Boylston Properties

Subcommittee Supports Tall Building at End of Arsenal Street in RMUD

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The details of the proposed Regional Mixed Use District, or RMUD, were hashed out by a Town Council subcommittee, and councilors voted to allow the possibility of a tall building being built on top of what is now the Miller’s Ale House. The vote came from the Economic Development and Planning Committee, which met Thursday to continue to make their recommendations for possible amendments to the proposed major zoning change. The full Town Council will discuss and vote on the RMUD at a meeting scheduled for Monday, Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in Town Hall. The possibility of building a building of 10 stories or even higher is one of the most controversial parts of the zoning proposal.

Elections

LETTER: Candidate for Democratic State Committee Introduces Himself

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Friends, Neighbors, and Constituents:

I am a lifelong Democrat and resident of the 2nd Suffolk and Middlesex senatorial district. I attended high school in a neighboring town, and later graduated from Boston University and the London School of Economics. We live in a highly diverse and prominent district and I am writing to remind voters in Watertown, Belmont, Brighton/Allston, Back Bay, and Fenway to come out and vote on Tuesday, March 1 in the Presidential Primary election. Now as we turn to this election year, the stakes could not be greater for our nation and our local communities. I urge voters to take a hard look at all of the candidates running for U.S. President and the U.S. Congress, and down ballot races.

Election 2016

Voter Registration Day to be Held at the Watertown Library

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Head down to the Watertown Free Public Library to register to vote in the Massachusetts Presidential Primary. The primary will be held Tuesday, March 1, and every vote counts, but only if you’re registered to vote. The voter registration event will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the Watertown Savings Bank Room on the first floor of the library. You can receive assistance filling out the online and paper voter registration form.

Capital Improvement Plan

Capital Improvement Plan has Projects for Schools, Streets and More

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The Town of Watertown’s major building projects and equipment purchases for the next five years were laid out in the Capital Improvement Plan, released this week by Town Manager Michael Driscoll. The Fiscal 2017-21 CIP includes nearly $140 million, which is nearly $2 million more than the Fiscal 2016-20 CIP, Driscoll said at Tuesday’s Town Council meeting. The FY17-21 plan would required more than $40 million in bonding. The Council will discuss the CIP at its next meeting on Feb. 9.

Elections

LETTER: Founder of Progressive Watertown Backs Steve Owens

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Letter to Editor;

I’ve been lucky to be a political organizer in Watertown. Watertown’s reputation as a progressive base has grown with each election, from the Patrick for Governor campaign to the rousing campaigns for Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and other progressive statewide and local races. In each of these elections, Steve Owens has proven his mastery of GOTV by helping to secure clear majorities for the Democratic candidate in Watertown. During these elections, the state-wide committees saved their resources and let Watertown run with it. In fact, the Warren campaign credits Watertown with training many of their regional coordinators.

Government

Water Main Break in Waltham May Cause Brown Water in Watertown

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On Tuesday, a water main broke near the Watertown line in Waltham, and efforts to maintain water flow in Watertown could mean residents getting rusty water out of their faucets. The pipe that ruptured at the intersection of River and Seyon streets in Waltham also carries MWRA water to Watertown, said Watertown Public Works Superintendent Gerald Mee. River Street becomes Pleasant Street, and Mee said the flow of water in town had to be reversed to continue to provide service to areas of the west end of town. That stirs up the rust in the pipes, which may end up in people’s water, Mee said. “The way to deal with it is to let your water run until it isn’t brown anymore,” Mee said.

Government

Flu Season is Not Over, Town Health Department Holding a Flu Clinic

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Flu season isn’t over yet! It’s not too late to get vaccinated! If you missed getting your flu vaccine in the fall, now would be an excellent opportunity to stay ahead of the flu. The Watertown Health Department would like to inform you of an additional flu clinic for this season. Free Public Flu Clinic:

Friday, February 5, 2016 from 2-5 p.m.

Ages 6 months and older at the Watertown Free Public Library (Ground Level -Watertown Savings Bank Meeting Room)

Please remember to bring your Medicare and Insurance card(s) with you, vaccine is still available to you even if you do NOT have insurance.

Affordable Housing

Council Subcommittee Rules on RMUD Borders, Passes on Affordable Housing

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A subcommittee of the Town Council met Saturday and debated whether to split up the proposed Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD) on the east end of Arsenal Street, but it decided to hold off on a recommendation on whether to increase the affordable housing requirement for the area. 

The Economic Development and Planning subcommittee went through the proposed amendments to the RMUD, which is currently under consideration by the full Town Council. The zoning change would turn the area where the Arsenal and Watertown malls are located (and other nearby properties) from industrial zoned to one where a mix of residential, retail and office would be allowed. Some residents who have followed the process wanted to split the RMUD in two. Currently, Boylston Properties, which owns the Arsenal Project and other parcels south of Arsenal Street, is working on plans to redevelop the mall. Resident Elodia Thomas said people still have questions on how the zoning would work in the entire district, but have seen a lot already about what Boylston Properties wants to do.