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.

Environment

City Council Sends Letter to MWRA Opposing Allowing Sewage Overflow in the Charles River

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Dave MartinA view down the Charles River from the Bridge on North Beacon Street. The City Council sent a letter to the MWRA opposing allowing sewage overflow from being released into the Charles River and returning to the days when the river was a “dumping ground for sewage.” The Council voted unanimously to support the letter at the Dec. 9 meeting. City Council President Mark Sideris said Watertown has invested in cleaning up the river.

Elections

Daniel Lander Announces Candidacy for Suffolk and Middlesex State Senator

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Daniel Lander. The following announcement was provided by Team Lander:

On Dec. 15, Daniel Lander announced his candidacy for State Senate in the Suffolk and Middlesex District. Running to take on the cost of living crisis in Massachusetts, Daniel will prioritize making our communities more affordable and great places to live, while challenging the inaction and inertia of the State Senate. “Massachusetts is my home.

Government

Residents Can Apply to Take Part in Citizens’ Legislative Seminar at the State House

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Massachusetts State House (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

State Sen. Will Brownsberger seeks residents interested in learning about the functions of the Massachusetts State Legislature during the upcoming Citizens’ Legislative Seminar at the State House. See more info provided by Brownsberger’s office, below. Senator Brownsberger has the opportunity to nominate one or possibly a few constituents for participation in the 91st Citizens’ Legislative Seminar (CLS) presented by Senate President Karen Spilka. Please let us know if you are interested in being nominated. CLS is a free educational program organized by the Senate. The Spring 2026 CLS Seminar will be taking place on Tuesday, March 24th and Wednesday, March 25th, 2026 from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. 

Nominees from this office must be residents of Senator Brownsberger’s district and be able to attend both days of the seminar. (Non-constituents should contact their own state senator to request nomination.) 

CLS, offered twice a year, aims to better educate the public on the functions of the Massachusetts State Legislature.

Government

Flock Cameras: City Manager Working Out Details of Contract for License Plate Reading Devices

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Watertown’s contract with the Flock Safety company for eight license plate reading cameras was signed in September, but City officials are working on changing the section covering when data will be shared with other law enforcement. Meanwhile, a neighboring community terminated its contract with Flock, and another is determining its own policy for using the cameras. At Tuesday’s City Council meeting City Manager George Proakis provided a further update about the Flock cameras. During the previous Council meeting, on Nov. 25, he said that the data from the cameras, which take photos of plates but do not have a live feed, will be used only as part of an ongoing investigation.

Around Town

Community Preservation Funds Approved for 2 Affordable Housing Projects & Work at the Commander’s Mansion

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A rendering of the affordable Willow Park affordable housing complex. Funding for a home for adults with special needs, to help build a 138 unit affordable housing complex, and to replace the elevator at a historic home owned by the City of Watertown were approved by the City Council Tuesday night. The three projects came recommended from the Community Preservation Committee. The funds come from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) surcharge on Watertown properties, which are to be spent in three areas: affordable housing, historic preservation, and open space/outdoor recreation. For each area, 10 percent of the funds collected go into a reserve.

Government

Watertown Police Will Soon Start Using Cameras That Can Capture License Plate Info, ACLU Expresses Some Concerns

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In the next few weeks the Watertown Police Department will have access to new equipment that can capture images of license plates of passing cars. The technology is intended to help with criminal investigations, but some have expressed concerns about how it will be used, including the ACLU of Massachusetts. City Manager George Proakis provided information about the Flock Safety program to the City Council on Nov. 25. The Flock system was approved in the Fiscal Year 2026 budget and eight cameras will be installed on major roadways in Watertown.