Around Town

Major Residential and Commercial Project in Watertown Square Breaks Ground

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O’Connor Group CEO Bill O’Connor, left, and Head of Acquisition John O’Connor welcomed attendees to the ground breaking ceremony for Elysian Watertown Square, a mixed use project. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

The start of construction of a major new project on Main Street, Elysian Watertown Square, was celebrated by the developers and City officials at a ceremony held recently. On Nov. 19, O’Connor Group held a ribbon cutting on the property that will become a mixed-use building with 142 rental units, five owner-occupied townhouses, and retail space on land that stretches from Main Street to Pleasant Street. John O’Connor, Head of Acquisitions for O’Connor Group, said the new project will help make Watertown Square a more lively place.

Around Town

Historic Paintings Return to Watertown’s City Hall After Undergoing Restoration

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The crew from Maquette Fine Arts Services raise the historic painting of Watertown looked in 1630 after it had been restored. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Two historic paintings returned to the lobby of City Hall looking better than they have for generations after undergoing a makeover to remove dirt and grime as well as repairing damages. The paintings show how Watertown looked in 1630, when the Town was founded, and 1930, two years before Town Hall opened. After nearly two years away, the paintings were reinstalled on Nov. 13 after a thorough cleaning and restoration project spearheaded by the Historic Society of Watertown, and paid for with Community Preservation Act funds.

Police/Fire

Police Log: Banner at Armenian Church Vandalized, Business Receives More Than $90K in Fraudulent Orders

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The following information was provided by the Watertown Police Department. Nov. 10, 2 a.m.: Officers on patrol spotted a vehicle stopped on Arsenal Street with its lights on and the vehicle running. They saw the driver slumped over the center console so the conducted a wellness check. Police observed the driver had an odor of alcohol on her breath and she had glassy and bloodshot eyes.

Around Town

Lost Diamond Recovered With the Help of Watertown DPW Employee

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A woman who realized she had lost the diamond off her ring in a recycling bin recovered the stone thanks to the assistance of a Watertown Public Works employee who sifted through the refuse. On Nov. 15, a Belmont resident who asked not to be named had just been shopping at one of her favorite markets in East Watertown, Arax, when she decided to recycle some boxes. She put them into the nearby sidewalk recycling bin on Mt. Auburn Street.

Government

City Council Votes to Make Renovating Watertown Middle School a Priority

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Watertown Middle School

Watertown Middle School will be the next major project constructed by the City of Watertown. Tuesday night, the City Council voted to move the school to the top of the Capital Projects list. One of the primary reasons was to take advantage of the cost savings provided by using the modular classes set up on Moxley Field for students while the school is under construction. The City Council held a special meeting after City Manager George Proakis asked Councilors said a decision must be made about when to take on the middle school project because the modular classrooms currently serving as the temporary Watertown High School will be removed in 2026 unless the City extends the lease. The Middle School is not the only project on the list of priorities.

Around Town

Watertown Cultural District Approved by Mass Cultural Council

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Watertown will have a cultural district in the center of town after the City’s application received official approval from the Mass. Cultural Council this week. The Watertown Cultural District will be centered around Watertown Square, and includes the Watertown Free Public Library, the Armenian Museum of America, and Saltonstall Park. Watertown was one of three communities to get approval for a cultural district, said Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. “This is a celebration of these three communities, their distinct local character, and their cultural vibrancy,” Bobbitt said.

Government

Council Approves Watertown Square Zoning Changes With Increased Sustainability Requirements & Other Changes

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The zoning map recommended by the Planning Board on October 30, 2024. After nearly a year of planning, meetings and discussion, the Watertown Square Area Plan zoning changes have been adopted by the City Council. The updated zoning will meet the State’s housing requirements, even after trimming back some of the recommendations from the Planning Board, and the Council increased the green building requirements for new projects. Thursday night, the Council approved the Watertown Square Zoning unanimously. They included a majority of the changes recommended by the Planning Board on Oct.