WATCH Charles Street

51-59 Charles StreetIn Spring of 2003 WATCH completed its first ever new construction project, developing 6 units of permanently affordable housing using a "friendly" 40B permit. The project was "friendly" because we worked in cooperation with the City and the neighborhood to create a project that was supported by all. The project consists of three 2-family homes, each of which is owned by a low income family (earning no more than 80% AMI) who must live in one unit and rent the second unit (to a household earning no more than 50% AMI). The pictures below show how the lot at 51-59 Charles Street has progressed over the last couple years...

The vacant lot that WATCH purchased for the housing development.
It had previously been owned by a bank that, at one time, planned to construct a parking lot there.

First we had to put up a new retaining wall to ensure there would not be a
landslide from the back abutting lot.

Once the retaining wall had been built along the back of the lot and
the foundations prepared, cranes were used to assemble the homes!

After the homes were in, the contractors worked on hooking up
plumbing and wiring and completing the lots with driveways and yards.

By late June, 2003, the homes were ready for their new owners! Owners were chosen through a lottery system. All of the winners were families who already lived in Waltham but couldn't afford to buy here otherwise.

The Mayor, WATCH's Executive Director and Board President, several City Councillors, the new homeowners, members of the construction team and some of the funders make it official at the June 18th ribbon cutting!