Residents Sound off on Watertown's Future Development

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:

• The West End, parcels along Pleasant and Waltham streets
• The Southside, across the Charles River from Watertown Square
• The East End, near Coolidge Avenue, and Arsenal, Arlington and Grove streets
• Arsenal North, an area named by the consultants which lies across from the Watertown Arsenal
• Union Market, dubbed by the consultants and which encompasses the area on the north side of Aresnal Street between School and Irving Streets

One of the goals of the study, said Kathryn Madden of Madden Planning Group, is to redevelop properties to bring in more property tax revenue for the town. Redevelopment could bring from $3 million to $10 million more in local taxes, Manning said.

Biotech and other life science businesses have moved into town, and Manning said she believes more such firms could be attracted to Watertown. First, she said, improvements should made to the "gateways" into town, such as Arsenal Street, Pleasant Street and Mt. Auburn Street.

"If (the life science firms) bring investors from London or Beijing, they bring them along these streets," Madden said.

But Watertown has little of the large office space sought by bigger companies in the life science and other technology fields. In May, A123 Systems, which makes lithium ion batteries, announced it was leaving the Watertown Arsenal to go to Waltham.

In the East End, a hotel complex could be built as a gateway, said David Gamble, an architect and urban designer with Gamble Associates.

In Arsenal North, Madden suggested redeveloping the site with similar landscaping as can be seen on the Watertown Arsenal site.

On the Southside, residents suggested developing offices along the river that include retail stores, restaurants and cafes.

On the West End, residents hoped to find a tenant for the Aetna Mills site – most recently used by Boston Scientific. Also, some residential developments and office/lab space could help preserve and highlight a couple of natural resources in the area, the Charles River and a pond off Waltham Street.

The key to attracting developers, however, will be providing some sort of public transportation. Some suggested shuttle buses, while others hoped the MBTA could run a bus line to the area.

The fifth area was named Union Market because of the former rail line between School and Arlington streets and because the area used to have a market. The firms did not seek input from the residents on that area.

Most of the suggested developments could be done under current town zoning, Gamble said.

"These are not far-fetched fantasies," Gamble said.

Town Councilor Anthony Palomba said the desire to bring in more restaurants and cafes would not bring in the most revenue.

"I didn't see much industrial (development)," Palomba said. "We are talking about the tax base, and I'm not sure how many cafes and restaurants Watertown can support."

While the residents expressed their wishes for Watertown's future development, Manning said it is unlikely the finished product will include everything they want.

"We are not totally in control of the future, but [we]  can shape it," Manning said.

The design firms will use the resident input to come up with a draft plan, which will be released at a public meeting on Nov. 18.  The final plan will be completed by December.

The study is funded by a $73,500 federal planning grant obtained by the town, said Steven Magoon, director of Community Development and Planning.

For more information contact Steven Magoon, 617-972-6417 or smagoon@watertown-ma.gov, or Kathryn Madden, 617-744-0005 or kmadden@maddenplanning.com.