3d render of Watertown Mall Transformation

Introducing

Watertown Mall Transformation

Project Location:

550 Arsenal St, Watertown, MA 02472

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3d render of Watertown Mall Transformation plan3d render of Watertown Mall Transformation plan

What's in the Works



Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. is transforming the existing Watertown Mall at 550 Arsenal Street, along with properties at 446, 458, and 500 Arsenal Street and 480 Arsenal Way, into a vibrant new research and development campus that will also provide 88 residential units and ground floor retail space.

The proposed Watertown Mall Transformation Project will create a significant amount of new public open space, improve pedestrian and bicycle connections, add bicycle racks and tree plantings, upgrade the existing stormwater management system, and incorporate numerous climate resilience measures.
front entrance of Watertown Mall building

What's There Now

The site is currently occupied by a number of single-story retail and office buildings totaling 558,000 sf with large surface parking lots.

Public Benefits

rendering of pedestrian streetscape

Pedestrian Streetscape and Public Plaza

Proposed streetscape improvements will transform the character and identity along Arsenal Street by providing a broad shared-use path, consistent tree canopy coverage, Bluebike stations, MBTA bus shelters, and ground-plane perennial and shrub planting. Three acres of plaza, promenades, lawns, and integrated pedestrian and bicycle connections will be created for a 225% increase in open public space.

mixed use streetscape

Diversity of Uses

The Project will provide a variety of new and existing retail, office, research and amenity spaces.

courtyard with people sitting and walking with lush green space

Trees and Resiliency

To diversify the canopy, high-performance urban planting practices, with a focus on native and adaptive species, will be implemented. There will be approx. 522 new trees, and 299 trees to remain.

project plan of Watertown Mallproject plan of Watertown Mall



What's Happening Next



Alexandria is proceeding through the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) Office and the City of Watertown processes. The MEPA process began in November 2022 (EEA#16637). Alexandria received approval from the City of Watertown Planning Board for a Master Plan Special Permit for the Watertown Mall Transformation Project in November 2023, it will be seeking site plan approval for buildings within the project beginning in the Spring of 2024.
Alexandria logo
vhb logo
Reed Hilderbrand logo
VAi Logo
Buro Happold logo
nbbj logo
Gensler logo
Howeler and Yoon logo
Epsilon Associates Inc. logo

Location

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