Development

East End Residents Create Survey on Development in the Area

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Some significant developments have been proposed in East Watertown, and some area residents are interested in what people think about the projects. Developers seek to build a CVS/Pharmacy at the corner of Arlington and Mt. Auburn streets at the site of a gas station and the Elks Club (see more here). Another project has been proposed at the former GE Ionics site on Grove Street where an office building will be renovated and a multi-story garage is proposed (read more here). Both projects are on the agenda for the Nov.

Business

Move to Raise Tobacco Sale Age to 21 Meets Resistance

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The Watertown Board of Health is considering raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco to 21 in town, but some stores and their fans do not want to see the change. This week, the board held a hearing to discuss changes to Watertown’s tobacco regulations. Probably the biggest change would be to raise the age when it is legal to buy cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco and nicotine products from 19 to 21. Donna Moultrup, interim Director of Health said one of the main reasons for the change is to prevent youths from getting their hand on cigarettes. “Research has shown that young children 12 and 14 years old are getting cigarettes from people age 18-21,” Moultrup said.

Development

Volkswagen Pulls Proposal for Used Car Center in Watertown Sq.

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The proposed Volkswagen used car center in Watertown Square has been scrapped. Boston Volkswagen sent a letter to the Watertown Planning Department stating that the proposed project has been withdrawn, but did not give a reason, according to a report on Wickedlocal.com (click here to see the story). The plan had called for turning the former Sullivan Tire & Auto store on North Beacon Street into a used car center. VW has a dealership just down the street. The proposal drew criticism from residents and members of the Planning and Zoning boards alike.

Business

Insurance Agency Seeks to Beat Record for Toys for Tots

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Last year, H&K Insurance Agency of Watertown collected the most items for the Toys for Tots drive, and they seek to beat it this year. The toy drive has been able to distribute over 469 million toys to less fortunate children thanks to the help of generous people. In years past, CISR, AAI Treasurer/General Manager Paul Perry and his wife, Daralyn Perry, CISR Commercial Lines Manager, have donated generously to Toys for Tots from their own pockets. They hope others will join them this year. “Helping those in need is something that we really value here at H & K Insurance,” said Perry.

Around Town

Watertown Mall Hosting Job Fair This Week

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Attention job seekers, it is time to head to the mall to find a new job. On Friday, Oct. 24 and Saturday, Oct. 25, some stores at the Watertown Mall will be holding a job fair. Whether you are looking for part time, full time or seasonal work, you can find it there.

Development

Design Standards – What They Are, What Residents Want

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More than 100 people showed up Wednesday night to find out about Watertown’s new design standards and give input about what they hope to get from them. Design standards and guidelines provide a visual and detailed explanation for how town zoning rules will work. The Town Council approved hiring David Gamble of Gamble Associates to create the new set of standards. During the meeting at Watertown Middle School – Gamble, who is also a Watertown resident – explained what design standards and guidelines can do and what they cannot do. They can:

Improve the character of new developments
Articulate standards of quality
Provide Examples
Represent spatial and dimensional criteria graphically

Gamble also warned they can also go too far, and make all new buildings look the same or be too restrictive.

Business

Watertown Biotech Firm Gets Big Funding Boost

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A Watertown biotech company received $20 million in funding to developing targeted antigen-specific immune therapies for maladies such as gout. Selecta Biosciences Inc., a clinical stage biotechnology, received the money from new and existing investors. “Severe gout is a highly debilitating disease and just one of the potential therapeutic applications of our proprietary Synthetic Vaccine Particle (SVP) platform,” said Werner Cautreels, President and CEO of Selecta. “With a well established development path and favorable pro forma economics, SEL-212 is a great opportunity. SEL-212 is just the beginning for us, as we have identified many biopharmaceuticals, including existing and new classes of biologics such as gene therapy, where the effects of anti-drug antibodies are deleterious.”

The company has offices at 480 Arsenal St.