Watertown Square Improvements Update: Demonstration Project Plan Draft

City Manager's Presentation on April 6, 2026

The City of Watertown hosted a full house at the Watertown Free Public Library on Monday night, April 6, 2026, for City Manager George Proakis's presentation updating the community about the implementation of the Watertown Square Area Plan. City Manager Proakis touched on a number of topics, including the streetscape project that has recently gotten underway, the recent development projects that have been spurred in the aftermath of the new zoning passed in November 2024, and a detailed introduction into the Demonstration Project Plan - potential strategies for the community to consider regarding some key areas within the Square. 

A majority of the presentation was spent introducing the Revitalization Plan and the Demonstration Project, which you can learn more on the project's website. As part of that discussion, City Manager Proakis presented a development strategy idea for the Demonstration Project area; more specifically the public parking lot behind CVS, and some of the adjacent parcels to that area between Church Street, Spring Street, Summer Street, and Baptist Walk (pictured below is the concept designs from the Area Plan). 

An arial image of Watertown Square from the Waterton Square Area Plan. The image includes the concept design with the Demonstration Project area outlined.

On this site sits a series of challenges that present some limitations for certain kinds of development opportunities. These challenges include multiple easements with use restrictions, likely industrial contaminations from the former rail use under the parking lot, a Cambridge aqueduct, topographical changes, and more. For these reasons, among others, City Manager Proakis outlined a potential strategy for maximizing this area by constructing a parking garage on the current public parking lot behind CVS, along with potentially engaging in a public-private partnership with a developer to develop housing in the Square within this demonstration area. The City has signed no agreements and no commitments have been made, and this meeting was to present the community with an idea for all to consider and share feedback on.

The City Manager presented for nearly 90 minutes and later answered 60 questions from meeting attendees. The City is now releasing the Demonstration Project Plan draft, the City Manager's slide presentation, and the recording of his presentation for the community to engage with further and submit comments and questions for the staff to answer and review. In the coming weeks, there will be more opportunity to engage with the City and share feedback on this strategy for the City Council to consider. 

Read the Demonstration Project Plan Draft

The City of Watertown has officially released the drafted Watertown Square Demonstration Project Plan for the community to engage with, ask questions, and provide comments. The Demonstration Project lays out a series of strategies, methods, and techniques that chiefly aim to eliminate blight in a given area by offering a new, improved opportunity for development. 

The area that the Demonstration Project focused on is the public parking lot behind CVS near Watertown Square and a series of the surrounding parcels between Spring Street, Summer Street, and Church Street. We encourage those interested to watch the presentation given by City Manager George Proakis on April 6, 2026, introducing the plan and giving a detailed overview of what is possible in that area of the Square. 

The Demonstration Project is the first step in a greater Revitalization Plan, which is a legal process, regulated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that communities undertake to investigate an area and determine the development potential of parcels and the steps required to implement the redevelopment vision. These plans are done by cities and towns to address community driven goals like housing, economic development, and the environment. This Demonstration Project is a "proof-of-concept" of the Revitalization Plan, offering strategies and methods for executing the vision laid out in the Watertown Square Area Plan, but in a smaller subset of land than the Revitalization Plan will cover. 

Read the Demonstration Project Plan today and submit any questions and comments for staff!

What Can You Expect Next?

Stay tuned for a Community Open House in May 2026

After this meeting, the City will be reviewing all comments submitted by the community during and after the meeting, as well as reviewing questions to update the FAQ page on the project website.

Next steps will include hosting a Open House in May 2026 to further discuss and gather feedback on the Demonstration Project. The City will have more information about this event in the coming weeks, including a date, time, and location. 

After that Open House in May, the City Council will also hold a Public Hearing on the Demonstration Project where additional public comment will be able to be made. Ultimately, the Watertown City Council is the decisionmaker on this project, both as the governing body of the City and as the Redevelopment Authority. Stay tuned over the next handful of weeks for additional information and announcements regarding meetings and engagement opportunities. 

Save the Date! Watertown Square Implementation Update

April 6, 2026
6:00 PM
Watertown Free Public Library
123 Main Street

Come Learn the LAtest Updates!

The City of Watertown invites you on Monday, April 6, 2026, at 6PM to the Watertown Free Public Library (123 Main Street) for a community meeting about the latest updates with the implementation of the Watertown Square Area Plan.

Join and hear a presentation from City Manager George Proakis on the latest developments, plans, and questions from the City, including:

• A review of the current steps implementing the Watertown Square Area Plan’s vision.

• Strategies for the future of the public parking lot behind CVS.

• An introduction into the Demonstration Project and Urban Revitalization Plan.

• An overview of private-public partnerships, what they are, and why they matter in this project.

• Plans for public engagement & next steps.

This is an in-person meeting with a live broadcast on WCA-TV’s website, Comcast 9, RCN 3. If you wish to engage in the meeting by asking a question, please attend in-person at the Library’s Watertown Savings Bank room on the first floor.

If you are unable to make the presentation, you can always email the team anytime at team@watertownsquareimprovements.com with questions that a team member can either address during the meeting or in the days following.

After the meeting, the City of Watertown will open an online form on the Watertown Square Improvements Website to gather additional questions and feedback.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Implementing the Watertown Square Area Plan: Getting You Caught Up

The City of Watertown has begun the next phase of implementing the Watertown Square Area Plan. As the Demonstration Project, Revitalization Plan, and Engineering Design begin, we are here to get you caught up on where we are and what to expect next.

Implementing a Vision

After the Watertown City Council's endorsement of the Watertown Square Area Plan in July 2024, the City began the long process of implementing the plan's vision. To get a refresher the Plan's vision, below are some "quick hits" highlights.

Update the zoning in and around the Square with the goal of creating a "sense of place" and vibrancy downtown.

• Implement a tiered approach to zoning, starting with the tallest maximum heights at the center of the Square (5+ stories), all the way to the shortest maximum building heights as it transitions to the neighborhoods that surround the Square (2+ stories). 

• Promote zoning for housing production in Watertown's downtown district.

• Require ground floor retail at the center district of the Square, with upper stories for housing and/or office space.

• Redesign the Watertown Square intersection to create a 4-way intersection that reduces wait times and congestion points through the Square.

• Increase open space by 3.4 acres that is currently roadway pavement (adding to the the Delta, between streets, and along the Charles River). 

• Widen sidewalks and add additional parallel parking to benefit our businesses and increase safety for pedestrians.

What Implementation Steps Have Been Completed?

Approving New Watertown Square Zoning
The first implementation step taken by the City was to approve new zoning. Using the recommended zoning in the Watertown Square Area Plan as a starting point, the Department of Community Development and Planning drafted new zoning for the Planning Board and City Council to review. After recommending changes and robust discussion, new, compliant zoning was passed by the City Council in November 2024. In addition to meeting the goals of the Area Plan, the new zoning ensured that Watertown was compliant with the MBTA Communities Law, which required 177 Cities and Towns, including Watertown, to establish "at least one district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as of right." The purpose of the law is to allow for the opportunity to produce new housing by-right, and doing so in areas near transit. 

Preparing for the Next Implementation Phase
Throughout 2025, the City of Watertown's Department of Community Development and Planning was preparing for the next steps of implementing the plan's vision - engaging consultant teams to complete a Revitalization Plan and to prepare detailed construction documents for the roadway realignment through the competitive bidding process. For both projects, consultant firms were selected, which leads us to today.

Revitalization & Streetscape Design

Two Steps Towards a Vision

The City has recently begun two separate implementation steps to further bring to life the vision for Watertown Square: a Revitalization Plan and a streetscape design.

These two projects are separate, but the City is moving them forward at the same time on parallel tracks to ensure they can continue to inform each other throughout the development and design of each plan.

Beginning the Revitalization Plan
Starting with the Revitalization Plan, after a competitive bid process, the City selected Innes Land Strategies to complete this effort for Watertown Square. A Revitalization Plan is a legal process, regulated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that communities undertake to investigate an area and determine the development potential of parcels and the steps required to implement the redevelopment vision. These plans are done by cities and towns to address community driven goals like housing, economic development, and the environment. The outcomes of these plans are a set of strategies of how and where to invest public funds in order to promote the private development and growth envisioned by the town or city through the planning process

The initial step of completing this Plan is to do a "Demonstration Project". A Demonstration Project aims to examine the potential for redevelopment in a small subset of parcels (or areas of land) and explore what is feasible and what barriers to development exist. To put simply, a Demonstration Project is a Revitalization Plan on a much smaller scale before Innes Land Strategies and the City complete the Revitalization Plan for the entire Watertown Square Area. The demonstration project is expected to continue through the early months of 2026, with the Revitalization Plan expected to extend throughout 2026.

Innes Land Strategies presented to the Watertown City Council in the Fall 2025 an introduction to this process, the role of those involved, and much more. Watch that and much more at the link below!

Streetscape Design
At the same time as the Revitalization Plan, the engineering work to develop a finalized streetscape design has begun. This streetscape design will develop detailed roadway drawings based on the "four corners" plan endorsed in the Watertown Square Area Plan (below). Through the competitive bidding process, the City has hired Bowman Consulting Group to develop these design documents. Throughout this process you may hear or read this work being referred to as a "streetscape design" or "engineering design", however they are referring to the same project.

This is a very technical process that designs everything from the traffic network to the curb cuts. The outcome of this process will be a set of construction documents that will allow the City to bring the four corners design to life.

This work is expected to take up to 24 months, which will produce a 100% completed detailed design for the future roadway, sidewalks, streets, traffic network, bike and bus lanes, and a detailed outline of the utilities that exist underground. Roadway construction cannot begin until the engineering design is completed and funding sources are identified.

Listen to the Watertown Square Improvements Podcast!

Project Manager and Director of Community Design, Erika Oliver Jerram co-hosts with Community Engagement Specialist, Tyler Cote to discuss the implementation of the Watertown Square Area Plan. Listen today and stay tuned for future episodes with other members of the City team, Innes Land Strategies, and more! 

Joint Hearing to Discuss Watertown Square Zoning to Begin on October 16; *New Placeholder Dates for Potential Continuation Set*

The City Council and Planning Board Joint Hearings to discuss the Watertown Square Area Plan zoning amendment will begin on October 16, 2024 in the Watertown Free Public Library. NEW placeholder dates have been set in the case the Public Hearing is continued. Please see the updated dates below!

When is the Joint Public Hearing on Zoning?

October 16, 2024 at 6:30 PM in the Watertown Public Library at 123 Main Street.

You can access the meeting agenda, Zoom link, and the email you can submit public comment to by clicking the button below:

When are the placeholder dates and what do those mean?

In the case that the Joint Public Hearing that is beginning on October 16, 2024 gets continued to a future date, the City of Watertown has prepared additional dates for those to be extended to. Below are the dates and times held:

• October 16, 2024 at 6:30 PM

• October 24, 2024 at 6:00 PM

• October 29, 2024 at 6:00 PM

• October 30, 2024 at 6:00 PM

• November 14 or November 19 -- Date still to be determined and finalized.

The placeholder dates are set for the ease of future scheduling and preparation for the City Council, Planning Board, Staff, and the public. All of the additional dates beyond 10/16/2024 are to be used on an "as-needed" basis, and the official announcement for whether the Public Hearing is to be continued or not will be made at the end of the meeting, should it be necessary. 

Are these placeholder dates different than what you announced previously?

Yes they are. The dates that were previously announced through these emails, online, and in the quarterly tax bill newsletter have been changed after further consideration and discussion. The above dates and times are up-to-date and please disregard any other dates,

Where can I read the proposed zoning amendments?

You can read the proposed zoning amendments that will be discussed at this Joint Public Hearing by visiting this link on the City's website. There you will find the zoning package with the amendment proposal and the proposed zoning map. That same zoning package can be found attached to the Hearing's agenda online as well.

How can I participate in the Public Hearing?

You will be able to participate in the Joint Public Hearing either in-person or virtually. You can access the Zoom link, online broadcast, and outreach email to submit public comment by accessing the Joint Hearing's agenda. Future emails will also continue to include this information.

Joint Hearing to Discuss Watertown Square Zoning is Planned to Begin on October 16 After First Reading at September 24, 2024 City Council Meeting

What is next in the Watertown Square Plan?

The next steps of the Watertown Square Area Plan implementation will be to discuss and approve zoning amendments. A zoning amendment is a proposed change to the zoning requirements and map, without having to completely rewrite the zoning code. To approve new zoning, the City will hold a Joint Public Hearing with the City Council and Planning Board to discuss the proposed zoning, hear public comment, and approve new zoning amendments.

The above map is the proposed zoning map from the final endorsed Watertown Square Area Plan. 

When does this next step begin?

The first step will be to complete something called a "first reading". This is a procedural step that the City must take by presenting a matter of significance to the Council (zoning amendments in this case) and asking for them to bring it forward for further action (such as scheduling a Joint Public Hearing to discuss).

This is a precursor to most public hearings and this will happen on September 24, 2024 (you can see the agenda for that Council meeting here, where you can find the first reading attached). From there, the City Council will officially announce the date that the Joint Hearing will begin. Note that there will not be any discussion about the specific zoning during this Council Meeting on 9/24/2024.

What is the hearing schedule?

Once the first reading is completed, it is anticipated that the City Council will schedule the Joint Public Hearing to begin on October 16, 2024 in the Watertown Free Public Library at 6:30pm.

Additional dates, times, and locations have been tentatively set below in the case that the Joint Public Hearing is continued beyond October 16. Please see the tentative schedule below and be aware that some details might be subject to change in the case that the Hearing process continues beyond the first scheduled date, or that some of the below dates might not be necessary.

As we approach the beginning of the Joint Public Hearing, an agenda and hybrid links will be released on the project's website and on the City's website.

Planned Hearing Schedule (with placeholder dates)

• October 16, 2024 @ 6:30pm in the Watertown Free Public Library & Hybrid

  Additional Meeting Placeholders

• October 17, 2024 @ 6:30pm in the Watertown Free Public Library & Hybrid

• October 21, 2024 @ 6:30pm in the City Council Chamber & Hybrid

• October 30, 2024 @ 6:30pm in the Watertown Free Public Library & Hybrid

• November 12, 2024 @ 6:30pm in the Watertown Free Public Library & Hybrid

How does this relate to the Watertown Square Area Plan that was Endorsed in July?

The Watertown Square Area Plan that was endorsed by the City Council and Planning Board in July 2024 will be a guiding document for the zoning that is being developed and discussed in the Joint Public Hearing. We recommend all who are interested to see the final endorsed Watertown Square Area Plan to learn more about the zoning proposals endorsed in the plan.

What is the timeline of this process?

The new zoning amendments that comply with the MBTA Communities Law must be approved by the City Council and Planning Board before December 31, 2024. 

Interested in learning more about the MBTA Communities Law? We recommend checking out our FAQ page on the new law. 

Questions? Feel free to reach out!

For more information about the project, please visit the project website. You can also reach out via email to us at team@watertownsquareimprovements.com.
You can also contact the City directly by dialing 311 in Watertown or by calling 617-715-8660.

Joint City Council and Planning Board Hearing to Discuss Watertown Square Area Plan on June 13 at 6:00 PM

Joint Hearing to be held on June 13, 2024 at 6:00 PM
Watertown Middle School Auditorium 
68 Waverley Avenue, Watertown, MA 02472

The Watertown Square Area Plan will be discussed at the upcoming Joint City Council and Planning Board Hearing on June 13. The Hearing will include a presentation from the Project Team, followed by an opportunity for public comment. You can access the full agenda for the Joint Hearing here. 

You can access the plan document on the project's website or in the above agenda packet to learn about the Draft Plan.

This Hearing is a hybrid meeting and you can give public comment either in-person or virtually. To join virtually, you can access the Hearing on June 13 by using this Zoom link, which can also be found on the project's website and in the agenda above.

You can also watch the event live online on WCA-TV.

Residents look on at Tim Love, Utile, presenting at the February 29, 2024 Community Meeting

The City has been printing copies of the Plan Document and dropping them off at the Library and Senior Center. We appreciate your patience as we regularly replenish the piles of copies. 

You can learn more about the project at the Watertown Square Area Plan website.

Arrival Details for Watertown Square Area Plan Public Forum, Thursday, April 4, 2024, 6:30pm

RSVP Here: https://forms.office.com/g/nEkynPFmyv

Location: 66 Galen Street, Watertown, MA 02472 (note different location than previous public meetings)

Timing: Doors for the event will open at 6pm. The Forum schedule will begin promptly at 6:30pm.

An aerial view of the 66 Galen Street Building, which is where the April 4 Public Forum will be held.

Parking: Attendees are recommended to park for free in the parking garage located below the building at 66 Galen Street. The parking garage entrance is on Water Street (photo below). You will be able to access Water Street by turning from Galen Street onto Technology Way (labeled above on the arial map), across from Aldrich Road. Then you will turn right onto Water Street and continue to the parking garage. Signage and balloons will be present to help inform attendees of where to go.

A photo of the 66 Galen Street parking garage located on Water Street.

Accessing the Building: There is an elevator and stairs located in the parking garage for those accessing the building from the garage. The event will be taking place on Floor 1 and will be accessible using the elevator or stairwell. For those not driving, we recommend entering the building on the ground level, located on Galen Street and Technology Way. A photograph below depicts this entryway. There, you will be able to use the elevator or stairwell to access Floor 1, where the event will be taking place.

A photo of the 66 Galen Street building entrance.

Save the Date: Watertown Square Area Plan Public Forum, Thursday, April 4, 2024, 6:30 PM

RSVP Here: https://forms.office.com/g/nEkynPFmyv

The Watertown Square Area Plan project team invites you to attend our next Public Forum on Thursday, April 4, 2024, beginning 6:30 PM at 66 Galen Street, Watertown, MA 02472 (note different location than previous public meetings).

If you plan on attending the public forum in person, please RSVP so we can properly prepare the venue. 

Photos from the February 29, 2024 Public Meeting. You can view a recording of this meeting by clicking here.

Public Forum Agenda

• 6:00-6:30 PM: Doors open to the public

• 6:30-8:15 PM: Presentation and Q+A

• Presentation of the updated streetscape, urban design, and MBTA Communities zoning with live polling (please bring a smartphone if you have one)

• Q+A Session with the City and Design Team

• 8:15 PM: Wrap-up and concluding remarks

We encourage all interested members of the public to join and provide feedback!

Thank You for Attending: Watertown Square Area Plan Public Meeting, February 29, 2024

Attendees watch a presentation by Tim Love, Utile, during the February 29, 2024 Public Meeting

On behalf of the Watertown Square Area Plan project team, we would like to thank everyone who was able to attend the Public Meeting on Thursday, February 29, 2024!

If you missed the presentation, you can view a copy of the slide deck in two parts: Part 1 and Part 2. You can also view a video recording of the presentation produced by WCATV here. 

Anyone who would like to provide additional comments on the design may do so via a feedback form, which will remain open through Monday, March 11. You may also send questions, or sign up for email alerts, by visiting the Stay in Touch page.

The project team will incorporate all feedback from the public meeting and this feedback form to finalize a design scheme, which will be presented during a public forum on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 6:30 PM, hosted at 66 Galen Street, Watertown, MA 02472. More details on what to expect at this public forum will be shared in the coming weeks.

Watertown Square Area Plan Public Meeting, February 29, 2024, 6:30 PM

RSVP Here: https://forms.office.com/g/JTcjHF5Ftc

If you plan on attending the Public Meeting in person, please RSVP so we can properly prepare the venue. 

If you can’t make this meeting in person, you can watch it live here, where it will be livestreamed starting at 6:30 PM on 2/29/24.

Additionally, an online feedback form and a recording of the event will be posted online following the public meeting to provide those who are unable to attend an opportunity to comment

Attendees watch a presentation by Jeff Speck during the Charrette series

The Watertown Square Area Plan project team invites you to attend our next Public Meeting on Thursday, February 29, 2024, beginning 6:30 PM at 64 Pleasant St, Watertown, MA 02472.  Doors will open at 6:00 PM.
 
This public meeting will summarize feedback from previous events and continue the conversation with residents, businesses, and other members of the community.  

The project team will share streetscape configurations based on the November Charrette series: the "Four Corners" and "Mini-Main Street" plans. 

In addition, the project team will present updates to the proposed urban design for the Square. The updates will demonstrate how the streetscape options and built form relate to one another in creating a holistic vision for the Square, and will focus on illustrating impactful change in key parts of the study area. Along with the urban design and zoning design standards, the project team will present updates to the proposed zoning map to show how Watertown can comply with the Multi-Family Zoning Requirement for MBTA Communities.

This public meeting will provide multiple avenues for comment, including interactive polling during the meeting presentation, a station exercise where members of the public can have conversations with project representatives about the proposed streetscape designs and proposed urban design and zoning, and an opportunity to provide online feedback following the meeting. An agenda for the meeting is as follows:

• 6-6:30: Doors open to the public

• 6:30-7:30: Design Team Presentation

• Introduction 

• Recap of Public Engagement

• Street Reconfiguration Scenarios

• Urban Design and MBTA Communities Zoning

• Next Steps

• 7:30-8:30: Public participation at topic-specific stations

If you can’t make this meeting in person, you can watch it live here, where it will be livestreamed starting at 6:30pm on 2/29
 
More details on the meeting agenda and opportunities to comment will be released closer to the meeting date. We encourage all interested members of the public to join and provide feedback!