Boylston Properties holds ribbon cutting for Marriott Residence Inn

Marriott Residence Inn, 570 Arsenal Street - Watertown, MA

Watertown, MA Boylston Properties cut a red ribbon in front of its new Marriott Residence Inn on Arsenal St., joined by representatives of the city of Watertown, hotel co-owner and manager Stonebridge Companies, general contractor PROCON, Marriott International, investors, friends and neighbors. It is the first new hotel in town in more than 50 years and is located on the former site of the first Saab dealership in the United States.

“We built a contemporary building on purpose that has a 24/7 life to it,” said William McQuillan, principal of Boylston Properties, the developer. “It’s about the future of Watertown, and it’s one of a number of projects going on in the East End that are all about the future of Watertown.”

McQuillan thanked the entire Boylston Props. team, in particular singling out team leader Mark Deschenes, and public officials of Watertown, in particular Watertown town council president Mark Sideris, who were enthusiastic about the project. Deschenes in turn thanked a long list of those who helped build and open the new hotel, including “those extra five guys you need at the end of the project to push you over the line.We’re proud of our project not only because it is in our back yard but because of the quality of the community.”

The hotel is at 570 Arsenal St., across from The Arsenal Project, and adjacent to and across Elm St. from the Watertown Mall.

Marriott Residence Inn, 570 Arsenal Street - Watertown, MA

Called the Marriott Residence Inn Boston Watertown, it is a new, extended-stay hotel in a developing area, the East End of Watertown, that has 150 suites on six floors, spacious areas for guests and visitors on the ground floor, a large meeting room and a total of 845 s/f of meeting space, a pool, fitness center, and complimentary on-site parking.

McQuillan said it was Sideris who first remarked to him about five years ago that Watertown needed a hotel, then worked tirelessly along with director of Community Development and Planning Steve Magoon and others to make it happen. “A lot of effort has gone into this from all town departments,” said Magoon.

“This is something that the town sorely needed and sorely needs,” said Sideris, in the brief ribbon cutting ceremony on a steamy day borrowed from summer, as guests continued to arrive at the hotel. Deschenes noted that the project opened earlier than scheduled and on budget. Already, rooms have been full on some nights.

Jane Gomez, vice president of hotel operations for Stonebridge, said the staff is working to make the new hotel “a wonderful place for Watertown.” And Sharad Chand, general manager, said, “I thank the Watertown community. Without your support we would not be successful here.”

The hotel features a dining room for daily breakfast and evening socials, a guest marketplace, guest laundry facilities, a business center, and a lounge with seating for hotel guests and visitors.

Marriott Residence Inn, 570 Arsenal Street - Watertown, MA

The hotel is owned by Boylston Properties in a joint venture with Stonebridge Companies of Colorado, also the operator.

The building was built and is applying to be LEED-certified, designed and constructed to a high level of sustainability, with energy-saving measures in HVAC, lighting and groundwater systems, in addition to employing sustainable construction and management practices.

The new hotel is part of a continuing story of improvement in the neighborhood.  Boylston Properties acquired several properties in Watertown, including the Arsenal Mall (now known as The Arsenal Project) and the Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates building, from Simon Property Group, Inc., as well as 490 Arsenal Way, a 185,000 s/f innovative office/lab building currently under construction as LINX.

With a smoke-free policy, the Marriott Residence Inn Boston Watertown will have complimentary wired and wireless internet access; pullout sofas; on-site laundry; valet dry-cleaning; grocery shopping service available; airport shuttle; and toll-free phone calls and voicemail. Hotel policy allows pets.

Accessible guest rooms have 32-inch-wide door openings. Kitchens in each suite have dishwashers, microwave ovens, toasters, cooking and dishware, refrigerators with ice maker, stoves, tables and chairs.

The architect was Stantec. Rooms and other interior spaces were designed by Group One Partners of Boston. Engineering and Landscape Design was done by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., which is located in Watertown. PROCON was the general contractor.