Development

Garage Presents a Sticking Point in Athenahealth’s Plans for Arsenal Complex

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The new owner of the Arsenal on the Charles, athenahealth, has a grand vision for revitalizing the complex, but one feature may stand in the way of getting approval from the Town Council – a seven story parking garage. The company bought the 29-acre complex between Arsenal and North Beacon streets to be its corporate headquarters and company officials want to add more than just additional space for athenahealth, said Bridger McGaw, director of athena environment told the Town Council. The company has a master plan, which it seeks approval from the town so the approval process can be streamlined. Athenahealth would like to bring in retail stores, restaurants and even put in a beer garden. Another idea is to create a “Quincy Market-like” area by putting glass over areas between the “finger buildings” – the long buildings east of the Arsenal Center for the Arts.

Development

Volkswagen Project Gets Approval from Planning Board

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Plans to turn the Sullivan Tire store into a Volkswagen used car facility took a step forward Wednesday night when the Planning Board approved the special permit for the project. Boston Volkswagen appeared for the second time in front of the Planning Board and made a few changes to the proposal. More landscaping will be planted in front of the building at 21 North Beacon Street. “Shrubs, ground cover and grading will help mask the service door,” said Greg Sampson, the attorney for Boston Volkswagen. “We are working with the Tree Warden to replant a couple trees in front of the service door.” The first time the project was presented members of the Planning Board and the public said they did not think the project fit in with the vision for making Watertown Square more attractive and inviting to shoppers and pedestrians.

Elections

LETTER: Watertown Resident, Doctor Endorses Warren Tolman for AG

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To the Editor:I am a physician trained in pediatrics, a father of a young son and a concerned resident of Watertown. I am writing to urge your readers to support Warren Tolman for attorney general because he supports common-sense gun reform. The recent untimely death of James Brady, killed many years later by an assassin’s bullet, makes the subject of gun reform more poignant than ever.According to the CDC, between 1999 and 2010, 4,698 children aged 1-14 senselessly died by gunfire, and another 7,500 children are hospitalized each year for the same reason.Warren knows that a solution to many of these deaths and injuries is literally at our fingertips. Technology currently exists that would allow fingerprint readers to unlock the firing mechanism of guns. If such a system were mandated, no child would ever be able to have an accident with a smart gun that did not belong to him or her.

Government

Watertown’s Second Dog Park Could Be Built on the East Side

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Dogs may have their day on the East Side of Watertown with the Town Council looking at building the town’s second facility for pooches. This spring, the town’s first dog park opened in How Park on Pleasant Street. The town has studied putting a second one in one of the parks in East Watertown, said Town Manager Michael Driscoll. Tuesday night, the Council voted to send the issue to the Public Works subcommittee. The two parks being examined as places to put the dog park are Arsenal Park and Filippello Park.

Elections

Warren Tolman’s AG Campaign Supported by a Kennedy

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Warren Tolman got an endorsement from the first family of Massachusetts politics recently when a Kennedy announced his support of the Watertown Democrat’s run for Attorney General. Former Congressman Patrick Kennedy endorsed Tolman following a discussion on mental health at the Hope House Boston on Monday, where the two discussed enforcing mental health parity, reforming the criminal justice system, and improving substance abuse treatment. “For as long as I’ve known Warren Tolman, he’s been a voice for those suffering from mental health disorders and a tireless advocate in the cause to combat substance abuse,” said Kennedy, co-founder of One Mind for Research, a non-profit organization dedicated to mental health research and treatment, and founder of Kennedy Forum, an advocacy organization committed to advocating for mental health parity. “I’m supporting Warren Tolman to be the next Attorney General because he is dedicated to using the office to take action on these interlocked issues. He has developed an insightful approach to address mental illness and substance abuse and I look forward to partnering with him to ensure mental health parity.”

Tolman spoke about how as Attorney General he would hold insurance companies and providers accountable for providing mental health and substance abuse treatment.”It’s a great honor to receive the support of Patrick Kennedy, a dedicated leader for improving mental health treatment nationwide,” Tolman said. “Congressman Kennedy’s vocal advocacy to expand and fight for mental health parity has advanced the scope of mental health treatment and improved the lives of millions of Americans.

Around Town

Victory Field Neighbors Worried About Future of Track Area

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The fence around the Victory Field tennis courts sits less than 100 feet from the back window of the home of Elodia Thomas and Bruce Coltin. The couple worries that proposed changes to the track area of the athletic complex will mean they will have to endure more light, noise and other annoyances in their home. In April, Thomas learned that the Recreation Department plans to renovate the track and courts at Victory Field. The plan calls for replacing the track and installing an artificial turf field and adding lights around the track. The courts would be redone, and a street hockey rink that can be frozen in the winter has also been proposed.

Elections

Warren Tolman Speaks Out Against NRA Video, Lands Endorsement

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Attorney General candidate and Watertown resident Warren Tolman spoke out this week against a video released by the National Rifle Association pushing for arming the blind. Tolman called the video exploitative, according to a statement released by his campaign. “The National Rifle Association’s lone goal is to stop any efforts that try to make our communities safer, despite the fact that we’ve lost 50,000 people to gun deaths since the Newtown tragedy,” Tolman said. “I have worked closely with the Perkins School for the Blind and advocates for more than a decade and I support their incredible work to enhance the lives of the visually impaired. The fact that the NRA would exploit blind people to push their extreme agenda with this insensitive video is just wrong.

Development

Residents Worry Eastside CVS Would Change Their Neighborhood

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The CVS/Pharmacy proposed in East Watertown would change the area, and make an already bad traffic situation worse, residents said at a meeting on the project. The store would go where the gas station now sits at the corner of Mt. Auburn and Arlington streets. It would also replace a small office building and the Elks Club and the parking lot would link to the lot on Wells Avenue. The project would make improve the Coolidge Square area by adding a pharmacy and sprucing up the site, said Bill York, attorney representing the developers at the meeting held at the Apartments at Coolidge School.