Business

Arsenal Mall Project Receives Major Investment from JP Morgan

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The owners of Arsenal Yards sent out the following information:
Boylston Properties and J.P. Morgan today announced a $109 million strategic investment from institutional investors advised by J.P. Morgan in Boylston Properties’ Arsenal Yards development, a mixed-use destination of the former Arsenal Mall in East End Watertown. With sitework currently underway and upon the first phase opening in 2019, the vibrant urban neighborhood will be more than one million square feet, including 250,000 square feet of shops and eateries, anchored by Roche Bros. and The Majestic Cinema, YardWorks (200,000 sq. ft. of new and existing office and lab space), Blvd & Bond (425 contemporary residences), a 150-room Hampton by Hilton, The Fitness Collection, and a revitalized Arsenal Park with expanded access to the Charles River.

Development

Taller Building Heights at Arsenal Yards to be Discussed at Community Meeting

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The Watertown Planning Department announced the developers of the Arsenal Mall will host a community meeting about the proposed zoning change to allow a height increase in the Regional Mixed Use District. Developers sent out the following information:

Boylston Properties will hold a Community Meeting to review the proposed zoning change in regards to Building G located within Arsenal Yards. The purpose of this meeting will be to present and discuss the proposed zoning amendment which requests an increase the overall height of the building from its previously approved 130 feet to 197 feet. If approved, the height within the Regional Mixed Use District (RMUD) could be 197 feet by “Master Plan Special Permit within a defined Mixed-Use project, using adopted Design Guidelines provided the project includes a diversity of building heights and furthers the intent and purpose (§5.18.a) of the RMUD.” (From WZO) Building G will contain approximately 140 for-sale residential condominium units and 193,000 GSF (versus the previously approved 189,000 SF). Discussion will include the massing of the Building as well as the buildings location relative to the Charles River and Arsenal Park. The Meeting will be held on Monday June 18, 2018 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the “Arsenal Yards Development Office” located within the Mall.

Arsenal Yards

LETTER: Resident Supports Taller Tower in Arsenal Yards Project

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During my campaign for Library Trustee last year I talked with hundreds of residents about their concerns. The pace of housing development was by far the most popular topic of conversation. Some residents expressed reservations about the new development. They worried about increased traffic and possible strain on the schools, among other questions. Others — people on fixed incomes, working-class residents, and families eager to buy a home here but squeezed out of the market — were more worried about the cost of housing.

Arsenal Yards

Council Roundup: Councilor Opposes Planning Board Appointee, Tower at Mall, Trees & Green Schools

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The Town Council approved a new member of the Planning Board at Tuesday’s Council meeting, but the candidate did not receive unanimous support. 

Jason Cohen, who has been an alternate member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, was appointed to the Planning Board to replace John Hawes, who recently stepped down after more than two decades on the board. Cohen, is an architect, has served on the ZBA since 2015, has lived in town since 2001 and has two children attending Hosmer Elementary School. Professionally, he works primarily on large multi-unit housing projects, but during his interview with the Economic Development & Planning subcommittee he said he is interested in larger urban planning issues that come before the Planning Board, including approving projects on Arsenal Street and Pleasant Street. Town Councilor Angeline Kounelis said she could not support Cohen because she believed he did not consider all input from residents when considering a case. She pointed to the proposal for the medical marijuana facility at 23 Elm St., and the ZBA meeting in May 2017.

Arsenal Yards

Arsenal Yards Anchor Tenants Include Roche Bros., Beer-Focused Restaurant & Cinema

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Roche Bros. will open a location at Arsenal Yards, and will have a cafe, prepared food and a seasonal outdoor produce market. The anchor tenants of Arsenal Yards will include a Roche Bros. supermarket, a restaurant chain known for its extensive beer list and a multi-screen cinema, developers announced. According to the press release sent out by developers, Arsenal Yards will have more than 1 million sq.

Development

Phase 4 of Arsenal Project Includes Plaza With Restaurants, Retail & Apartments

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The fourth phase of the Arsenal Yards project will feature what developers hope will become a focal point of the site, with a plaza where people will stroll, eat at restaurants’ outdoor seating and gather for special events. Developers from Boylston Properties presented the plans during a Community Meeting at the Arsenal Yards last Thursday. This phase, the fourth of five, includes three buildings, two of which will surround the plaza in the center of the new layout of the former Arsenal Mall. It will be in the middle of what was the front parking lot of the old mall. Building C will have 27,500 sq. ft.

Development

Developers of Arsenal Yards Hosting 2 Community Meetings on Phase 4 of Project

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Two Community Meetings have been scheduled to present to the public information about the latest phase of the redevelopment of the Arsenal Mall. 

Developers sent out the following annoucement:

Boylston Properties and The Wilder Companies are holding two identical Community Meetings to review Phase 4 of the Arsenal Yards master plan. The purpose of these meetings will be to present and discuss the final layout and design of Buildings C, D, & E.2, as well as to discuss the operation of the property during construction. The buildings will contain retail, dedicated residential parking below Building D and residential apartments. Discussion will include the massing of the Buildings. 1st Community Meeting will be held on Thursday April 12, 2018 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
2nd Community Meeting will be held on Wednesday April 18, 2018 from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Both meetings will be held at the “Arsenal Yards Development Office” located within the Mall.

Development

Phase 3 of Arsenal Yards, with 7 Story Building, Approved by Planning Board

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The third phase of the Arsenal Yards project got the go ahead from members of the Planning Board on Thursday night. 

The latest portion of the former Arsenal Mall to be approved is Building F (see plans here), a seven story structure with ground floor retail, multiple levels of parking and topped by three stories of apartments. This is the building where a grocery store may be built, according to the design team, and will be located in the space where the bridge goes over the underpass in the Arsenal Mall parking lot. The size of the building was increased from what was proposed in the Master Plan, which required the Planning Board to approve an amendment to the Master Plan along with approving the site plan. The Board approved both unanimously. Originally the building was planned to have six stories, and be 83-feet, 6-inches tall, but the new height is 89 feet, 4 inches.