Friday, May 25, 2012
Ask questions now about Walmart, housing projects and other developments in Watertown in our noon chat.
One of the biggest questions in Watertown these days is what to do with the empty lots and old industrial sites in town. Some have been turned into condos or apartment complexes, including the Waltham Street apartments and the former Haartz-Mason building. Other proposals include a Walmart on land off Arsenal Street near Irving Street. Last week, Town Councilors discussed whether to increase the number of liquor licenses in town in an effort to encourage developers to build mixed-use developments on unused areas of town that would include office space as well as restaurants.
42.36752
-71.18773
Town of Watertown Town Hall
149 Main St, Watertown, MA
/articles/live-chat-about-the-future-of-development-in-watertown
1422333
/locations/7094907
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Councilors say the licenses are key to attract new development. Local restaurant owners fear the new restaurants using the licenses will take business away, and devalue their own licenses.
[NOTE: The amount that liquor licenses in Watertown are worth was mistakenly listed as $500,000 in the original version of the story. The correct figure is $200,000.] Town Councilors explored the idea of adding up to 12 liquor licenses in town as a way to attract new developments in town, but local restaurant owners bristled at the idea fearing that a flood of new restaurants coming in and taking their business away. Tuesday, a joint meeting of the Economic Development and Planning, Rules and Ordinances and Public Safety subcommittees discussed the idea of adding licenses to make the town an attractive place to build hotels and mixed-use complexes with office space and retail – including restaurants. The town has 34 licenses for …
42.36752
-71.18773
Town of Watertown Town Hall
149 Main St, Watertown, MA
/articles/councilors-look-to-add-more-liquor-licenses-but-watertown-restaurant-owners-are-wary
1422333
/locations/7094620
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Consultants met with residents last week to discuss how to attract new businesses to Watertown and pay for some improvement projects.
Consultants working on Watertown's Economic Development Study wanted to find out what kinds of developments and improvements residents wanted to see in town. Last week, a few dozen residents gathered at the Apartments at Coolidge School to learn about some of the possibilities for new development in town, and how to make it happen. Maria Saiz, who has lived in Watertown for 25 years, said she is glad to see the town taking a planned approach to development. "It seems like this is a long time coming," Saiz said. "We have been a sleepy little town, waiting to see what happens to us. But now we are taking control of our future." The consultants have studied the town for some areas ripe for redevelopment, said Kathryn Madden of Madden Planning…
42.36655
-71.21038
Russo's
560 Pleasant St, Watertown, MA
/articles/how-to-create-a-new-watertown
1419788
/locations/2846212
42.36525
-71.18425
Main St & Galen St, Watertown, MA
/articles/how-to-create-a-new-watertown
/locations/2846213
42.37331
-71.15777
The Apartments at Coolidge School
319 Arlington St, Watertown, MA
/articles/how-to-create-a-new-watertown
768740
/locations/2846214
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Residents prefer to see residential and office developments over box stores and industrial buildings. Dozens of residents shared their opinions at a Watertown Economic Development Study workshop.
Given to chance to say what they would like to see Watertown look like in the future, a group of residents made it clear what they like and dislike. During the workshop about the Watertown Economic Development Study, residents said they supported building residential projects and office space, and perhaps a hotel at the East End near the Charles River. What the approximately 40 residents did not want to see were big box stores and industrial buildings. The study is being led by three firms: Mount Auburn Associates, Madden Planning Group and Gamble Associates. Officials from the firms focused on five areas around town, which they determined have potential for redevelopment: One of the goals of the study, said Kathryn Madden of Madden …
42.36368
-71.165149
A123 Systems
321 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA
/articles/residents-sound-off-on-future-development-in-town
768270
/locations/2299256
42.36444
-71.18586
Nonantum Rd & Galen St, Watertown, MA
/articles/residents-sound-off-on-future-development-in-town
/locations/2299257
42.36653
-71.20465
Pleasant St & Bridge St, Watertown, MA
/articles/residents-sound-off-on-future-development-in-town
/locations/2299258
42.36242
-71.15348
Arsenal St & Coolidge Ave, Watertown, MA
/articles/residents-sound-off-on-future-development-in-town
/locations/2299259
