Salvation Army and Fernald Center of Waltham, according to the Tufts announcement. In addition, the estimated value of the gift contributions was matched with a cash donation by the Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

Real Estate

Several Homes Sold in Watertown This Week

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See which homes sold in Watertown and the sales price. $649,900 – 11-13 Lyons Ct., 2 unit, 10 total room, 4 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down multi-family home

$490,500 – 115 Holt Street, 7 room, 3 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Colonial single-family home

$410,000 – 106 Franklin Unit B, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$386,500 – 106 Franklin Street Unit A, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, condo/townhouse

$325,000 – 64 Grant Ave Unit 64, 6 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Townhouse condo/townhouse

$420,000 – 125 Coolidge Ave Unit 804, 3 room, 1 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse

Business

Planning Board’s Vote a Blow to East Watertown CVS Proposal

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The East Watertown CVS proposal did not pass muster with the Planning Board, but the Coolidge Square project is not dead. Wednesday night, the Planning Board heard from developers about changes made to the proposed 13,300-square-foot pharmacy at the corner of Mt. Auburn and Arlington streets. Architect Kevin Patten of BKA Architects showed drawings of the new facade which included a scaled down front entrance that would not protrude as much above the roofline, and the glass split up by glazing so they do not look like such large panes of glass. Another alteration was the addition of more landscaping and a wall that curves to “blur the line” between what is CVS and what is the public sidewalk, Patten said.

Business

Watertown Insurance Agency Brings in Big Haul for Toys for Tots

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The H & K Insurance Agency set a goal and accomplished it – they broke their own record for the amount of items they could collect for the Toys for Tots Drive. 

For the past several years the Watertown Square insurance agency has hold the drive that benefits the U.S. Marine Corps effort to collect toys to distribute to less fortunate children during the holidays. This year they tried to spread the word so they could up the ante and bring in more toys. “So far each year has been a little more successful than the last. But this year, thanks to the kindness of everyone involved, we have pretty much doubled our haul for the kids,” said Paul Perry, CISR, AAI Treasurer/General Manager of H & K Insurance. Even after the drive had officially ended, people were still coming in to drop off toys.

Real Estate

See Which Homes Sold in Watertown This Week

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Home sales continue to keep rolling in even as winter approaches. Sold – $576,000 – 170-172 Church Street in Watertown, MA
2 unit, 12 total room, 5 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down multi-family home

Sold – $300,000 – 32 Whites Avenue U:D42 in Watertown, MA
4 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Mid-Rise condo/townhouse

Sold – $300,000 – 7 Sawin Street in Watertown, MA
6 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, single-family home

Government

Watertown Real Estate Prices Likely to Rise Again Next Year

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Last year, most areas of Watertown saw an increase in real estate values, Town Assessor Francis Golden told the Town Council, and the trend will likely continue. During his property tax presentation, Golden said 75 percent of neighborhoods appreciated last year. This resulted in an increase of property taxes of about 3.25 percent, he said (click here to read more details). Some of the additional value came from the new apartment complexes being built on the west side of Watertown, but a lot comes from appreciation of existing properties. Golden said Watertown has become a very attractive place to live.

Real Estate

Check Out the Latest Watertown Home Sales

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Home sales continue to be healthy in Watertown even in late November. $308,000 – 85 Bradford Road Unit 85, 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$237,500 – 2 Winthrop Street Unit 3, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Low-Rise condo/townhouse

$490,000 – 194 School Unit 194, 8 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

$361,000 – 22 Homer St Unit 1, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

Government

See How Much Watertown Property Taxes Will Rise

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Watertown property owners will see a increase in their property tax bills, but the overall average is bigger than most people’s reality, Town Assessor Francis Golden told the Town Council Tuesday. Residential property taxes will rise on average 6.25 percent, but he said that number includes the new apartment buildings on Pleasant Street and Waltham Street. “The 6.25 increase is the largest since I’ve been here,” Golden said. “The apartments are skewing that, so it is not realistic for most.”

For most people – 97 percent of homeowners – the increase will be around 3.28 percent, Golden said during his tax presentation (click here to see details). The Town Council approved the tax rate, as well as a shift of the tax burden from residential property owner to CIP taxes (Commercial/Industrial and Personal Property).