Tidbit on Masonic Temple

Michael C. Tobias, author, documentary filmmaker and president of the Dancing Star Foundation, Los Angeles, who once expressed interest in Watertown’s Masonic Temple, but then withdrew, left a voice message at the Times over the weekend.

Mr. Tobias, who has a doctorate in history of consciousness from University of California, Santa Cruz, said his foundation had been interested in the downtown landmark, 242 Washington St., as a museum.

“We thought of it as a potential opportunity for a museum for environmental issues, particularly water issues around the planet,” he said. But “that particular structure has significant maintenance issues that are well beyond our scope.”

Watertown Local Development Corp.’s board of directors had considered partnering with the foundation on a feasibility study to determine the extent of work needed and the cost to renovate or demolish. But the board decided that all potential developers needed equal access if the public benefit corporation participates. So the board is looking into the cost, which could be shared with other economic development agencies.

Mr. Tobias called Watertown a “splendid town.”