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).

Real Estate

A Slew of Watertown Homes Sold This Week

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Take a look at the homes that sold this week in Watertown. $784,000 – 16-18 Richards Road, 2 unit, 14 total room, 6 total bedroom, 2 Family – 2 Units Up/Down multi-family home

$829,000 – 14 Stoneleigh Cir., 10 room, 5 bedroom, 2 full & 1 half bathroom, single-family home

$622,500 – 80 Stoneleigh Road, 4 room, 2 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, Other (See Remarks) single-family home

$455,000 – 76 Westminster Avenue, 8 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full & 1 half bathroom, Ranch single-family home

Sponsored by:

$560,000 – 10-12 Charles Street, 2 unit, 12 total room, 6 total bedroom, 2 Family multi-family home

$520,000 – 26 Royal Unit 2, 8 room, 4 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, condo/townhouse

$373,000 – 11 Adams Street Unit 2, 6 room, 3 bedroom, 2 full bathroom, 2/3 Family condo/townhouse

Around Town

See What a Survey of Coolidge Square Residents Found

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Two East Watertown residents decided to ask their neighbors what they thought about Coolidge Square, and particularly about the proposed CVS/Pharmacy and 65 Grove Street proposal. Here’s what they found. Janet Jameson and Deb Peterson put together an online survey and publicized it. They received 90 respondents on questions such as how often the shop in Coolidge Square, what kind of stores would they like to see come to the area and whether their streets are impacted by traffic from the square. Traffic is a big concern for residents, according to the survey, and more than half wanted improved conditions for pedestrians.

Development

Small Piece of Land Has Big Impact on Properties Near Arsenal Street

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A small piece of former railroad property is up for sale and wanted by town officials and a nearby property owner alike. Recently, the town was informed that the pieces of land, which sits next to the end of Phillips Street, was being sold by Pan American Co. The town has the second right of refusal after the state, and the Town Council debated whether to put in their statement if interest in the land. Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon said the town would like to purchase the land and may use it as part of a bicycle and pedestrian path. Right now the land is used by the Webster Trust, which owns the property that includes the Extra Innings baseball facility and other businesses including Imai, Keller, Moore Architects.