Business

Town Taking Application for Additional Outdoor Seating at Restaurants

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Deluxe Town Diner was one of several Watertown restaurants approved to have outdoor seating in 2020. Restaurants can apply again in 2021. Diners may have more outdoor dining opportunities in 2021 as the Town of Watertown is allowing restaurants to apply for additional outdoor space for temporary seating. Last year, the Town allowed some restaurants to have seating on the sidewalk in front of their business, or other places on their property, and 15 did so. The temporary permits were given to allow for increased capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Around Town

Half a Dozen Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

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See this week’s open houses across Watertown. $465,000 – 164 Galen St. Unit 15, Condo – Mid-Rise, 950 Living Area Sq. Ft., 4 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 12-1:30 Sunday 12-1:30

$559,000 – 131 Coolidge Ave. Unit 323, Condo – High-Rise, 1,290 Living Area Sq.

Business

Watertown Target Seeks Places to Volunteer

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Employees from Watertown’s Target store volunteer in the community, and they seek placed to lend a hand. The following announcement was sent out by Watertown Target:

Hi Everyone! Target’s goal each month is to volunteer out in the community and give back. We are looking to fill up our calendar for the year and wanted to reach out and see if anyone was looking for volunteers in any way. March is Women’s month and we would love to tie that into a volunteer event in some way if we could.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities

Rumors of Sale of Watertown Mall to Life Science Developer

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The Watertown Mall — home to Target, the RMV and Best Buy — could soon be sold to a developer looking to create life science lab space, according to a Boston Globe article. The potential deal involved a sale by owners Rosen Associates Management Corp. to Alexandria Real Estate Equities, which also owns the Arsenal on the Charles and the former Mount Auburn Club. The sales price of the 18-acre-site on Arsenal Street is reportedly $125 million, according to the Globe. The property lies in the Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD) zone in East Watertown, which allows for taller buildings (up to five stories) and more dense development (75 percent building coverage) than most areas of town.

Real Estate

Three Watertown Properties Sold This Week

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See the trio of Watertown homes that were sold this week. $420,000 – 9 Pierce Road Unit 9, Condo – Townhouse, 1,024 Living Area Sq. Ft. (Includes Finished Basement), 6 Room, 2 Bedroom, 1 Full Bathroom

$630,000 – 39 Olney St., Single Family – Detached Ranch, 1,526 Living Area Sq. Ft.

Development

Zoning Board Approves Plans to Turn Former Tufts Building Into Biotech Space

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Plans to turn the former Tufts Health Plan building into biotech lab and office space was approved by the Zoning Board of Appeals. The Zoning Board of Appeals approved the project that will renovate and add on to the former Tufts Health Care building on Mt. Auburn Street on Wednesday night. The new owners, Spear Street Capital, wants to turn the area into life science office and lab space. Plans include renovating the interior of the main building, adding a small building on the back and renovating on the property near Grove Street.

Real Estate

Several Open Houses in Watertown This Weekend

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A variety of homes can be seen during this weekend’s open houses. $659,900 – 256 Sycamore St. Unit 256, Condo – 2/3 Family, 1,601 Living Area Sq. Ft. (Includes Finished Basement), 7 Room, 3 Bedroom, 2 Full Bathroom, Open Houses: Saturday 11-1 Sunday 12-2

$699,900 – 31 Wilmot St., Single Family – Detached Ranch, 1,919 Living Area Sq.

Development

ZBA Hearing Two Big Projects, Council Subgroup Looks at Police Services & Other Meetings

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Plans for converting the Tufts Health Plan building into life science labs and offices will be heard by the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday. The Watertown Zoning Board has several projects on its agenda, including renovations of the Tufts Health Plan building and a biotech project proposed on Elm Street. The ZBA gives final approval for these projects and the meeting begins at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 24. Spear Street Capital, the new owner of the Tufts Health Plan site at 705 Mt.