Arsenal Mall

Phase 3 of Arsenal Yards Includes Residential, Retail and a Garage

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The third phase of the Arsenal Yards project will include the first of four residential buildings planned for the renovation of the Arsenal Mall. In July, Boylston Properties – the developers of the property – introduced plans for Building F (see plans here) during a Community Meeting. On the bottom floor will be restaurant and retail space, with a level of underground parking below and three levels of parking above. On top of the garage will be three floors of apartments. The design changed from the original proposal in the Master Plan Special Permit approved by the Planning Board.

Business

Old Navy Closing its Arsenal Mall Store on Thursday!

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The Old Navy store in the Arsenal Mall will be closing its doors on Thursday, July 27. 

On Wednesday evening, the shelves were almost empty, the walls stripped and manikins were being removed by employees. The store had a sign out front Wednesday announcing the closing and encourage shoppers to go to the location in Boston’s Downtown Crossing. Old Navy is located inside one of the historic buildings in the mall, which will be renovated as part of the transformation of the mall into a mixed use complex known as Arsenal Yards. That building and the one where Marshall’s is located will be part of the first phase of construction at Arsenal Yards. In the second phase, which was approved in mid-July, a new building will be constructed along Arsenal Street in what is now the parking lot and will have retail along with a Hampton Inn & Suites hotel and a multi-story garage.

Development

Find Out About Phase 3 of Arsenal Mall Project at Community Meeting

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A Community Meeting has been scheduled by Boylston Properties and Wilder Companies for Wednesday, July 26, 2017 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Innovation Space at the Arsenal Yards/Mall. The purpose of the meeting is to review the Phase III/Building F plans of the Arsenal Yards Master Plan. Building F is proposed to be a seven story residential building with 58 housing unites and 45,000 square feet of retail and/or restaurant space. The proposal has one more story and 23 more housing units than proposed in Master Plan passed by the Planning Board. The building would be located where the current bridge between to the two sections of the malls are located, and would be near the northeast corner of Arsenal Park.

Arsenal Park

Town Officials Want to Hear from Public About Changes to Arsenal Park

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Planning for redesigning Arsenal Park has begun, and Watertown officials want to hear from the public about how they think the park should be improved. The first Arsenal Park Design Community meeting will be held on Tuesday, August 15 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Watertown Library (123 Main St.) in the Watertown Savings Bank Room. The park sits next to the Arsenal Yards, the former Arsenal Mall, which is undergoing renovations and expansion. While redesigning of the park Town officials are looking at how the park fits with the new mixed use project which will have apartments and a hotel along with the shops and restaurants. Arsenal Park currently includes a grass field sometimes used for softball and soccer, tennis courts, basketball courts, a skate park, grill and picnic tables and a gazebo, among other features.

Development

Planning Board Approves Hotel and Garage at Arsenal Yards

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After hearing complaints about the design of the proposed Hampton Inn & Suites hotel at Arsenal Yards, designers simplified the look and reduced the number of colors to be used. The Planning Board approved of the changes and voted to approve Phase 2 of the renovation of the former Arsenal Mall on Wednesday night. Phase 2 includes Building B which has retail space on the ground floor and above it a hotel on Arsenal Street with a garage as you go back from the street. When the drawings were first presented at a community meeting in May, people complained materials used were not the red brick of the historic Watertown Arsenal, and that too many colors and materials were used on the outside. Planning Board member Janet Buck said that she did not like the first rendering of the hotel.

Development

New Hotel Proposed for Arsenal Mall to be Discussed by Planning Board

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The Planning Board will discuss the second phase of the Arsenal Yards project, which includes a hotel to be added in a new building planned for what is now the parking lot of the Arsenal Mall. 

Phase 2 focuses on Building B, which is on the west sided of the site, next to the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates offices. Along with the retail space on the ground floor there will be a hotel and a parking structure (see architectural drawings here). Developers Boyslton Properties announced they plan to build a Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton with 150 rooms. The six-story hotel replaces the 79-unit residential building originally planned for Building B. It will have a garage with six levels, including an underground level. The plans got mixed reviews from the public during a community meeting held in May. See the documents submitted to the Town can be seen here (click on Phase Two Building B in the left column).

Arsenal Mall

Residents Want to Talk Taxes, Traffic & New Hotel at Recent Arsenal Yards Meeting

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Residents received more information about the hotel planned for the renovated Arsenal Mall and the rest of phase 2, and gave it mixed reviews. The 155 room Hampton Inn & Suites is planned to go in Building B, along with retail on the ground floor and a six level parking garage. While Wednesday’s meeting focused on the plans for the second phase of the Arsenal Yards project, residents brought up other concerns, including the taxes that the project would pay to the town. Developers have requested a tax assurance from the town that would cap the tax rate for the project. Tom Wilder, of mall management company The Wilder Cos., said the tax estimates are still being calculated but it will be discussed at a later date. “We want to have a forum on that when the information is available,” Wilder said.

Development

Developers to Talk About Phase 2 of Arsenal Yards Project, Including Hotel

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The second phase of the Arsenal Mall renovation, which includes a proposed hotel on Arsenal Street, will be discussed by developers during a Community Meeting on May 31. Boylston Properties and The Wilder Cos. will host a meeting on Wednesday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. in the Innovation Space in Arsenal Yards, across from HATCH makerspace. Phase 2 focuses on Building B, which is on the west sided of the site, next to the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates offices. Along with the retail space on the ground floor there will be a hotel and a parking structure (see architectural drawings here).