The firms behind the redevelopment of the Arsenal Mall have added a 145-room hotel along Arsenal Street to their plans.
Boylston Properties announced that they plan to put a Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton in what is known as Building B in their master plan for what is now called Arsenal Yards.
Jeff Heidelberg, project manager for Boylston Properties, said that the hotel is replacing what was originally planned to be a 79-unit residential building. The difference in the number of hotel rooms compared to residential units is because hotel rooms are smaller than the apartments.
Town Council President Mark Sideris said in the announcement that he welcomes the hotel and Steve Magoon, the Assistant Town Manager and Community Development and Planning Director, said it adds to the economic diversity of the project.
At Thursday night’s meeting about another part of the Arsenal Yards project East End Councilor Angeline Kounelis said she learned about the addition of the hotel late last week. While she said economic development is important for adding to Watertown’s tax base she added that she worries about how much the Town will get from the Arsenal Yards project and whether the increase will cover the cost of the Town services required for the new development.
“I have not been made aware of any much needed increased staffing levels for Police, Fire or DPW; departments that are already stressed to the max, servicing the needs of our community,” Kounelis told Wicked Local Watertown in a piece on the new hotel. “Unless the appropriate staffing increases are factored into the budget, the burdens will only continue to increase.”
Here is the announcement from the Arsenal Yards website:
Boylston Properties, now creating a new, mixed-use Arsenal Yards with retail, restaurants, residences, and entertainment space, announced today that a Hampton Inn and Suites by Hilton will be included in the redevelopment, adding to the transformation of the Arsenal Mall and adjacent properties into a dynamic new destination.
The new Hampton Inn & Suites, a brand of Hilton Hotels & Resorts, will have approximately 145 rooms, with retail space on the first floor. It is planned for the northwest corner of the property, along Arsenal Street and adjacent to a parking garage that will serve the hotel, new residents, and Arsenal Yards shoppers and visitors.
The hotel will supply additional rooms to Watertown and the greater Boston area, which will complement the opening last year of Boylston’s nearby Marriott Residence Inn.
“In the process of planning Arsenal Yards, we realized the opportunity to round out the hotel market in this area while providing another dynamic use to the Arsenal Yards project that will create more activity and vitality to the project as a whole,” said William McQuillan, Principal of Boylston Properties. “We think a hotel is an ideal addition to our plans.”
“Arsenal Yards will offer our hotel guests an array of shops, restaurants and entertainment right outside their door.”
Phil Cordell, Global Head for Focused Service and Hampton Brand Management, said, “We look forward to being a part of this exciting and energizing retail, entertainment, apartment and hotel development in Watertown that will surely impress and attract locals and visitors. We cannot wait to welcome guests to the brand new Hampton Inn and Suites and continue to grow our portfolio in the Boston area.”
Steve Magoon, Assistant Town Manager and Community Development and Planning Director of Watertown, said, “A hotel is a potentially exciting addition to the project and brings even more diversity to it. The Marriott was a great addition and has demonstrated the need or demand for new rooms. We hope the addition of another hotel will be just as successful and great an addition to the community.”
Mark Sideris, President of the Watertown Town Council, said, “This is a very appropriate place for a hotel, and I’m happy it’s coming to this area. It’s an avenue to help drive economic development and a great opportunity for Watertown to be welcoming and have places for people to stay.”
Boylston Properties, along with The Wilder Companies and partners, hope to begin construction later this year on the property that will bring fresh retail, residential, dining and entertainment venues to the area, while also providing more green space, bike paths and outdoor gathering areas for the community.
The new hotel and garage will be in the first phase of the redevelopment project, along with half of the planned retail and restaurants, with the hotel opening in Spring 2019.
The hotel will be owned by a new joint venture that is an affiliate of Boylston Properties and Stonebridge Partners, the team that also developed and owns the Marriott Residence Inn on Arsenal Street. The new hotel will also be managed by Stonebridge Partners. The architects for the new hotel will be a collaboration of Prellwitz Chilinski Associates and Group One Partners.
Planning of the new community was undertaken over the last two years with extensive involvement of the Watertown community, as well as city agencies and officials. Handsome historic portions of the original manufacturing complex will be retained, with creative architectural additions, respectful restoration, and sustainability as priorities. Arsenal Yards will be welcoming and highly accessible for bicyclists and pedestrians and have sheltered parking for those who drive or live there.
The completed project, over phases, will contribute significantly to Watertown’s tax base, approximately doubling the tax revenue from the current amount paid to the city.
Clever (or sleazy), move by the developer. By changing the plans from residential to a hotel, they don’t have to set X number of units aside for affordable housing.
I agree with Henry K. Where were Watertown officials when this swittcheroo was done?
Also, the world does not need another non descript , ugly Hampton Inn. At least let’s makes sure it’s an ambitious design that dramatizes and complements the history and other buildings. The new Marriott is really awful. Let’ not look like Rt 9 in Natick and Framingham. How about having little pride and pushback.
The first phase of the Arsenal Yards project is coming to the Planning Board on May 10. The part with the hotel will be a later date – possible in June.
Agree with Bruce. The Marriott is chintzy looking. If this is the best this developer can do, then he oughtn’t be allowed to change his plan.
To Angie Kounelis’ points, has anyone seen a cost/benefit analysis showing what we are getting for all the development versus the impact on town services? I have a feeling no one in the town, our exalted numbers man Town Manager, or the unelected de factor mayor, Steve Magoon, or our volunteer government head, Mark Sideris, has asked for this. Pretty amazing, isn’t it? Who is minding the store while it’s being robbed? I’d like to see this kind of analysis before we give away Arsenal Mall to that sleaze McQuillan, wouldn’t you?
Don’t bet on it. A hotel looks like “diversity” to our planner, yet another exciting addition to our “community”! Hotels don’t bring community. It’s just all a done deal.
Can you imagine the amount of extra traffic another hotel will bring? Residential is one thing, a hotel means even more traffic! And the MBTA buses are already standing room only in rush hour.
Right you are Bruce, especially about the MBTA buses. Despite the Arsenal Corridor Planning, I would not expect meaningful solutions to these problems in the near future. We need a whole lot more public transportation. There seems to be no rush on the part of the town, or the Commonwealth to make sure that happens. When will the TMA shuttle begin operations?
The shuttle keeps getting pushed back. I think the latest estimate is the Fall. There is a transportation subcommittee meeting Thursday at 5:30 in Town Hall for those interested.
I have a feeling the new apartments across from Toyota of Watertown will be subsidized housing within five years.
In regards to mciro’s comment about “what we are getting for all the development versus the impact on town services”, I asked this very question at the Planning Board Hearing for the Arsenal Yards on January 11 and in fact, I asked for specifics, because, up to that point, I had heard no mention from anyone about what this development will cost the city in terms of additional needed services and other factors and no one had ever asked. I also responded with further comments to Charlie’s Article on January 12, http://www.watertownmanews.com/2017/01/12/planning-board-approves-master-plan-for-renovating-arsenal-mall/. The response I got from the Planning Department at the meeting was nonspecific with no details as to anticipated costs; the only thing said was that overall there would be a benefit. There are a number of other Cities and Towns that have requirements within their zoning that Cost/Benefit Analyses be done for developments over a certain size or that will increase traffic above a certain level. Some cities and towns require analyses to be done by an outside company contracted by and paid for by the developer. This is something that Watertown should be doing. Even if we don’t require this to done by developers, our Planning Department should at least be calculating the costs and providing this information to the public. If we are to make good decisions about development in Watertown, we need to have all the information, not just pieces of the puzzle and sales pitches from the developers.
Well said, sounds like a responsible step to be made by anyone for any project. I’ll be asking about this too.
I assume a change from residence with affordable units to a hotel is a major change and the special permit will need to be amended. This will give the community an opportunity to comment on this change.
If one looks at the rendering of the new hotel on the Hampton Inn release, it appears that the setback of the upper floors does not occur on the hotel design. This change of the setback must be something that the planning department and board should be commenting on.
Good catch. I had not noticed that. We will see what the Planning Board says. I believe the setbacks are required no matter what the building is used for.
The announcement from Boylston Properties seems to imply they’ve already made all the arrangements for this hotel, but they haven’t gotten approval for this change to the plans yet. Zoning requires them to get approval for the change from the Planning Board.
Yes, I am sure this will be a discussion at the Planning Board. I believe hotel is one of the allowed uses in the RMUD (the area where the mall is located).
When the Watertown Arsenal committee was formed -.headed by John Airasian to develop the Arsenal with Mark Sideris member – this committee was established by vote of the Toen Council with Mark Sideris voting Yes. It was voted 8 councillors yes and 2 councillor No –
Through a resolution voted by the council it gave this committee complete atonomy to market the Arsenal property without any input or approval from any agency ot Anyone-town council – town attorney , boards – they could do anything -lease, sell etcc
Most important vote this committee had was to choose the developer. As at large councillor rrpresent