Government

Detailed Plans for Watertown Square Project to be Presented at Open House

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Save the date for the Open House on Watertown Square Implementation on May 20, 2026, from 3-8 p.m. at 9 Galen St. See more details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Join the Open House! The City of Watertown invites you on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, between 3-8 PM to 9 Galen Street for the Watertown Square Implementation Open House!Stop in anytime between 3-8 PM to visit stations that will inform you more about the Demonstration Project and the Urban Revitalization Plan. 

Topics that you can engage with at the Open House include:

A detailed outline of the drafted Demonstration Project Plan, as presented by City Manager Proakis in April. Guided tours of Demonstration Project area with members of the project team.

Development

First Details of Redevelopment of Watertown Square Parking Lots Revealed, Including Garage & Residential Project

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Watertown City Manager George Proakis gave some details about a possible Demonstration Project on the Municipal Parking Lot in Watertown Square. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Monday night, the public got the first glimpse of a possible future for the parking lot behind CVS, the Armenian Museum of America and other businesses in Watertown Square, and it may include a multi-story garage built by the City and a residential building constructed by a private developer. City Manager George Proakis spoke to a packed room at the Watertown Free Public Library. He discussed a variety of topics, including how the Watertown Square planning got to Monday’s meeting, designing the new look intersection, and the main event: the Demonstration Project that would be built on the Municipal Parking Lot. Due to constraints, such as the City of Cambridge’s water supply line that runs under the parking lot, Proakis said the likely layout would be to put the garage on the area in back of the Armenian Museum of America.

Government

City to Give Update on Watertown Square Project at Public Meeting

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

The City of Watertown invites you on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 6 p.m. to the Watertown Free Public Library (123 Main St.) for a community meeting about the latest updates with the implementation of the Watertown Square Area Plan. Join and hear a presentation from City Manager George Proakis on the latest developments, plans, and questions from the City, including:

A review of the current steps implementing the Watertown Square Area Plan’s vision. Strategies for the future of the public parking lot behind CVS. An introduction into the Demonstration Project and Urban Revitalization Plan. An overview of private-public partnerships, what they are, and why they matter in this project.

Development

City Starting Detailed Designs for Watertown Square Intersection, Revitalization of Commercial Area

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The future of Watertown Square will be designed in 2026 with plans for major changes to the intersection as well as the commercial district in and around the Square. (Photo by City of Watertown)

More than a year after the zoning for Watertown Square was approved, City officials are preparing to begin the creation of two detailed plans to revitalize the Watertown Square commercial area, and to redesign the intersection. The project includes changes gto the roadway and intersection, as well as building on the parking lots in the Square. Discussions about the future of Watertown’s major intersection began in November 2023 with the multi-day design charrette, and continued through 2024 with the approval of the new zoning in July 2024, known as the Watertown Square Area Plan (click here to see the approved plan). During 2025, the work has been internal within the City’s Department of Community Development and Planning, in conjuction with consultants, to come up with a Revitalization Plan and designs for the new intersection in the Square, according to the City’s announcement about the implementation of the Watertown Square Area Plan.

Development

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

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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.

Development

ZBA Has Suggestions for Residential Project on Water Street, Gets Update on 104 Main St. Project

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An illustration of the proposed residential project at 108 Water St. (Courtesy of Eaglebrook Capital). The Zoning Board of Appeals gave plenty of input on the proposed 52-unit residential project proposed for Water Street, but continued the hearing until December so that designers could make some adjustments to the plans. The board also granted a requested change for the project at 104 Main St., and got an update on the building going up across from the Watertown Library. 108 Water St.

Around Town

City Will Begin Designing Watertown Square Soon, Construction Many Months Away

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Erika Jerram, the City of Watertown’s Director of Community Design, speaks to a group at a Watertown Business Coalition event. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

After a flurry of activity during the planning stages for Watertown Square, there has been a lull in the process. City officials said the action will begin again in the near future but the shovels won’t be hitting the ground for up to two years. Watertown’s Director of Community Design Erika Jerram provided an update on the status of the Watertown Square project during the Watertown Business Coalition’s coffee connect at Watertown Savings on July 16. The City Council and Planning Board approved the Watertown Square Area Plan in July 2024.