Around Town

Big Discussions Over the Future of a Small Pond in East Watertown

By |

Maya ShwayderThe future is uncertain for Sawin’s Pond, a small body of water between Arlington Street and Coolidge Avenue. It’s easy to miss Sawin’s Pond in Watertown. The little body of water sits squished between where Arlington and Coolidge streets come together, behind a UPS outlet that’s across from the Home Depot. It’s not much to look at: some scraggly trees and browned earth, and rubber is sticking up in some places. But the privately-owned space has been the center of a long-running debate: what, exactly, should happen to the land?

Around Town

OP-ED: The MBTA Communities Law Part 2 – What It Is, What It Isn’t

By |

mass.gov

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

What the MBTA Law (MGL 40A Section 3A of the Zoning Act) is:

A zoning plan to address building multifamily housing in areas where there is public transportation. What it is for Watertown:

A zoning plan for 1,701 housing units in the form of three family structures or more. These units must be non-exclusionary, meaning without any age restrictions, and suitable for families with children. Why 1,701? Because that’s about 10 percent of the housing we have right now.

Around Town

UPDATED: Committee Will Consider Which Community Preservation Projects to Support in 2023

By |

The Community Preservation Committee will deliberate over the proposed projects for 2023, and vote on which ones to recommend to the City Council for final approval. The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) makes recommendations on how to spend the funds raised after Watertown passed the Community Preservation Act (CPA) in 2016. The money can fund projects in multiple areas: historic preservation, affordable housing, and open space and recreation. In February, the CPC heard six proposal for projects to be funded. On Thursday, March 30, at 7 p.m. the Committee will discuss the proposals and vote on recommendations.

Around Town

OP-ED: MBTA Communities & How it Could Impact Watertown

By |

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Part 1

In January 2021, surrounded by some very happy building tradespeople, Charlie Baker signed the MBTA Communities Law into effect, and I missed it. Totally. Apparently, so did a whole lot of us! In August 2021, I was having lunch with a friend who lives in Boston. We were catching up.

Around Town

Watertown’s Yard Waste Pickup Begins in April, See the Schedule

By |

Yard waste pick up will begin in Watertown on April 3, and there will be two a month, except in September when there are four pick ups. Department of Public Works provided the following announcement:

Here is the Yard Waste Pick-Up Schedule for Spring 2023. Yard waste will be picked up on your scheduled trash day during the weeks of April 3, 17, May 1, 15, June 5, 26, July 10, 24, August 7, 21, 28, Sept 4, 11, 18, 25. For more information, call: 617-972-6420, email: recycle@watertown-ma.gov, or visit: www.watertown-ma.gov/zerowaste

Around Town

Our History: The Formation of the Historical Society of Watertown

By |

Dr. Alfred Hosmer (Courtesy of the Watertown Free Public Library)

The following article is part of a series on local history provided by the Historical Society of Watertown. It was written by Joyce Kelly, Board member of the Historical Society of Watertown. Joyce writes articles for the newsletter and is the newsletter editor. This was published in our February 1999 newsletter, “The Town Crier.” THE FORMING OF THE HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF WATERTOWN

Many of you have been members of the Historical Society for years, and several of you are new members.

Around Town

See the Chamber’s Virtual Watertown Business Community Town Hall, Take the City’s Survey

By |

Charles River Regional ChamberA screenshot from the Charles River Regional Chamber’s video featuring Watertown. The Charles River Chamber recently hosted a virtual gathering of the Watertown business community where attendees learned about the Comprehensive Plan update. The City’s survey about the update ends Friday, March 24, so now is your chance to be heard about Watertown’s future. The Charles River Chamber sent out the following information:

Finally this week, my thanks to Watertown Senior Planner Larry Field for joining us at our virtual Watertown Business Community Town Hall for a presentation explaining the city’s draft Comprehensive Plan (as well as his unsolicited “PSA” about this newsletter). No idea what a Comprehensive Plan is?