Development

Two Multistory Residential Projects Proposed in New Watertown Square Zoning

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An illustration of the proposed residential building at 108 Water St. (WSQ Development LLC)

Two residential projects have been proposed in Watertown, south of the Charles River and another in a vacant site on Mt. Auburn Street. The projects are among the first that would be built the new Watertown Square Zoning districts created so the City would comply with the MBTA Communities Law. The first project in the new zones was a five-unit residential building at 75 Spring St., which is located in the WSQ1 zoning, which allows 3+ story (four stories with a stepped back fourth story) projects.

Government

Watertown’s Housing Plan OK’d by State, is Compliant With MBTA Communities Law

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

City of Watertown is Officially Compliant with the MBTA Communities Law! The official notice of compliance was sent to City Manager George Proakis on April 9, 2025. This marks a significant step toward the ultimate goals in implementing the Watertown Square Area Plan, and revitalizing Watertown’s downtown. A (Very) Brief History to MBTA Communities Law Compliance

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts adopted the MBTA Communities Law in January 2021. This required 177 Cities and Towns to establish “at least one district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right.”

Around Town

Council President Calls for Recognition of Watertown’s Efforts to Create Housing

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City Council President Mark Sideris speaks at the 2024 Inauguration. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Watertown City Council President Mark Sideris recently wrote a letter to the Boston Globe asking for recognition of the City’s effort to allow housing, going above and beyond the state’s requirements. The letter was published by the Globe on Dec. 14. He wrote it in response to an article the paper ran about how Lexington met the requirements of the MBTA Communities Law and has about 1,000 units in the pipeline to be constructed.

Around Town

Watertown Square Zoning Changes Seek to Make More Vibrant, Bike/Pedestrian Friendly Area & Meets State Housing Requirements

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Wednesday night, the City Council and Planning Board began to dig into the details of the zoning that will make the transformation of Watertown Square a reality. The zoning includes areas where City officials seek to create areas with a vibrant street front, make the area more friendly for walkers and bicyclists, promote affordable housing, and a section where multi-story residential buildings will be allowed by right to comply with the state’s MBTA Communities Law. The two boards must approve the dozens of Zoning amendments in the Watertown Square Area Plan proposed zoning so that City officials can submit them to the State by December, said Assistant City Manager Steve Magoon. Added to the zoning changes are zoning to allow Accessory Dwelling Units by right, which would allow Watertown to comply with recently approved State legislation by the February deadline. See a bigger version of the proposed zoning map by clicking here.

Around Town

Watertown Square Plan Approved by Council & Planning Board; Zoning & Design to Occur This Fall

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City Manager George Proakis addresses the City Council and Planning Board at the Watertown Square Area Plan hearing on July 16. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

After three meetings, and nearly 10 hours of discussion and public comment, the City Council and Planning Board approved the Watertown Square Area Plan on Tuesday night. The plan was amended by the Council, but retained the major goals of the version first discussed by the boards at the first meeting on June 13: a by-right housing unit capacity of 3,133; and the Four Corners reconfiguration of the Watertown Square roadways, which removes Charles River Road from the intersection. The details of the zoning and design to make the plan a reality will take place this fall, including some public meetings. During the public comment period, multiple people suggested the vote be postponed, and/or that the City should only allow for the minimum housing capacity required by the state, 1,701.

Around Town

City Manager’s Update on Watertown Square Area Plan

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City Manager George Proakis provided the following statement he presented at the Watertown Square Area Plan Meeting on June 27. The third meeting on the plan will take place on Tuesday, July 16 at 6 p.m. at Watertown Middle School. This letter reproduces the introductory remarks given by the City Manager to the City Council and Planning Board at the Watertown Square Area Plan Joint Hearing on June 27, 2024, with modifications for publication:

As we embark on what I call the end of the beginning of the work on Watertown Square, I’d like to reflect on the progress we have made and the process we have taken to get to the publication of the Watertown Square Area Plan. Since the beginning of this process, we have spread the word about this plan throughout the city, by sharing announcements with the Watertown News, advertising on-line through our social media channels, sharing information in regular City Council meetings, three different tax bill inserts, and on signage at businesses and in public places throughout the city. We are tremendously proud of our community for joining us to participate in this process, and the ability to build this plan with collaborative involvement.

Government

City Council & Planning Board Weigh In on Watertown Square Area Plan

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Traffic flows and affordable housing remained front and center issues for city officials who gathered on June 27th to discuss — for the second time this year — the comprehensive redevelopment plan for Watertown Square. The discussion among the City Councilors and Planning Board members circled around what the sticking points of the Watertown Square Area Plan were and how, exactly, they should move forward. “Watertown Square is a failed concept. It’s been failing for 30 years. We need housing.

Around Town

LETTER: Reflections on Deliberations by City Council & Planning Board on Watertown Square Area Plan

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I’ve participated in every public meeting since October 2023 and I have publicly supported a renaissance for our city center through the Watertown Square Area Plan … both the 4 Corners streetscape and the proposed zoning changes to enable new housing of at least 3,300 unit capacity. I call these “imaginary units” because the concept of unit capacity assumes that existing landowners will tear down whatever exists on their property today and build housing up to the plan limits (an unlikely scenario at best). I strongly oppose the suggestion to limit “imaginary units” to 1701, either as a so-called “Phase1” or as a final number. The phased approach suggested by one Planning Board member seemslike a thinly veiled attempt to kick the controversy down the road in hopes that a highernumber will ultimately be rejected. However, the 1,701 number is too low to achieve our goalsto make Watertown Square a vibrant, attractive city center and an economically viable place forsmall businesses.