Around Town

Regional Planning Group Seeks Feedback on Areas of Town to Develop, Places to Preserve

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Watertown will be one of five communities on the I-90 Corridor studied by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to see which areas of town are the best fit for new homes and jobs, and which are best preserved. A feedback session will be held on July 31 in City Hall. See more in the information provided by MAPC. I-90 Corridor Development and Resiliency Plan: Mapping Feedback Session

The Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), is working with five communities along the I-90 corridor, including Watertown, Wellesley, Natick, Framingham, and Ashland to determine priority areas of regional significance. Which areas would be good for more homes and jobs?

Around Town

LETTER: Is Watertown in Balance?

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

Are We in Balance? Balance: “An even distribution of weight, enabling someone or something to remain upright and steady.” Oxford Languages

I was reading a Watertown News article entitled: “Life Science Building Could Potentially Go on Part of the Home Depot Parking Lot” and the comments that ensued and felt the need to write. As usual, it got long! Balance in Bio Lab Development

First, thanks, Corey Dillon for the list of labs that are empty and/or underutilized at this time. May I add to your list with other lab spaces in Watertown?

Government

City Manager: State of the City is Healthy & Strong, Concerns Remain About Tax Revenues

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The State of the City is “healthy and strong,” City Manager George Proakis stated Thursday evening. Watertown sits in a good position financially, Proakis said, the Council has done a good job improving and replacing facilities and parks, the City has been able to fill long-time openings, and there are some major efforts in the works, such as the new high school, the human services study, and Watertown Square. Proakis and City Council President Mark Sideris gave the second annual State of the City address on Thursday evening at the Watertown Library. The State of the City is a requirement added in the recent City Charter changes. While the City’s financial situation looks good, Proakis said there is still much work to be done.

Around Town

LETTER: Meeting TONIGHT on Future of Former Trampoline Park

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There is a VERY IMPORTANT meeting of the Planning Board tonight, May 8, at 7 p.m. regarding the 10-30 Manley Way proposed development. This is the site of the former Launch Trampoline Park and the Boston Rhythmic Dance Studio, which has been vacant for some time. There was a community meeting on September 5, 2023 that almost never happened. It was found out that our city rules needed to be amended so that a conversion of a 95,000 building required a community meeting for any type of change in such a building, not in just a newly planned one. About 70 plus residents attended this meeting via Zoom and the myriad of questions raised was quite impressive.

Around Town

LETTER: Lifelong Resident Concerned About Rapid Changes in Watertown

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I was born and raised in Watertown, as was my father and my grandparents before him. My grandfather was born on July 29th 1876, right where you can now catch the 57 bus. When my grandmother died in 1973 her obituary stated that she had 126 descendants, mostly born right here in Watertown. My grandfather and three of my uncles were Watertown Firefighters, and two were police. My father and three of his brothers were WWII veterans.

Around Town

Life Science Campus at Former Cannistraro Site Approved

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A view of the life science building from Acton Street in the newly approved project on the former Cannistraro property on Pleasant Street. (Courtesy of Broder)

The Planning Board approved plans to build a life science cluster on land off of Pleasant Street, but had concerns about the proximity of the project to the residential neighborhood to the north. The hearing at Wednesday night’s meeting was the second for the project, and it lasted more than 3.5 hours. The complex will have add a four-story, 133,324 sq. ft.

Around Town

LETTER: Part 2: My City of Watertown New Year’s Predictions & Ninth City Resolution

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By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

These are my opinions, based upon hundreds of conversations, attending numerous City meetings, and making thousands of observations over the past few years. I hope that they can stimulate conversation and help busy Watertown folks focus on some of the current issues. Things to be on the lookout for in 2024, if these City resolutions are not taken to heart by our City Councilors:

1 – Expect the assault on residents’ quality of life to continue:

Short-Term Rentals. That’s where your neighbors are allowed to run an informal hotel business out of their homes right next door to you. (And the City gets to collect a fee).

Development

Planning Board Approves Master Plan for Watertown Mall Transformation

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The master plan for Alexandria Real Estate’s Watertown Mall Transformation was approved by the Planning Board. (Courtesy of Alexandria Real Estate)

The basic plan for remaking a large portion of Arsenal Street, including the Watertown Mall, has been approved by the Planning Board. Before the multiple lab buildings, residential units, retail, and garages can be built, however, developers will have to come back for approval of each building. Almost all of the project falls within Watertown’s Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD), which allows for additional height and density that most of the town but requires a master plan to be approved. On Nov.