Council OKs Willow Park tax-break petition

City Council · Meeting of October 27, 2026

WATERTOWN — The Watertown City Council voted unanimously to seek special state legislation preserving a tax exemption for the Willow Park affordable housing project. City officials said the project, developed by the Watertown Housing Authority and Preservation of Affordable Housing, would otherwise become taxable once ownership transfers to a nonprofit group. Councilor Nicole Gardner said the move "will preserve project resources for the future," while Councilor John G. Gannon called the approach "cutting edge." The council also approved $6,031,000 in combined water and sewer infrastructure loan orders and a fiscal 2027 budget amendment reflecting a $2,913,185 revenue increase, passed 9-0 by roll call.

Separately, the council advanced a rewritten demolition delay ordinance and voted to remove the historic Reverend Conyers Francis House from a transit-oriented zoning overlay to protect it from by-right demolition.

In the full story:

• Executive Session: Firefighters Association Dispute
• Public Forum: Watertown Square Facade Concerns
• Proclamation: Honoring Victor Tarosian
• President's Report: City Manager Evaluation Calendar
• President's Report: Election Preparations
• President's Report: Council Chamber Renovation
• Public Hearings: Three Water and Sewer Loan Orders
• Public Hearing: FY27 Budget Amendment
• First Reading: FY27 Tax Levy Allocation
• Resolution: Willow Park Special Legislation Petition
• Committee Report: Human Services, September 20 Meeting
• Committee Report: Climate and Energy, September 10 Meeting
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 3,196 words

Source: the City Council meeting of October 27, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.