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.

80 Elm Street

Proposal for Self Storage Facility in East End Will be Discussed at Community Meeting

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The developers of a proposed self storage facility sent out the following announcement:

Please join 80 Elm Street Partners for a presentation of the plans and discussion of the new self storage facility it proposes to build at the former Atlantic Battery site located at 80 Elm St., Watertown, MA. 

DATE: Wednesday, June 20, 2018

TIME: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

PLACE: The Apartments at Coolidge School, 319 Arlington St., Watertown

For more information contact HDS Architecture, Inc.’s Hans D. Strauch at 617-714-5870

(See the schematic design drawings by clicking here.)

Town Council Votes Down Prohibiting Self Storage in Watertown

Government

Town Water and Sewer Bills Include Incorrect Charges, To be Resent

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Town officials announced that the latest batch of Water/Sewer bills included an incorrect charge on them, and a corrected bill will be resent. 

The error was due to an error made when inputing the dates for the interest, according to a memo from Department of Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee. Residents who paid the incorrect amount will have the extra charge credited toward their next bill. The town sent out the following announcement:

The quarterly water and sewer bills dated May, 30, 2018 with a due date June 29, 2018 included an incorrect interest charge. Please be advised that no incorrect interest charges were ever applied to those accounts but were unfortunately printed on the bill. A corrected bill is being mailed which properly reflects the current interest charges, if any.

Development

Taller Building Heights at Arsenal Yards to be Discussed at Community Meeting

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The Watertown Planning Department announced the developers of the Arsenal Mall will host a community meeting about the proposed zoning change to allow a height increase in the Regional Mixed Use District. Developers sent out the following information:

Boylston Properties will hold a Community Meeting to review the proposed zoning change in regards to Building G located within Arsenal Yards. The purpose of this meeting will be to present and discuss the proposed zoning amendment which requests an increase the overall height of the building from its previously approved 130 feet to 197 feet. If approved, the height within the Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD) could be 197 feet by “Master Plan Special Permit within a defined Mixed-Use project, using adopted Design Guidelines provided the project includes a diversity of building heights and furthers the intent and purpose (§5.18.a) of the RMUD.” (From WZO) Building G will contain approximately 140 for-sale residential condominium units and 193,000 GSF (versus the previously approved 189,000 SF). Discussion will include the massing of the Building as well as the buildings location relative to the Charles River and Arsenal Park. The Meeting will be held on Monday June 18, 2018 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the “Arsenal Yards Development Office” located within the Mall.

Government

Charles River Path, Parking Lot Closing Briefly for Installation of Pedestrian Bridge

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The long awaited installation of the Joseph Thompson Pedestrian Bridge will happen at the end of May, and will require the closure of a section of the path along the Charles River in Watertown, as well as a parking lot near the Dealtry Pool. The Department of Conservation and Recreation sent out the following information about the closure of the path:
DCR Pedestrian and Traffic Advisory: Charles River Greenway/Dealtry Pool in Watertown
WHAT: On Wednesday, May 30, 2018, and Thursday, May 31, 2018, the Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) will implement a closure of the Charles River Greenway along Pleasant Street between Bridge Street and Galen Street in the Town of Watertown, and the parking lot at the Dealtry Memorial Pool. The closure will accommodate the delivery and placement of the new Joseph Thompson Pedestrian Bridge. Work will be conducted from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Pedestrians and bicyclists are encouraged to utilize California Street, and traffic delays are anticipated. A detour route and traffic signage will be clearly marked, a police detail will be on site, and DCR Rangers will assist pedestrians and bicyclists.