Is this the right look for Watertown Square?
Is this the right look for Watertown Square?
Good morning and Happy Hanukkah,
Non-Jewish business owners and individuals who may want to make a statement
against antisemitism are being encouraged to place a menorah, along with their other holiday decorations, in windows this December.
The initiative was reportedly launched after a Jewish father told his 6-year-old son they would not be displaying a menorah this year because he was afraid that being one of the few homes with Hanukkah decorations might make them a target.
Might this be the right look for the future Watertown Square?
Watertown just completed an engaging and well-attended three-day charette exploring ideas for reimagining and reinvigorating Watertown Square.
Tops on pretty much everyone's priority list was redesigning the square itself; making the downtown more welcoming, vibrant and multi-modal; and finding a way to better use "the Delta" (that underutilized and rarely-visited greenspace many folks only notice while stuck in traffic).
Two design concepts emerged, including the one above. See the other scenario and added images here. Better yet, watch this segment from the video presentation.
The square itself wasn't the only topic:
- Also discussed: A road diet south of Watertown Square (along Nonantum Road and California Street) and addressing North Beacon and Arsenal Streets.
- City Manager George Proakis presented six downtown sites “that could be better than what we have.”
- Here’s the recorded presentations from all three days and the slide deck from the final night.)
City officials and the consulting team plan to spend the next several months contemplating, testing and refining the ideas. Look for the next community meeting tentatively in March.
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Wellesley opts to keep giving businesses a break
The Wellesley Select Board unanimously agreed Tuesday to maintain the town’s long-standing tradition of charging commercial and residential property owners a single tax rate.
As a result, the median commercial property tax bill will decline for Wellesley businesses for the second time in three years (due to a decline in commercial values while residential values keep climbing), notes the Swellesley Report.
Newton, Needham and Watertown aren't nearly as kind to their businesses, at least as far as property taxes are concerned.
ļ»æAll three municipalities have dual tax rates, which shifts more of the burden onto commercial properties.
Needham’s Select Board voted Tuesday to maintain its practice to shift 175% onto the backs of commercial owners. Last month Newton adopted a 174% shift while Watertown stunned some business owners when it imposed a 175% shift after securing a home rule petition to do so.
Healey previews economic development blueprint
The document sets the administration’s economic development priorities, funding and legislative initiatives within three main areas of focus: investing in the fundamentals to enable economic growth; retaining and attracting talent; and supporting businesses.
Laredo regains control of Newton City Council
After multiple deadlocked votes, Newton City Councilor Marc Laredo was elected by his peers to once-again serve as council president, a position he held in 2018- 2019Councilor David Kalis, who untimely broke the tie that handed Laredo the gavel, was elected vice president.
Laredo was one of the leaders of the movement to dramatically scale back the city's MBTA Communities zoning plan and a frequent thorn in the side of outgoing President Susan Albright. But he promised to champion unity last night, reports the Newton Beacon.
Friday grab bag
- Shares of Watertown biotech EyePoint Pharmaceuticals soared 200% earlier this week following good news about an eye disease drug. The Pleasant Street company’s drug for wet age-related macular degeneration which causes blindness, had succeed in a mid stage trial. (BBJ)
- Cafe Martin West Street in Nonantum is closing Jan. 1. “We don’t like it either but the ever-increasing cost of doing business is making it tough to stay open,” proprietor Adrienne Martin wrote on Facebook. Go here to be reminded of the inspiring story behind Martin’s decision to honor her late husband John by opening this restaurant.
- The IRS is rejecting more than 20,000 Employee Retention Credit applications as part of an overhaul on how it oversees the Covid-19-era small-business tax credit. (BBJ)
- The second Monday in October will now be Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Needham, instead of Columbus Day, following a unanimous Select Board vote this week. (Needham Local)
- Quarterly parking permits for Watertown business owners/employees in the Watertown Square Municipal Lot and the Nichols Avenue Municipal Lot are now available.
- The Village Bank’s first ever Waltham branch at 251 Moody Street is now open. Village now operates nine full-service branches in Newton, Wayland and Waltham.
- Blackbird Doughnuts is now open at Arsenal Yards. (Watertown News).
- The City of Newton is looking to redesign a mile long stretch of Washington between Newton Corner and Newtonville. Share feedback through this survey. Learn more.
Zoning passes in Newton but will it pass muster?
City Councilor Deb Crossley (who lead the zoning and planning committee that one month earlier approved a more transformative version) warned colleagues Monday that the state could send the zoning package back for revisions because of some of the last minute changes might not meet the guidelines.
Boston Globe editors aired the same concern.
In an editorial the Globe wrote that compromise plan appears “to put the city just barely in compliance” adding “...there’s a chance the state could still reject them.”
Sure enough, one day after the vote, the state Department of Housing and Livable Communities posted a statement praising the council for approving a plan, while also hedging:
“Newton’s decision last night to make housing a priority through village zoning is a historic step toward controlling rising costs that are pricing many of our friends and families out of our communities. The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities looks forward to reviewing these plans.”
Needham bag ban begins next month
Retail, restaurants and other businesses in Needham over 3,500 sf will no longer be permitted to provide shoppers with plastic bags starting Jan. 1.
For all other businesses, the ban begins July 1. The bylaw was approved by Town Meeting in May.
Nearly 160 Massachusetts cities and towns have some form of plastic bag regulation.
Woah, that's a lot of toys!
Finally this morning, we're overflowing with gratitude for the close to 100 chamber members and guests who came out to our Business After Hours Tuesday at Paddy's Public House to benefit the City of Newton and The Village Bank's Holiday Gift Drive.
The event, coordinated by our Young Professionals Group raised over $1500 and collected sacksful of toys to directly support families this holiday season. All funds raised will be spent locally to buy additional toys at chamber member shops.
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If you couldn't make it but still want to contribute, donations of new unwrapped toys will be accepted at Henry Bear's in Newtonville, Just Next Door in Auburndale and all Village Bank locations through Dec. 13.
That’s what you need to know for today -- National Salesperson Day -- unless you need to know about the sleep expert who recommends sticking your head in the freezer instead of having that afternoon cup of coffee.
I'll probably do both.
Do your holiday shopping locally this weekend, okay?
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President & CEO
617.244.1688
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