Around Town

New Season of Top Chef Features Show Shot in Watertown

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Bravo’s reality cooking show Top Chef shot its latest season in the Boston area, including one episode in Watertown. Top Chef season 12 features segments from Boston area landmarks such as Fenway Park, Plimouth Plantation, the Cheers Bar and our very own Commander’s Mansion. The episode at the historic house located in the Arsenal on the Charles was shot in late May, said Tammy McKenna, facility manager at the Commander’s Mansion. The show included employees from athenahealth, the company that now owns the Arsenal complex. When the show was looking for a filming location athena suggested the mansion, McKenna said.

Development

LETTER: Neighbors Have Requests for Proposed Athenahealth Project

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Re: AthenaHealth LLC and Arsenal on the Charles

We appreciate the Town Council’s delay on the vote for AthenaHealth’s proposal for changes to the AODD. We are assuming they have realized, like we have, that we need more details from them in order to make an informed decision. Any changes to the AODD should be considered with the future in mind: how will these changes affect Watertown’s ability to control what happens on that property while AthenaHealth owns it, as well as after they have gone. We hope AthenaHealth stays for the long term and works with the town in good faith, but businesses come and go, so we shouldn’t give away our rights to some determination on that property. To this end, we are asking the Town Council and relevant town departments to do the following:

1.

Development

Garage Presents a Sticking Point in Athenahealth’s Plans for Arsenal Complex

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The new owner of the Arsenal on the Charles, athenahealth, has a grand vision for revitalizing the complex, but one feature may stand in the way of getting approval from the Town Council – a seven story parking garage. The company bought the 29-acre complex between Arsenal and North Beacon streets to be its corporate headquarters and company officials want to add more than just additional space for athenahealth, said Bridger McGaw, director of athena environment told the Town Council. The company has a master plan, which it seeks approval from the town so the approval process can be streamlined. Athenahealth would like to bring in retail stores, restaurants and even put in a beer garden. Another idea is to create a “Quincy Market-like” area by putting glass over areas between the “finger buildings” – the long buildings east of the Arsenal Center for the Arts.

Business

10 Local Companies Showcase New Products at Athenahealth

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On Wednesday, July 9, 10 companies will showcase new products at athenahealth as part of the Mass Innovation Nights series. The event will be held from 6-8:30 p.m. at athenahealth in the 311 Center Atrium at the Arsenal on the Charles. Register Now: bit.ly/massinno64

See information about the companies and their products by clicking this link: MIN64 athena flyer w descr

Development

Residents Start Movement to Have a Moratorium on Development on Arsenal Street

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In the wake of the Planning Board’s decision to allow a seven-story garage to be built at the Arsenal on the Charles, a effort has started to put in a moratorium to halt large buildings going up, such as the garage. The Arsenal Street Corridor effort is lead by resident Marcia Ciro, who lives on a small side street of North Beacon Street, very close to the Arsenal complex. She said the town has already had large developments along Pleasant Street that have been unpopular with neighbors. In the flyer she handed out at the Watertown Comprehensive Plan meeting she wrote:
“The Chair of the Planning Board [John Hawes Jr.] state that the 79 ft. for the Arsenal seemed reasonable given they already approved 79 ft.

Around Town

Rain Does Not Dampen Opening of Watertown Farmers Market

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Despite the a rainy day, many eager shoppers hit the opening day of the Watertown Farmers Market at the Arsenal on the Charles on Thursday. Fresh vegetables, nuts, preserves, ice cream and Tex Mex food were among the offerings at the Farmers Market. Market Manager Kate Weinstein said she got brisk business. “We’ve got a really good turn out for the first day, even with the rain,” Weinstein said. A recent Community Health study found that many residents wanted a farmers market in town, said Steve Magoon Watertown Director of Community Development and Planning.

Business

Small Retail Kiosks Approved at Arsenal on the Charles

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A set of three retail kiosks with rotating tenants will soon go up at the Arsenal on the Charles complex. New owners of the complex, athenahealth, went to the Zoning Board of Appeals on Wednesday night for approval for what they hope are the start of turning part of the area into a retail corridor. The board approved it unanimously with conditions. The three kiosks will have rotating offerings, including food, drink and other items such as jewelry, said Bridger McGaw, a spokesman for athenahealth. “Someone could come for coffee on Monday, then go to the Clover Food Truck on Tuesday and realize he should come back on Thrusday because they have sushi,” McGaw said.

Business

Three Groups Pledge Money for Community Path Extension

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The extension of Watertown’s Community Path could soon become a reality thanks to a pledge from three local businesses. The owners of the Arsenal Project (formerly the Arsenal Mall), athenahealth and Tufts Health Plan have teamed up to offer $25,000 to go toward designing the new section of path from Arlington Street in Watertown to Fresh Pond in Cambridge, said Bill McQuillan, principal with Boylston Properties – which bought the Arsenal Mall last year. The money will cover half the cost, with the Department of Conservation and Recreation covering the rest. “If there are funds for projects like the Community Path they need to be shovel ready – they need to have plans drawn up,” McQuillan said Thursday night. “The DCR doesn’t have the money, so we co-funded the project.”