Watertown Residents Respond to Revised Housing Proposal on Butterfield Ave.

Developer scraps plans for 130-unit complex, offers community purchase or townhouse-style homes instead.

Mar. 10, 2026 at 9:03pm

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Residents of Butterfield Avenue in Watertown, New York are reacting to a revised housing proposal from developer Jake Johnson. After scrapping plans for a 130-unit apartment complex, Johnson has presented two new options: the community can purchase the parcels for $300,000, or Johnson will proceed with developing townhouse-style homes as either single-family residences or duplexes. While some residents are relieved the original plan was dropped, others remain opposed to either new proposal.

Why it matters

The Butterfield Avenue development has sparked debate within the community about the appropriate use of the land and the impact on the existing neighborhood character. The revised proposal aims to address resident concerns, but some still feel the options are unacceptable. The outcome will shape the future of the area and set precedents for how development is handled in Watertown.

The details

Under the first option, the community could purchase the parcels for approximately $300,000 — the amount Johnson paid for them. Under the second option, Johnson would proceed with development, likely building townhouse-style homes as either single-family residences or duplexes. If Johnson moves forward with townhouses rather than apartments, the current zoning would not have to change. The project would also bring water and sewer upgrades to Butterfield Avenue.

  • On March 10, 2026, developer Jake Johnson scrapped plans for a 130-unit apartment complex on Butterfield Avenue.

The players

Jake Johnson

A developer who originally proposed a 130-unit apartment complex on Butterfield Avenue, but has now presented two new options to the community.

Shane Garrabrant

A Watertown City Council Member who believes the revised proposal is a reasonable offer, and that the infrastructure improvements are needed regardless of the development.

Barbara Strauss

A Butterfield Avenue resident who is relieved the original housing complex plan was dropped, but does not support either of the new options.

Barbara Gehring

A Butterfield Avenue resident who would prefer the area to remain as it is and does not support the development proposals.

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What they’re saying

“I'm so glad he's thought about it over the weekend and changed his mind. Don't like either one of them.”

— Barbara Strauss, Butterfield Avenue Resident

“I would like it to stay the way it is. I mean, they got the right to put something up there, I know that. But it's been this way for so many years.”

— Barbara Gehring, Butterfield Avenue Resident

“I think it's a reasonable offer. And in terms of single-family homes and duplexes, I think that definitely fits the characteristics of the neighborhood.”

— Shane Garrabrant, Watertown City Council Member

What’s next

The Watertown City Council will need to review and approve any development plans for the Butterfield Avenue parcels, so the community's feedback will be an important factor in the decision-making process.

The takeaway

The Butterfield Avenue development proposal highlights the ongoing tension between community preservation and the need for new housing in Watertown. While the revised plan aims to address resident concerns, some remain firmly opposed to any changes to the existing neighborhood character. This debate will likely continue as the city weighs the competing priorities of growth and maintaining the character of established residential areas.