Development

Planning Board OKs Seven Story Parking Garage at Arsenal on the Charles

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The Planning Board gave the go ahead to the owners of the Arsenal on the Charles to build a parking garage that will be 90 feet tall. 

The parking structure will have seven stories, which will reach the maximum height of 79 feet, and then will have a “green” roof with grass or other things growing on it. This roof will increase the height to 90 feet. The roof is needed so the top floor does not have to be plowed when it snows. The garage will have about 1,800 spaces, and will allow owners athenahealth to remove the same number of spaces from ground level in the complex that stretches along Arsenal Street, said Larry Beals, architect with Beals Associates Inc. which is designing the garage and other changes in the Arsenal. When completed 94 percent of the parking will be in garages, compared to 58 percent now. Residents worried about the size of the structure.

Around Town

Tufts Health Plan Lends a Helping Hand Around Watertown

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Groups of people in blue T-shirts could be seen around Watertown last week working on a variety of projects – all part of the Tufts Health Plan Corporate Volunteer Day. More than 130 employees of the company based on Mt. Auburn Street in Watertown took part in the company’s sixth annual volunteer day. Some cleared brush and planted flowers and plants at the Commander’s Mansion and the Old Burying Place; while others painted the railing at Watertown’s Main Street Bridge, buildings at Arsenal Park and a wall at Filippello Park.  

A wall on Baptist Walk (off Mt.

Development

Residents, Business Owners Say Pleasant Street Zoning Changes Go Too Far

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The Planning Board got the first public input Wednesday night on proposals to change the Pleasant Street Corridor zoning rules and heard from a lot of business owners and residents who do not like the proposals. Some did not like the restriction of uses proposed by creating three different zones in the area. Others said the new rules to make the area less “canyon-ized” with tall, long buildings close to the street makes some parcels unbuildable. The Pleasant Street Corridor came into existence several years ago when the Town Council sought to redevelop unused or underused former industrial properties in the Westside of town. In the last couple years development has taken off, but virtually all have been residential, and mostly large apartment buildings.

Development

Major Arsenal Street Project Gets OK from Planning Board, Moves Onto ZBA

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The proposed apartment complex, market and restaurant got a grudging approval from the Watertown Planning Board, and now needs a vote from the Zoning Board for full approval. The project proposed by the Hanover Company and Cresset Development, includes a four-story residential building with nearly 300 apartment units (about 2/3 of which are one-bedroom units), space for a market, a restaurant and other retail along Arsenal Street. Located at 202-204 Arsenal Street and 58 Irving Street, the project got a 3-1 vote of approval from the Planning Board, with some conditions. Planning Board member Neal Corbett voted against the project. Changes

After the first Planning Board meeting, developers were asked to try to break up the look of the east side of the project to stop it from appearing like one big wall.

Business

Small Retail Kiosks Approved at Arsenal on the Charles

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A set of three retail kiosks with rotating tenants will soon go up at the Arsenal on the Charles complex. New owners of the complex, athenahealth, went to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday night for approval for what they hope are the start of turning part of the area into a retail corridor. The board approved it unanimously with conditions. The three kiosks will have rotating offerings, including food, drink and other items such as jewelry, said Bridger McGaw, a spokesman for athenahealth. “Someone could come for coffee on Monday, then go to the Clover Food Truck on Tuesday and realize he should come back on Thrusday because they have sushi,” McGaw said.

Real Estate

Check Out the Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

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Looking for a home in Watertown – here are some open houses in town on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1. 62 Green Street Unit 62 – $439,000, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, condo/townhouse; Open House: Sunday 3-4 p.m.

4 Repton Cir Unit 4402 – $399,000, 2 bedroom, 2 bathrooms, Mid-Rise condo; Open Houses: Saturday 1-3 p.m., Sunday 1-3 p.m.

42 Maple Unit 42 – $559,000 5 bedroom, 1.5 bathroom, Townhouse condo; Open Houses: Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

19 Pierce Road Unit 64 – $319,000, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Townhouse condo; Open House: Sunday noon-1 p.m.

233 Warren Street – $639,000, 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, colonial; Open Houses: Saturday 2-3:30 p.m., Sunday 12-1:30 p.m.

14-16 Washburn St Unit 14 – $569,000, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, townhouse; Open House: Sunday noon-1:30 p.m.

6-8 Summer St. Unit 1 – $529,000, 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, 2 Family condo; Open Houses: Saturday 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

175 Lovell Road – $925,000, 4 bedrooms, 3 full and 1 half bathrooms, Colonial;Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday 2-3:30 p.m.

37-39 Irma Ave. – $565,000, 2 units, 4 total bedrooms, 2 Family home; Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3:30 p.m. Sunday 1:30-3:30 p.m.

160 Standish Road – $745,000, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, Colonial; Open Houses:
Saturday noon-2 p.m. Sunday noon-2 p.m.

32 Whites Ave Unit D28 – $318,000, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Mid-Rise condo; Open Houses:
Friday 3-5 p.m. Sunday 2-4:30 p.m. Monday 1-3 p.m.

23-25 Highland Avenue – $599,000, 2 units, 6 total bedrooms, 2 Family; Open House: Sunday 1-3 p.m.

41 Bancroft St. – $569,900, 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathroom, Colonial; Open Houses:
Saturday noon-2 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

7 Lloyd Road Unit 7 – $415,000, 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, Garden condo; Open Houses Saturday 2-4 p.m. Sunday 2-4 p.m.

104 Coolidge Hill Road Unit 7 – $425,000, 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, Townhouse condo, Open Houses: Saturday 1:30-3 p.m. Sunday 1:30-3 p.m.

31 Standish Road – $599,000 3 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms, Colonial; Open Houses: Saturday noon-2 p.m. Sunday noon-2 p.m.

112 Charles River Road – $759,000 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, single-family home, Open Houses: Saturday noon-1:30 p.m. Sunday noon-1:30 p.m.

19-21 Bates Road – $749,900, 2 units, 6 total bedrooms, 2 Family home; Open House: Sunday 2:30-4 p.m.

313 Common Street Unit 2 – $519,000, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, 2 Family condo; Open House: Sunday 1 p.m.

233 Warren Street – $639,000, 6 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, Colonial; Open Houses: Saturday 2-3:30 p.m. Sunday noon-1:30 p.m.

51-57 Dexter Avenue – $1,799,000, 4 units, 8 total bedrooms, 4 Family Side by Side; Open House: Sunday 2-3:30 p.m.

57 Dexter Avenue Unit 57 – $479,900, 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, Townhouse condo; Open House: Sunday 2-3:30 p.m.

39 Franklin Street Unit 39 – $699,000, 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, townhouse, Open Houses: Saturday 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sunday 1-2:30 a.m.

Development

Town Seeks Comments on Draft of Watertown Comprehensive Plan

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A draft of the master planning document that will influence the way Watertown will be built up (or not) has been created and town officials seek input from residents. The document is a long one, with 220 pages and hundreds of recommendations. The plan has sections on land use, transportation/circulation/parking, housing, economic development, open space/recreation, natural resources, historical/cultural resources, public services/facilities, energy and implementation of the plan. Work started more than a year ago on the document, and the consultants – Vanasse Hangen Brustlin – held public forums to get input on what kind of Watertown people want to see in the future. The Town Council’s Economic Development and Planning Subcommittee recently discussed how to get input and a schedule for approving the plan.

Around Town

BLOG: Buying a Home in Today’s Low-Inventory Real Estate Market

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We’re seeing it over and over again in Greater Boston and beyond, a well qualified home buyer getting beat out in a multiple offer situation. Unfortunately this has become more commonplace in today’s inventory-lacking market. Rates are still low and people are not trading up or trading down, still recouping lost value from the market crash which is causing a lot of frustration for buyers. Utilizing specific language or waiving certain customary clauses in your offer may drastically increase your chances of having your offer accepted. Here’s a few pointers to at least take into consideration.