Waltham Infill and Small Developments

bigeman312 said:
Very nice. I like to see this density in Waltham's core. Now transit!
Click to expand...

Short term, the Fitchburg should be getting better after the signalling project is done, but I think the outcomes will improve more for riders getting on past Concord.

Best hope mid-term for Waltham is better bus frequency, and getting DMU service on the inner-Fitchburg, with a park & ride on the Waltham/Weston line.

Long term... maybe... MAYBE a Red or Green Line extension from Alewife or Porter if Belmont accedes to rapid transit through town, and if the commuter rail can be punted to the Central RR to free up Fitchburg.
 
BussesAin'tTrains said:
Short term, the Fitchburg should be getting better after the signalling project is done, but I think the outcomes will improve more for riders getting on past Concord.

Best hope mid-term for Waltham is better bus frequency...
Click to expand...

Agreed. My reasonable transit pitch for Waltham will continue to be to Key Bus Route-ify the 70. Yes, that would require a small expansion of the fleet. Yes, that MAY require a slight expansion of yard capacity. It would be VERY worthwhile, though, to make these investments and turn the 70 from Waltham Common to Central Square into a KBR, with extended operating hours, enhanced frequency, better stop spacing, and shelters/benches/etc. It is one of the most overcrowded buses in the entire system.

BussesAin'tTrains said:
...and getting DMU service on the inner-Fitchburg, with a park & ride on the Waltham/Weston line.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. Multiple new DMU stops in Waltham, including turning Brandeis/Roberts into DMU only. Waltham Station would become THE major CR/DMU station in the area, with added density possibilities that come with those transit enhancements.

BussesAin'tTrains said:
Long term... maybe... MAYBE a Red or Green Line extension from Alewife or Porter if Belmont accedes to rapid transit through town, and if the commuter rail can be punted to the Central RR to free up Fitchburg.
Click to expand...

Nice pipe dream. Haha.
 
From September a major development project is proposed for 20 Cooper Street:

Traffic Commission Minutes: "20 Cooper Street – Proposed Development Special Permit
Traffic Consultant VHB along with Attorney Robert Connors presented a Traffic Impact Report for
the proposed 264 unit residential development. The development will have access from Pine Street
and Elm Street. It is projected to generate 100 new weekday trips in the morning peak hour and 125
during the evening pear hour. The nearby transit is expected to reduce trips by 25%. The TIAS
concludes the increase in traffic will have a minimal impact to operations at intersections surround
the site. Commission member Mr. Kelly disagreed with this conclusion.
The proponent has committed to several mitigation measures –
a) Construct missing link of the Riverwalk between Elm Street and Cooper Street
b) Construct wheelchair ramps across Elm Street at the Riverwalk
c) Upgrade wheelchair ramps on Cooper Street at Pine Street
d) Repave Cooper Street
e) Upgrade pedestrian signals at the Newton Street /Pine Street intersection
f) Construct wheelchair ramp across Elm Street at Benefit Street
g) Implement pavement markings and signs at the Elm Street /River Street intersection
h) Contribute to the Transportation Infrastructure Fund
Voted to accept the Traffic Impact and Access Study and forward to the City Council for their
deliberations (member Mr. Kelly voted against this recommendation). Also, the Commission
voted to approve a crosswalk on Elm Street south of the Charles River to connect the exiting
Riverwalk"
 
Last edited:
Traffic Commission Minutes from November: 256 Second Avenue – Traffic Impact Report
"
Attorney Robert Connors and Traffic Engineer Giles Ham with Vanasse & Associate, Inc.
presented the traffic impact report for a 100 room hotel project. Second Avenue Hotels LLC
requires a Special Permit from the City Council. The hotel is expected to generate a net
increase of 70 new vehicle trips in the weekday morning peak hour and 74 trips in the evening
peak hour. This increase will have minimal impact to operations along Second Avenue. Traffic
Engineer, Mr. Garvin, recommended provisions for the installation of wheelchair ramps and
crosswalk across of Second Avenue. The developer committed to contributing funds for the
future installation of ramps and a crosswalk at the appropriate location. He also recommended
to accept the Traffic Impact Report. Voted to accept the report of Vanasse & Associates
and forward it to the City Council for their deliberations on the issuance of a Special
Permit"

A little shocked considering they had already broken ground on a 26,000 Square Foot office building on that site in September http://eyesonwaltham.blogspot.com/2014/09/construction-started-for-256-2nd-ave.html
 
Meeting expected Monday about Cooper Street Development. The current plan is for 264 condominium units in a 5-story building.
 
Work on Third Ave:

Shiny new crane:
5TWj5Qo.jpg


Keeping the dust down:
orVO1rP.jpg


Work on the Restaurant pod:
D7UzVvL.jpg


New fancy retaining wall:
FfcguoB.jpg


Restaurant pod:
oqmFO0v.jpg

xIuso9F.jpg


Crane from above:
BSJ68Fu.jpg


Potato phone.
 
Waltham News Tribune:

December 11th 2014:

DEVELOPER PROPOSES "LUXURY" APARTMENT COMPLEX IN WALTHAM

A developer has proposed a complex with 264 “luxury” apartments for the area of Cooper and Elm streets.

Councilors pored over the proposal Monday night for nearly 4 hours until about 11:45 p.m., peppering project officials with questions about transportation around the site and necessary environmental cleanup.

Lincoln Properties, which developed the Ridge Luxury Apartments in Waltham, is proposing to build one four- to five-story building that would include four studio apartments, 174 one-bedroom apartments and 86 two-bedroom apartments. Twenty-five affordable housing apartments would also be included.

The building would be located on the southern side of the Charles River on Cooper Street, between Elm and Pine streets, according to attorney Robert Connors, who represents the developer.

Above-ground parking would be included at the site, with each apartment having two spaces, according to Connors. Motorists would access the site through a Pine Street entrance, Connors said.

Boston Bark currently occupies the site, Connors said, and Longview Fibre was in that area previously. Boston Bark is selling its property, according to Ward 9 Councilor Robert Logan.

Once construction begins, builders would aim to finish it within 20 months, Connors said.

The total cost of the development, excluding a few ancillary items, would be $43 million, according to Lincoln Properties representative John Noone.

Developers would also make some improvements to the area’s pedestrian walkways. According to Connors, developers would create a new river walkway that would connect to the existing river walk near the Embassy Cinema. Those two pieces, he said, would then be linked to the state Department of Recreation’s walkway along the Charles River.

Developers will also be forced to clean up the site, Connors said. The property has been deemed a brownfield, which means it is likely polluted.

Also, the complex would feature Zipcar services, bike storage and easy access to the Carter Street bus and MBTA rail stops, according to Lincoln Properties’ presentation to the council.

As for business and economic impacts, the development would generate $1.9 million in one-time fees for the city and $622,000 in annual tax revenues, according to Connors. The site currently generates around $77,000, Connors said.

“We believe the Cooper Street apartments are going to bring new life to that downtown area of Waltham,” Connors said.

The proposal drew concerns about the number of families that would move in with school-aged children who would attend the already-overcrowded public schools. Councilor-at-large Tom Stanley requested Waltham Public Schools Superintendent Susan Nicholson provide the council with the number of students currently living in Waltham apartment complexes that have more than 50 apartments. Connors said he previously tried to obtain similar data.

“Every time we try to meet with the superintendent of schools we can’t meet with her,” Connors said.

A Moody Street resident told the council she believes there is a glut of apartments already in Waltham. She was the only resident to speak against the project.

The proposal was referred to the Ordinance & Rules Committee for further review.
 
Since When did Waltham move outside of Metro Boston -- this thread is mislocated!
 
whighlander said:
It's been about a month -- Anyone have any update on the 470 Totten Pond project?

Also just a bit further along 128 heading S there is a quite tall tower crane -- anything new on this project [3rd Ave]?
Click to expand...

Steel is going up on the first building closest to Third Avenue. Site work is still being done where the parking garage and 2nd office building will be located closest to the Hilton. I will try to take some photos of it soon when I have time. This is also called 10 City Point and is being done by Boston Properties.

That tower crane you see is for another office development at 130 & 180 Third Avenue. Those will be 4-story and 6-story office buildings. Both of those and the 99 Third Avenue building where a retail plaza will be located are all part of City Point and being built by Boston Properties.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top