Transportation

Watertown Shuttle to Open New Route to Public, Watertown TMA Looking for Transportation Improvements

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A WATConnector shuttle bus. These shuttles run down Pleasant Street, and similar ones serve Arsenal Street.(Courtesy of Watertown TMA)

For several years, the City of Watertown has been looking for ways to supplement the MBTA’s bus service in town and provide more options for people to get around town and commute. The most visible ones are the two shuttle routes that connect to Harvard Square. One runs along Pleasant Street and is open to the public, and another along Arsenal Street, which is only open to offices and residential buildings that are supporters of the shuttle — but that will change in the near future. The City of Watertown is part of the Watertown Transportation Management Association (TMA).

Business

Watertown Mall Property Sold, Plans for Life Science Redevelopment Appears to be Over

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(UPDATED on Oct. 21, 2025 at 2:20 p.m.: The first version incorrectly noted that the whole 24 acres of the proposed project were sold. Only 550 Arsenal Street were sold). Plans to turn the Watertown Mall and other properties on the north side of Arsenal Street into a life science campus appear to be over after the owners of the property sold to a Newton-based development firm. The Boston Globe reported that Alexandria Real Estate sold the Watertown Mall property in Watertown, which is located at 550 Arsenal St., to National Development for $100.25 million.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Man Found Undressed in Apartment Building, Medicaid Scam

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Oct. 9: A worker at an apartment building on Arsenal Street was told that someone saw a totally nude man in the hallway. The worker came across the man in the building’s stairwell who was wearing no shirt and his genitals were exposed. The worker was caught off guard, was shocked and alarmed.

Entertainment

Armenian Museum Hosting Exhibition of Arshile Gorky’s Work, Many Never Shown Publicly

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Arshile Gorky, “Self-Portrait,” 1923–1924, will be part of the MA–The Armenian Museum of America’s exhibition, “Arshile Gorky: Redrawing Community and Connections.” The following announcement was provided by the Armenian Museum of America:

The Armenian Museum of America recently announced the opening of a landmark exhibition, Arshile Gorky: Redrawing Community and Connections, on December 11, 2025. This is the first exhibition of Gorky’s work in an Armenian museum, and it caps off a series of programs initiated by the “100 Years of Arshile Gorky” Committee in the City of Watertown. The exhibition is curated by Kim S. Theriault, author of Rethinking Arshile Gorky published byPenn State University Press, and it is sponsored by the JHM Charitable Foundation. “We aimed high in the planning of this show dedicated to an Armenian artist who immigrated to Watertown in the aftermath of the Genocide, like so many of our compatriots,” explains Executive Director Jason Sohigian.

Government

Three Watertown Football Players Honored for Helping to Catch a Drunken Driver

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(Screenshot from Boston 25 News)

Three sharp-eyed and quick thinking Watertown High School football players were honored for their effort that helped police locate and arrest a drunken driver. On Oct. 14, the City Council approved a proclamation honoring Riaz Khan, Joel Montoya, and Boran Akisik. On Sept. 25, the three were on their way home after practice witnessed a hit and run incident at the intersection of Palfrey and Pearl streets.

Government

City Manager Outlines What it Would Take for Watertown to Afford to Rebuild the Middle School

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Watertown Middle School (Courtesy of Watertown Public Schools)

The City Council must soon decided on how to proceed with Watertown Middle School’s renovations: completely redo it or do basic repairs. The catch is a complete renovation (or rebuilt) would required cutting funds planned to go to other areas. City Manager George Proakis outlined what it would take for the City to afford to completely renovate or rebuild the Middle School during his Preliminary Budget Overview for the Fiscal Year 2027 City budget. A big caveat in this plan is the Legislature approving Watertown’s Home Rule Petition that would provide tax relief to residential property owners, and would prevent tax increases of 11 to 18 percent next year (see details here). A feasibility study on the building a new middle school found that the cost of the full project was $112 million, which was well above the $87 million that the City budgeted for the project.

Government

Budget Forecast: State Legislation Will Have Big Impact on Watertown’s FY27 City Budget

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For several years, Watertown’s City has operated comfortably on a budget built on the 2.5 percent property tax increase allowed by the State and the added tax revenue from new developments. A mixture of economic uncertainty and the unknown of whether the State Legislature will approve Watertown’s tax relief request means residents could face a major tax increase next year. City Manager George Proakis presented the Preliminary Fiscal Year 2027 Budget to the City Council on Monday night, which has total forecast expenditures of $226.2 million and includes a shortfall of at least $3.6 million. He also told the Council that his aim is to “maintain options and flexibility” in the City’s budget. He stressed the budget figure is an estimate, adding that the numbers are based on the approval of the Home Rule Petition submitted by Watertown to the Legislature.