Development

52-Unit Residential Building on Water Street Approved by Zoning Board

By |

A view of 108 Water St., the 52-unit residential project approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals. (Eaglebrook Capital)

The Zoning Board of Appeals approved the planned 52-unit residential building at 108 Water Street on Wednesday night after designers made changes to exterior design of the building, along with some other alterations to the first plan presented in November. The condo building will have a mix of nine studios, 30 one bedrooms, 12 two bedrooms, and one three bedrooms. Eight of the units would meet the City’s affordable housing requirements. The building is five stories, with the fifth story stepped back seven feet as required in the Watertown Square 2 Zoning. One of the concerns raised by the board at the first meeting was the look of the ground floor that runs along Water Street and gets taller as the grade goes downhill.

Environment

City Council Sends Letter to MWRA Opposing Allowing Sewage Overflow in the Charles River

By |

Dave MartinA view down the Charles River from the Bridge on North Beacon Street. The City Council sent a letter to the MWRA opposing allowing sewage overflow from being released into the Charles River and returning to the days when the river was a “dumping ground for sewage.” The Council voted unanimously to support the letter at the Dec. 9 meeting. City Council President Mark Sideris said Watertown has invested in cleaning up the river.

Around Town

Chanukah Candles Light the Dark Night at Chabad Watertown’s Fourth Annual Celebration

By |

Rabbi Dovid Zaltzman lights a candle on the ice menorah during the fourth annual Chanukah Celebration at Arsenal Yards. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The flames of the candles on the big outdoor menorah shone through the dark and frigid night during Monday’s Chabad Watertown’s fourth annual Chanukah Celebration at Arsenal Yards. Dozens braved the 20 degree weather to enjoy some hot chocolate and doughnuts, catch gelt dropped from a Watertown Fire truck’s ladder, and watch a man twirl flaming sticks, eat fire, and blow fireballs. The fire dancer shoots a fireball during the Chanukah Celebration at Arsenal Yards. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Held on the second night of Chanukah, Chabad Watertown invited City Manager George Proakis, along with Watertown Police Chief Justin Hanrahan and Captain Dan Unsworth to light the service candle, in the middle of the ice menorah.

Business

Perkins Students Learn Life Skills Working at Local Businesses & Organizations

By |

Perkins School for the Blind student Hugh helps Watertown Savings Bank sort coins as part of a work experience partnership. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Students from Perkins School for the Blind have the opportunity to expand their education by leaving campus and learning on the job by working for businesses and organizations in and around Watertown. The school has developed partnerships with multiple employers, including Watertown Savings Bank and the Mount Auburn Cemetery, where students spend time each week. Hugh, a student at Perkins, heads over to the main branch of Watertown Savings each week to help the bank manage all the coins that come into the bank. “My job is I go behind the bank and behind to where they kept the coins, then open up the rolls, and then put it into a machine, so they count it and then sort it into a bag,” Hugh said.

Schools

Watertown’s Special Education Program “Needs Assistance” According to State Report

By |

For the first time, the Watertown Public Schools’ Special Education program has failed to earn a grade of “Meets Requirements” from state officials. The School Committee heard a report about the shortfalls and possible solutions at its Dec. 8 meeting. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) calculates a score for each school district based multiple factors including the outcomes for students with disabilities (graduations rates, MCAS, inclusion in regular classrooms), compliance with Special Education regulations, and other factors such as staffing and funds spent on special education. Watertown received a score of 31 out of a total of 45 points, or 69 percent, which falls into the “Needs Assistance” category.

Government

Flock Cameras: City Manager Working Out Details of Contract for License Plate Reading Devices

By |

Watertown’s contract with the Flock Safety company for eight license plate reading cameras was signed in September, but City officials are working on changing the section covering when data will be shared with other law enforcement. Meanwhile, a neighboring community terminated its contract with Flock, and another is determining its own policy for using the cameras. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting City Manager George Proakis provided a further update about the Flock cameras. During the previous Council meeting, on Nov. 25, he said that the data from the cameras, which take photos of plates but do not have a live feed, will be used only as part of an ongoing investigation.

Around Town

Community Preservation Funds Approved for 2 Affordable Housing Projects & Work at the Commander’s Mansion

By |

A rendering of the affordable Willow Park affordable housing complex. Funding for a home for adults with special needs, to help build a 138 unit affordable housing complex, and to replace the elevator at a historic home owned by the City of Watertown were approved by the City Council Tuesday night. The three projects came recommended from the Community Preservation Committee. The funds come from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) surcharge on Watertown properties, which are to be spent in three areas: affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space/outdoor recreation. For each area, 10 percent of the funds collected go into a reserve.