Government

Nichols Avenue to be Closed During Repaving on Sept. 17

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Nichols Avenue in East Watertown will be repaved on Saturday, Sept. 17 as part of the work being done for the LINX project on the former Verizon site. 

The developers told the Department of Public Works that Nichols Avenue will be closed between Melendy Avenue and the eastern side of the Bigelow/Nichols intersection. Work will begin at 7 a.m. and signs about detours around the work area will go up at 6:30 a.m.

Only local traffic will be allowed the corner of Elton Avenue and Artsahk Street, and also at Merrifield Avenue and Bigelow Avenue. The area will be reopened once the work is complete and the surface is drivable.

Around Town

Town Council Clears Way for Sale of Former East Branch Library

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After many years of trying to lease the former East Branch Library, the Town Council voted Tuesday night to seek proposals to sell the property on Mt. Auburn Street. The vote was 8-1 to approve seeking proposals, with Councilor Michael Dattoli voting against the proposal. The minimum bid would be $1 million, said Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon. For some Councilors, the decision was a reversal of what they had pushed for before.

Branch Libraries

Fate of Watertown’s Branch Libraries on Council Agenda Tuesday Night

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The two former-branch libraries have sat unused for several years, and Tuesday night the Town Council will talk about what to do with the two buildings. The East Branch is located on Mt. Auburn Street and the North Branch sits on Orchard Street. Tuesday, the Council will hear from Assistant Town Manager Steve Magoon about what to do with the old libraries. Some in town have suggested having the Watertown Public Schools use the branch libraries to help relieve the crowding in the elementary schools.

Election 2016

Devaney, Koutoujian Win in Watertown, Clinch Nominations

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Marilyn Petitto Devaney won the Watertown vote for Governor’s Council with 60 percent of the vote, and was declared the winner. Also, Sheriff Peter Koutoujian won Watertown with nearly 90 percent of the vote. The primary election only brought out 1,845 voters, or close to 8 percent of the registered voters in town. Town Clerk John Flynn said that amount is slightly higher than anticipated. Devaney, a former Watertown Town Councilor, received 1,004 votes in her hometown, but the district includes 27 communities.

Community Preservation Act

Community Preservation Act Approved to go on Watertown Ballot

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The Community Preservation Act in Watertown will be on the ballot in town this November when residents will get to vote on whether create a fund for open space, affordable housing and historical preservation by adding a surcharge to tax bills. This will be the second time the CPA has been on the ballot in Watertown. In 2005 the measure made the ballot but was voted down. This time a group called Invest in Watertown has resurrected the effort, and on Tuesday announce they had the signatures needed to get on the ballot. Even before the CPA officially made the ballot, the Concerned Watertown Homeowners Association came out opposing adding to the town’s tax rates for the CPA (see the group’s letter here).

Elections

A Couple Candidates with Local Ties on Thursday’s State Primary Ballot

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There’s an election this week on an unusual day – Thursday – and there are some locals on the ballot. The State Primary was moved to Thursday by Secretary of State William Galvin to avoid a conflict with the day after the Labor Day holiday. Polls will be open on Sept. 8 from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Democrats have two contested races to vote in, and both races feature people with local ties. Longtime Governor’s Councilor Marilyn Petitto Devaney, a former Watertown Town Councilor will be running for reelection.

Arsenal Project

New Mall Entrance, Paths Could be Included in Arsenal Mall Renovation

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Some significant changes to the roadways around the Arsenal Mall could be in store as part of the major renovation project. The master plan for the Arsenal Project will soon be submitted to the town, and the architects and planners behind the project met with the public for the fifth time Wednesday night. Traffic and transportation was a major focus, along with some updated views of the mall. The plan for the mall includes a movie theater, a grocery store, a bowling alley, more restaurants and a few hundred housing units. The new development would add more than 6,300 trips (a car going to and leaving counts as two trips) during a typical weekday, according to Giles Ham, traffic engineer with Vanasse & Associates.

Development

Changes Made to Garage in Athenahealths’ Renovation of the Arsenal Complex

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Some significant changes have been made to the proposed first phase of the Arsenal on the Charles renovation, including an alteration of the garage. 

Tuesday night, official from complex-owners Athenahealth discussed Phase 1 of the project, which will go before the Planning Board in September. The most significant change will be the removal of one of the two underground levels of parking in the new structure going on the west side of the Arsenal on the Charles. The change was made because there were some concerns about groundwater and soil removal, said Bob Corning, senior principal with Stantec. “The massing and height of the garage will be the same,” Corning said. “The underground level will be a bit taller to allow for stacked parking (cars on lifts) in the future if necessary.”