Around Town

Options for Watertown Square Redesign Refined and Presented to the Public

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Residents gave input about the ideas for redesigning Watertown Square during a meeting on Thursday night. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

Designers gave some glimpses of what Watertown’s center could look like if the City adopts a plan to redesign and redevelop the area during Thursday night’s Watertown Square Area Plan meeting. Two main options for reworking the roadways in the Square were explored, both of which would add more open space to the area, and showed retail kiosks on the Delta. The scenarios also looked at how Watertown could meet the requirements to allow more housing to meet the MBTA Communities Act. Buildings with as much as six stories of residential units were shown in the illustrations.

Around Town

Redesigning Watertown Square: Areas with Potential, Spots for Housing & Changing Roadways

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Urban planner Jeff Speck shows one of the possible new configurations of Watertown Square. (Photo by Charlie Breitrose)

While much of the discussion during the final presentation of the design charrette focused on the redesign of the main intersection in Watertown Square, the design consultants also looked at areas such as what people want to see in their downtown, where housing could be created, what properties could be redeveloped, and other roadways in the area that could be reconfigured. The consultants remarked on the high levels of participation the Watertown Square project drew, compared to similar design efforts in other communities. Urban designer Jeff Speck said that per capita, Watertown had four times higher turnout than other projects he has worked on. Over the three days, 230 people signed in to participate in at least one of the work sessions where they could hear from designers and give input on a variety of subjects.

Around Town

Housing Tops Charles River Chamber’s List of 5 Key Issues Facing Business in the Region

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During the Charles River Regional Chamber’s annual Fall Business Breakfast, the Chamber laid out the areas of focus for the next five years, and housing came to the forefront. During the event, held at the Boston Marriott Newton, John Rufo, Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors, said that much has changed since the organization last put together a strategic plan in 2019. The latest plan has five areas of focus: transportation; childcare for the workforce; climate change; diversity, equity and inclusion; and housing. Creating more housing in the area is key, Rufo said. “I think about people who don’t have security in housing, and don’t have safety in housing,” Rufo said.

Around Town

Watertown Family’s Struggle to Afford to Stay in Town Spotlighted by Globe

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A screenshot of the Boston Globe website. The Boston Globe’s Spotlight Team has turned its focus on the affordability of housing in the Boston area, and this Sunday the paper focused on a family from Watertown. The Charles River Regional Chamber summarized the piece well:

“If you haven’t read it yet, make some time to read the Globe Spotlight Team’s profile about an East Watertown’s family’s struggles to stay in their home over four generations and what it says about how housing has become out of reach for so many working class families.” Read the Boston Globe story by clicking here.

Government

OP-ED: Truth or Consequences — The MBTA Communities Law

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By Clyde YoungerWatertown Resident & Candidate for City Council President

I prefix my comments by saying, without any hesitation, the Planning Department must be re organized. It is my firm belief the Department is misleading the citizens of Watertown. The change must begin at the top. I am not saying the Assistant City Manager/Director of Planning and Development should be fired; however, the Buck ends with this position. My recommendation is he should be laterally transferred into a different position within the administration.

Around Town

LETTER: Grassroots Housing Group Hosting Launch Event

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It’s becoming harder and harder to remain a member of this community. 

Every year, rising rents force more working families out while middle class and even affluent neighbors can’t afford to purchase a home, nevermind expand their families. Those looking to downsize after retirement, or hoping to age with dignity in the city they love, can’t find homes that work for them. Young people driven away, families in financial distress, longtime residents exiled from their hometown: this is the face of the housing crisis in Watertown. It is a dilemma that threatens our well-being, economic futures, and our community. It is also a challenge that we can rise to overcome, together.

Around Town

OP-ED: MBTA Law Part 4 – Possible Strategies for Watertown to Meet the Mandate

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Linda ScottThe Elan Union Market apartment building on Arsenal Street. By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

These scenarios are meant to mitigate some of the stress put on Watertown by the MBTA Law. One or more of these added to some thoughtful re-zoning, for me, seems ideal. Please note that because of Watertown’s overall housing density and availability to transit, there are even more options than I’m listing. In fact, there are enough to account for the entire 1,701 units plus 200 housing units more!

Around Town

OP-ED: The MBTA Communities Law Part 2 – What It Is, What It Isn’t

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mass.gov

By Linda ScottWatertown Resident

What the MBTA Law (MGL 40A Section 3A of the Zoning Act) is:

A zoning plan to address building multifamily housing in areas where there is public transportation. What it is for Watertown:

A zoning plan for 1,701 housing units in the form of three family structures or more. These units must be non-exclusionary, meaning without any age restrictions, and suitable for families with children. Why 1,701? Because that’s about 10 percent of the housing we have right now.