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Home > Projects > Planning and Design
WALTHAM WATCH FACTORY
Project Background
In the spring of 2007, after attending an educational workshop about green development and LID at CRWA, Watch City Ventures (WCV) invited CRWA to join their development team as an independent voice to evaluate their plans, propose alternatives, and provide feedback on the Watch Factory redevelopment. CRWA is responsible for incorporating Low Impact Development (LID) techniques as a part of the project so as to reduce the volume and improve the quality of water that is discharged from the property into the River. CRWA is assessing the potential stormwater management and recharge benefits of LID retrofits by working with the landscape design team through concept design for the project. This unique partnership between the developers, their design team and CRWA provides the opportunity to truly integrate planning, design, development and education about ultra-urban LID designs and innovative stormwater retrofits.
Progress on Phase 1
CRWA has been working with WCV and their full consultant team for the past several months as the redesign of the Watch Factory redevelopment has evolved. Our goal is to provide feedback and suggestions for implementing techniques that could be applied as part of the redevelopment to maximize benefits to the river, create visible and aesthetically appropriate stormwater management practices, avoid impacts to the UAL area, and meet the demands of planned use on the site.
CRWA is advocating for a number of new stormwater management designs to be implemented as the site is redeveloped in a number of phases. Phase I of the new site design includes several innovative stormwater management BMPs that will be a significant improvement over existing conditions. These include proposed installation of porous asphalt in the North parking lot and drive areas, installation of the infiltration trenches and tree planting along the Brown and Cherry Street lots, the proposed rain gardens and infiltration trenches around the buildings etc.
These BMP's will not only significantly reduce flows and improve water quality discharging from these lots but also present opportunities for public education as they will be visible component of the landscape design.
Photos: Before and after scenarios for Brown Street parking lot retrofits
Future Phases
CRWA has also discussed many of the potential opportunities for redevelopment of the riverfront portion of the site with WCV. We believe there is significant potential for improvements in this area that will increase public access to and use of the river in this location, as well as improving resource values and functions of the waterfront. We hope to work with the Commission, community groups, the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, and other parties as the project evolves to investigate these opportunities. CRWA has been urging WFV to consider fairly major efforts, potentially including the construction of new wetland areas, boardwalks out over the river, and designs that could improve streambank and habitat health as well as provide public benefit. We believe a comprehensive and appropriate design can and should be developed in the future project phases.
Figure: Concept plan for LID retrofit recommendations for WWF site in future phases
Photos: Before and after scenarios for proposed porous pavement / structural soils & grass parking lot retrofit and constructed wetlands on western edge of site
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