Galen Street - Watertown, MA

Zoning

Form + Place is working with Boston Development Group [BDG] to explore an exciting new development opportunity along the Galen Street corridor in Watertown. In an area that has been identified as an economic development focus area in both the town’s Comprehensive Plan and Strategic Framework for Economic Development, BDG is proposing a mixed-use life sciences development that has the potential to become a new “gateway” to Watertown. The redevelopment of the recently assembled, 5-acre site proposes to create a new 20,000sf urban square by realigning a portion of Water Street to improve traffic circulation and bus access to the MBTA hub in the South Square area, just across the Charles River from Watertown Square.

In an effort to facilitate a cohesive development, Form + Place is collaborating with BDG and Town of Watertown Community Development and Planning staff, as well the Planning Board and Town Council, to convert a few key parcels along Galen Street from their current Limited Business zoning designation to the adjacent Industrial-2 district that governs 87% of the site area.

The development will capitalize on a prime transit-oriented location to provide a beautiful new mixed-use building on a site that is currently blighted and underutilized. In addition to the increase in commercial tax base, the resulting usable open space, new pedestrian connections to the river and revitalized streetscapes will be just a few of the benefits that will come to the town.