Business

Arsenal Project Seeks to Create a Buzz Before Major Changes Made to Mall

By |

It has a new name, a new look and some new features, but the big changes are yet to come at the Arsenal Project. Since buying the Arsenal Mall and changing the name to the Arsenal Project, the owners – Boyston Properties and The Wilder Cos. – said they have plans to add stores, restaurants and other features to the site. Arsenal Project General Manager Allyson Reed said nothing has been set in stone, but she expects they will have something to announce in the next few months. The mall has reached out to the public through social media to find out what kind of things they want to see in the upgraded mall.

Around Town

See the Watertown Savings Bank Heads Take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge

By |

Watertown Savings Bank President Brett Dean and employees at the bank’s headquarters took the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and now will donate $50 for every bank employee who takes the challenge. Dean nominated the Watertown Savings Bank branches, the Rotary Club of Watertown and Watertown Landscaping to take the challenge. The bank was nominated by H&K Insurance. Check out the video below!

Real Estate

See the Watertown Homes That Sold This Week

By |

Three homes sold in Watertown this week. See the details below. $316,300 – 314 Lexington Street Unit 314 5 room, 2 bedroom, 1 full bathroom, Townhouse condo. Sponsored by:

$462,500 – 249 Westminster Ave. 6 room, 4 bedroom, 2.5 bathroom, Cape home

$385,000 – 52 Ralph St.

Business

Former Tufts Health Plan Employee Convicted of Leaking Patient Info

By |

A 27-year-old woman pleaded guilty to disclosing the Social Security numbers of customers of Watertown-based Tufts Health Plan this week. Emeline Lubin admitted to stealing data from the company and gave the list to a man in Florida, who was involved – along with her brother – in a scheme to “steal Social Security benefits and to collect fraudulent income tax refunds by using stolen identities to file false income tax returns,” according to a press release from U.S. Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz’s office. The case is being prosecuted by Timothy Landry of Ortiz’s Major Crimes Unit. The prosecutor said that Lubin stole and disclosed the personal data of over 8,700 customers, according to the release. Earlier this year, Sniders Jean-Jacques and Melvin Lubin pleaded guilty to the theft of public money in U.S. District Court in Worcester. Date included names, birth dates and Social Security numbers, mostly of customers over age 65.

Development

Consultant Will Help Draft Changes to Watertown’s Zoning

By |

The Town Council agreed to hire a consultant to figure out how Watertown’s zoning should change to encourage development in town while preserving its neighborhoods. A set of design standards and design guidelines will be drafted with the help of the consultant. The Council decided to go this route, rather than having a building moratorium on the Arsenal Street Corridor, as a group had petitioned to do. Putting together the design standards and guidelines will take 3 to 4 months, said Community Development and Planning Director Steve Magoon. The design standards lay out the rules that developers and property owners must follow when building in town, Magoon said, and design guidelines provide examples of how the standards would be applied.

Development

Garage Presents a Sticking Point in Athenahealth’s Plans for Arsenal Complex

By |

The new owner of the Arsenal on the Charles, athenahealth, has a grand vision for revitalizing the complex, but one feature may stand in the way of getting approval from the Town Council – a seven story parking garage. The company bought the 29-acre complex between Arsenal and North Beacon streets to be its corporate headquarters and company officials want to add more than just additional space for athenahealth, said Bridger McGaw, director of athena environment told the Town Council. The company has a master plan, which it seeks approval from the town so the approval process can be streamlined. Athenahealth would like to bring in retail stores, restaurants and even put in a beer garden. Another idea is to create a “Quincy Market-like” area by putting glass over areas between the “finger buildings” – the long buildings east of the Arsenal Center for the Arts.

Development

Volkswagen Project Gets Approval from Planning Board

By |

Plans to turn the Sullivan Tire store into a Volkswagen used car facility took a step forward Wednesday night when the Planning Board approved the special permit for the project. Boston Volkswagen appeared for the second time in front of the Planning Board and made a few changes to the proposal. More landscaping will be planted in front of the building at 21 North Beacon Street. “Shrubs, ground cover and grading will help mask the service door,” said Greg Sampson, the attorney for Boston Volkswagen. “We are working with the Tree Warden to replant a couple trees in front of the service door.” The first time the project was presented members of the Planning Board and the public said they did not think the project fit in with the vision for making Watertown Square more attractive and inviting to shoppers and pedestrians.