Arsenal Yards

See a Mock-Up of a Taller Tower at the Arsenal Yards Site

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On Monday, June 18, 2018, the developers of the Arsenal Yards project — the former Arsenal Mall — will hold a community meeting to discuss a proposed amendment to allow a building 67 feet higher (197 feet total) than allowed under current zoning. The Town has shared a slideshow that will be used at the meeting which shows a rendering of the taller tower. According to the slides, the taller tower would have the same number of units (122) as the 129-foot-tall tower, but would have a different look. Besides being taller, it would be thinner, and have more glass, according to the rendering. It would also have no studios, but would have a penthouse.

Development

Planning Board Approves Fourth Phase of Arsenal Yards, Including the Plaza

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The fourth phase of the renovation of the Arsenal Mall, which will create a plaza surrounded by restaurants and retail stores with apartments on top, got the approval of the Planning Board Wednesday night. 

The two main sections of Phase 4 of the Arsenal Yards project will be built around an area that will be shared by pedestrians and vehicles, and is designed to allow outdoor seating for restaurants that look out on the area. The whole area is designed to be blocked off to traffic and used for events such as a fair, a farmer’s market or other gatherings, the developers told the Planning Board. Building C will have 27,500 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant space on the ground floor, with 130 apartments on five floors of housing above.

Elections

Watertown Resident Interning for Senate Candidate Geoff Diehl

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Today Representative Geoff Diehl, the endorsed Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, announced that Watertown resident Samuel Ford will be interning for his
campaign. “I am happy to have Sam as an intern and I believe he will be a great asset to the campaign. Sam is one of the many young interns on the team and I believe their energy and passion will help contribute to an election day victory,” said Diehl. Regarding his new internship with the campaign Ford said, “I am honored to be a part of the Diehl campaign team and I look forward to helping him succeed. This will be a great learning opportunity and I hope to gain valuable experience.”

Ford is currently a history major completing his junior year at UMass Amherst.

Government

Town Council Approves Major Raise for Watertown’s Town Manager

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Watertown Town Manager Michael Driscoll received a raise of more than $20,000 Tuesday night after the Town Council approved giving him raises in two previous years. Changes to the Town Manager’s salary must be made by an ordinance approved by the Town Council. The Council unanimously approved the ordinance Tuesday night that increased his annual salary by $23,000. The ordinance passed on Tuesday listed some of Driscoll’s accomplishments during his time as manager, including raising the town’s bond rating to AAA by Standard & Poor’s, paying off the town’s unfunded retirement system by July 1, 2019 (years before other communities), saving money for the town by entering town employees into the Government Insurance Commission’s group health insurance, and high marks from the state’s Division of Local Services after a full financial management review. Driscoll’s previous salary was $172,500, and the ordinance passed Tuesday included a raise to $184,000 in Fiscal Year 2017 and to $195,500 in Fiscal Year 2018, the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018.

Government

State Rep. Jonathan Hecht Hosting Office Hours in Watertown in June

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Representative Jonathan Hecht will hold office hours twice in Watertown this June. Constituents are invited to meet with Representative Hecht at the following times and locations:
Thursday, June 21st, 8:30-9:30 a.m., Watertown Town Hall, 149 Main St, Watertown, 3rd Floor hallway
Thursday, June 28th, 6:00-7:00 p.m., Watertown Free Public Library, 123 Main St, Watertown, Raya Stern Trustees Room
Anyone unable to attend these office hours can call Representative Hecht at 617-722-2140 to schedule an appointment at another time.

Development

Watertown’s I-Cubed Application Still Being Analyzed by State

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The application for $25 million in infrastructure projects in Watertown, and on state lands in town, in return for more jobs and growth by Athenahealth, remains in the hands of State officials. 

The I-Cubed project, which is a partnership between Athenhealth, the Town of Watertown and the Department of Conservation and Recreation (which controls the areas around the Charles River), is being examined by the Department of Revenue (DOR), according to a memo sent to Town Manager Michael Driscoll. The memo sent in an email from attorney Stephen W. DeCourcey of Lynch, DeSimone & Nylen, who represents the Town in the I-Cubed project, reads:
“The Department of Revenue has not completed its financial analysis of the new tax revenues that are expected to be received as a result of Athena’s economic development project on the Arsenal site. This analysis is a prerequisite to the Commonwealth’s approval of the joint application. The DOR is expected to complete its analysis in the next few weeks.” The I-Cubed program is run by the Executive Office of Administration & Finance (A&F).

Government

OP-ED: Details of Gun Control Legislation Being Considered on Beacon Hill

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{The following piece was written by State Sen. Will Brownsberger (D – Belmont) who represents Watertown in the Massachusetts State House}

The House and Senate have both now given initial approval to legislation to make it easier to take guns away from people who are a risk of harming themselves or others. It will likely be finalized and enacted before the end of this session. We already have strong laws that allow a person to seek protection of the court, including removal of firearms, when he or she fears violence from a partner. And school shootings are hard to predict. The best argument for the new legislation is that it will reduce the dominant but least visible category of gun death: suicide.

Government

Watertown’s Veterans’ Agent Seeks to Create Memorial to Town’s Vietnam Veterans

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The Town of Watertown has memorials to veterans of several wars, including World War I, World War II and Korea, but not for Vietnam. Watertown Veterans’ Agent Mark Comeiro wants to change that. 

Watertown has around 600 Vietnam veterans, Comeiro said, but nothing to honor them. “The Vietnam Memorial would be for all Vietnam veterans of Watertown — killed in action, combat, Vietnam era,” Comeiro said. “It wouldn’t have names on it. It would be stone representing our Vietnam veterans of Watertown.