Business

Find Out About Proposed Galen St. Project at 2 Virtual Community Meetings

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The areas on Galen Street proposed to become life science lab space. In February, the orange area was rezoned from Limited Business to Industrial 2, the same as the grey area. The developers of a project at the former Colonial Buick GMC dealer on Galen Street will be discussing plans for the site at a pair of virtual community meetings. Developers seek to build life science lab space with some publicly accessible open space on the land, which sits next to the MBTA’s Watertown Yard bus stop. The rezoning of the area became a topic of heated discussion by both residents and the Town Council earlier this year.

Development

Developers to Discuss Plans for Property on Arsenal St. During Online Community Forum

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A rendering of the proposed lab/office/retail building at 202 Arsenal St. The developers of 202 Arsenal Street will discuss their change of plans for the property from retail to mixed use, with lab, office and retail. Cresset WS Venture will host the online meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2020, from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (see how to participate below). The property is located between to major Arsenal Street apartment building complexes: Elan Union Market and The Gables.

Business

Developer Changes Plans for Redevelopment of Sterritt Lumber Site

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The developers of the former Sterritt Lumber site announced that they have changed the proposed project for the site on Waltham Street. The company sent out the following announcement:

Long-time Boston area, real estate developer Nordblom Company, has withdrawn its comprehensive permit for residential and instead plans to build a new commercial/light-industrial building at 148 Waltham Street. Nordblom purchased the land – the former home of F. D. Sterritt Lumber Company in 2019 and initially proposed a residential building. After the Town said apartments would not be welcomed at this location, Nordblom began investigating the next best use for the site. The proposed 1-2 story commercial building would be much smaller than the initial residential building.

Business

Tufts Health Plan Leaving Town, Real Estate Investor Taking Over Building

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Tufts Health Plan will leave its offices on Mt. Auburn Street after swapping it with Spear Street Capital for a property in Canton. Shown here, runner gather for the Watertown Police Department’s Finish Strong Road Race. Tufts Health Plan will be swapping its Watertown headquarters for a location in Canton after it merges with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and the building on Mt. Auburn Street will be acquired by a real estate investor.

85 Walnut St.

Life Science Building With Garage & Park Approved by Zoning Board

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A rendering of what the life science building at 85 Walnut St. will look like from Arsenal Street. The Zoning Board of Appeals gave final approval to a life science building on the former Doble Engineering property. The four story building near Arsenal Street will also have a parking garage and a park along Walnut Street. The project came before the board for the second time Wednesday night, and the board approve the project with some additional requirements.

Development

Councilors Say They Hear Resident Concerns, But Pass Galen Street Zoning

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The Town Council Chamber was filled with residents there to hear about the decision on rezoning parcels along Galen Street. Developers are interested in building biotech lab buildings on the site south of the Charles River. Residents concerned about the impact of a proposal to change the zoning for properties along Galen Street jammed the Town Council Chamber Tuesday night. The change paves the way for a biotech lab project to be built on east side of Galen Street on property that includes for the former Colonial Buick GMC dealership. After hearing from the public during public forum, and then having a 1.5 hour discussion of their own, Town Councilors voted 8-1 to approve the zoning change requested by the owners/developers of the property.

Development

Councilor Explains Her Decision to Delay Vote on Galen Street Zoning; Info Meeting Planned

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The proposal for properties on Galen Street if requested zoning changes go through. Last week, Town Councilor Lisa Feltner decided to invoke a rule that delays the vote of the Town Council until the next meeting. The issue being considered was the rezoning of some parcels along Galen Street requested by a developer. Below you can read her letter explaining her decision. Feltner also announced that she has booked space at the Watertown Library on Wednesday night to meet with residents, and hear their concerns about the proposal.

Affordable Housing

Watertown Given Protection from 40B Projects by Using Little Used Method

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The Town of Watertown has some protection from having dense residential projects allowed under the Chapter 40B law after being certified by the state that the Town meets a rarely used qualification. Under Chapter 40B, communities in Massachusetts have to meet certain level of affordable housing or else they must allow the construction of housing projects with 25 percent affordable housing. Watertown currently requires 15 percent of units to be affordable new apartment complexes. To qualify to avoid a Chapter 40B project, communities can get “Safe Harbor” by having 10 percent or more of its housing units sold or rented at affordable rates. Some communities have met that criteria, but Watertown does not (it has just over 7 percent).