Around Town

Tufts Health Plan Emphasizes “Health” for its Employees

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Last Friday, the parking lot at Tufts Health Plan seemed more like fair or gym as employees enjoyed the annual Field Day. The company set up a climbing wall, ping-pong tables, massage chairs and mini-golf. The 1,850 Tufts workers could also grab a jump rope or hula hoop, or organize a game of volleyball, basketball or even take part in a home run derby. They could also relax with a massage. This is just one of the efforts focusing on the health and fitness of the employees by the company, which has its headquarters on Mt.

Business

See Inside Watertown’s Newest Apartment Complex

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The Watertown Mews apartment complex have risen quickly on Pleasant Street, and residents have started to move into the complex across from Russo’s market. Even while construction continues on the second building, the first building already has its first residents, said Trenda Wallace, property manager at Watertown Mews. The complex was built next to the Repton Place condominium complex, but units at Watertown Mews will be rented. Originally the land was to be used for an addition to the Repton Place complex, but it was sold. The two complexes share an entrance.

Business

Owner of Arsenal Project Buys Another Property in Area

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Boylston Properties, one of the owners of the Arsenal Project, has purchased property down the street from the mall. The group has agreed to purchase a 10-acre parcel at 480 Arsenal St., according to a report on Banker & Tradesman. It is currently used by biotech company 480 Biomedical, but it could be rezoned for residential use, Boylston Properties President William McQuillan told Banker & Tradesman. Along with the mall, the group has purchased the former Charles River Saab dealership and has plans to build a six-story Residence Inn by Marriott hotel in that location. (See details here).

Business

Watertown Belmont Chamber Hosting Business Breakfast Round Table

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The Watertown Belmont Chamber of Commerce will will host an event at Eastern Bank in Watertown about loan programs to grow your business. The speaker at the Business Breakfast Round Table will be Charles Smith of Eastern Bank. He will talk about the SBA Loan Program which provides entrepreneurs with access to capital, including the 7a and 504 programs.

Bring your business cards so you can network, too. The event is on Wednesday, May 28, 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Eastern Bank, 1 Church St. in Watertown.

Business

Watertown Nutrition Outlet Offers Supplements at Affordable Prices

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For just over a year, the AMP Nutrition Outlet has been selling health and sports supplements on Arsenal Street. 

The store opened in the space where another supplement section of the UFood Grill that closed. The store offers sports drinks, energy bars, protein and vitamin powders and more, said Store Manager and Watertown resident Connor Grimes. “We are a lot cheaper (than the nutrition chains) and much more knowledgable,” Grimes said. “We order everything in the store and I don’t sell things that I wouldn’t use.” The store is just down the street from a few gyms and one of Watertown’s biggest employers.

Development

Council Shooting to Approve Comprehensive Plan by Fall

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The Comprehensive Plan – the major planning document that will shape Watertown’s future – will likely be approved this fall. 

The Town C0uncil’s Economic Development and Planning Committee discussed how they want to unveil the latest draft and collect input from town officials, town residents and others this week. The whole process will likely stretch into the fall. The Comprehensive Plan not only covers zoning rules and development, it also has recommendations for public transportation, bicycle and pedestrian issues, parks, and open space. Councilor Susan Falkoff did not like the idea of having the draft go to town department heads before the general public got to see it. The subcommittee agreed that the document should be published online so all can take a look.

Development

Changes Pleasant Street Area Zoning Moving Along

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Efforts to prevent more large housing project coming into the Pleasant Street areas moved a step closer Monday night. The Economic Development and Planning subcommittee voted to have the proposed changes go to the Town Council during the May 27 meeting, which would essentially put the new zoning into effect at that point. The Town Council seeks to draw development that includes retail, office and some light industrial in the West End of town. Three types of zoning will be created in the Pleasant Street Corridor – one where at least 25 percent of projects is commercial; a second where no retail is allowed – only retail, commercial and light industrial; and one where anything fitting the Pleasant Street Corridor rules can be built.

Councilors also want to prevent “canyon-ization” when multi-story building are built close to the street. To prevent this, buildings will have to be “stepped back” –  so floors above the second must be pushed 15 feet back from the front facade, and floors above the sixth must be pushed back 25 feet from the front facade.

Business

Watertown Handyman Tackles Jobs Big and Small

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For more than two decades, Watertown’s Mike Vick has been working on home improvement projects, from small repairs and upgrades to remodeling a bathroom or installing a deck. Vick runs MNM Handyman Services, and has been working in Watertown for a dozen years. He works with a licensed electrician and a licensed plumber, so Vick is confident about getting the job done. “If I can’t do it personally, I can have someone come by to do it,” Vick said. Recently MNM Handyman Services did some work at Alainn hair salon on Louise Street.