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.

Business

Some Stores Staying Open During Arsenal Yards Construction, Others Closing

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Workers have been doing work to prepare for the beginning of construction of Arsenal Yards – the project that will transform the Arsenal Mall into a development with shopping, entertainment, dining, apartments and a hotel. During construction some stores will remain open, while others will shut their doors. During the construction of Arsenal Yards several stores will remain open, all in the section near Marshall’s. The stores are Marshall’s, Gap Outlet, Ann Taylor Factory, T-Mobile, Piercing Pagoda, and Chipotle, according to Boylston Properties, the developer of the mall. In addition, the food court, including Burger King and Subway, will remain open until early 2018.

Around Town

Linx Office Building Gets Tenant with Biotech Company Relocating from Cambridge

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The office building built on the site of the former Verizon truck yard in the East End of Watertown got its first tenant with a biotech firm relocating to the spot from Kendall Square in Cambridge. According to a Banker & Tradesman report, C4 Therapeutics, which is developing treatments for cancer and other diseases that will not become drug resistant, will lease about a quarter of the 185,000 sq. ft. of office and lab space in Linx Watertown. The property was redeveloped by Boylston Properties, the group behind Arsenal Yards – the redevelopment of the Arsenal Mall – and has built the Residence Inn by Marriott on Arsenal Street.

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).

Development

Developers of Arsenal Yards Want Deal With Town to Cap Property Taxes

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The developers behind the renovation of the Arsenal Mall have asked Town officials for something that has never been given in Watertown – a cap on the amount of property taxes. Bill McQuillan, principal of Boylston Properties, sent Town Council President Mark Sideris a letter last week requesting a “tax certainty” deal with the town. On Tuesday night, the Town Council referred the request to two subcommittees – Budget and Fiscal Oversight and Economic Development and Planning. Representatives from Boyslton and The Wilder Cos. said they need the certainty to get the funding required to pay for the $400 million project.

Development

First Phase of Arsenal Mall Renovation to be Discussed at Community Meeting

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Developers planning the renovation of the Arsenal Mall will discuss the first phase of the project during a Community Meeting on Thursday evening. Boylston Properties and The Wilder Companies will host the meeting where they will review Phase 1 of the Arsenal Yards master plan. “The purpose of this meeting will be to present and discuss the final layout and design of Building’s A and E, and discuss the operation of the property during construction,” said the meeting announcement. The master plan was approved by the Planning Board in January after nearly a year of discussions and meetings. Both buildings in Phase 1 were part of the original Watertown Arsenal.

Arsenal Mall

Developers Reveal the Arsenal Mall’s New Name, Coming Before Town Soon

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The Arsenal Mall will not only be renovated and redeveloped, but owners Boylston Properties will also rename it Arsenal Yards. Bill McQuillan, principal of Boylston Properties, revealed the new name in an article in the Boston Globe. The project has been presented to the Planning Board once, but developers will be back in Town Hall on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. to discuss traffic and transportation. The board may vote on the project that night.

Arsenal Mall

Developers Show Plans for Renovating Arsenal Mall, Residents Say Project is Too Big

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After more than a year of planning developers presented their vision for the renovation of the Arsenal Mall to the Planning Board, but some residents said the proposal would be too big for Watertown. The major overhaul of the mall would remove some portions of the current mall, leave the historic buildings and adds new buildings. The project calls for 503 units of housing, some of which would be in a 12-story residential building. Three of the new buildings planned to go in the current front parking lot would have retail on the bottom floor and four or five stories of housing on top. Some of the new features include a movie theater and possibly a bowling alley.