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Newsletter #8, November 7, 2021

    
Newsletter #8
November 7, 2021

Upcoming Meetings important to North Cambridge and beyond:

  • City Council Meeting – Monday, November 8, 5:30pm, on Zoom

    • Policy Order #4 on Alewife Development
    • Policy Order #5 on North Mass Ave bus, bike & parking
    • See below for more info about these Policy Orders
  • Planning Board Hearing about Jefferson Park Modernization – Tuesday, November 9, 6:30pm – See below for more info
  • RAM Plan Public Comment Period ends – Monday, November 15 – For more info, see ASG Newsletter #5
  •  IQHQ Community Meeting – Wednesday, November 17, 6:30-8:00 pm – IQHQ will give an update on their development plans and permitting/construction timeline for former W.R. Grace site

  • Alewife Study Group (ASG) Community Meeting – To be scheduled in early December – Opportunity for more community discussion on IQHQ’s development plans

 

Policy Order #4 on Alewife development (submitted by Councilor Patty Nolan and co-sponsored by Councilor Marc McGovern and Mayor Sumbul Siddiqui):

This Policy Order lists a number of specific issues about development in the area between the Alewife T station and Fresh Pond, including Fresh Pond Mall, then calls for an opportunity to ensure the right balance of development in the area until the Alewife District Plan (Plan) zoning is approved. The Plan was the result of the Alewife Working Group recommendations as part of the Envision Cambridge process.

The Plan calls for much of the area to have light industrial uses to continue to provide “good-paying, low-barrier-to-entry,” career-track jobs that are being pushed out of Cambridge by the influx of tech and lab developments.  Also, climate resiliency measures have yet to be codified.  The Alewife area has been identified as vulnerable to flooding and extreme heat, which will become very serious concerns during the lifetime of new buildings.

Click this link to see the text of Policy Order #4 which lists the reasons why this policy order is needed.

See below for how to share your views on this Policy Order with the City Council.

 

Policy Order #5 on North Mass Ave bus/bike lanes & parking

Starting Monday, November 8, Cambridge Department of Traffic, Parking and Transportation (TPT) will begin removing parking spaces along Mass Ave between Dudley Street and Alewife Brook Parkway, in order to add dedicated bus and bike lanes in both directions.

 

Currently, only 15-minute parking will be allowed in the bus lanes during non-rush hour time periods. Many residents have expressed concerns that this will make it difficult for people with limited mobility to access these businesses.

 

This Policy Order asks the city manager to look into allowing up to 2-hour parking in these bus lanes during non-rush hour times. This would mirror what Boston has done, for example.

 

Click this link to see the text of Policy Order #5.

Please share your opinions with city councilors before and during the meeting:

 

Planning Board Hearing about Jefferson Park Modernization – Tuesday, November 9, 6:30pm

  • Planning Board will discuss Jefferson Park modernization

  • Loss of 150+ trees
  • 111 3-bedroom units

  • No allowance for a proper tunnel under the commuter rail tracks to Danehy Park

At the last Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) meeting on the “modernization” of the Jefferson Park affordable housing neighborhood next to the Rindge Towers, there were some updates that showed a significant percentage of 3 bedroom units, which is nice to see.  However, the updated plans also increased the tree loss to 151, which is about 3/4 of the trees there now.  And, these plans will not allow for a direct tunnel to Danehy Park, but instead only for a misoriented easement.

Part of the problem is that instead of a comprehensive permit, CHA decided to use the recent Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) allowances to build as-of-right.  Unfortunately, in the zoning district of the site, building heights are limited to 4-stories under the AHO, even though one of the existing buildings is 6 stories.  Because they are increasing the number of units from about 120 that are currently usable to about 300, but have a height limit, the buildings will take up a bigger total footprint than if they were slightly taller, say 5-stories.   This height would still be lower than most of the existing trees, so the buildings would be somewhat shaded from the start.

While we appreciate the increase in family-friendly affordable housing, a design with a more compact footprint would allow more open green space with shade from existing mature trees while the new ones fill in over the next decades.  This will be very important for the public health of the residents as the impacts of climate change increase.  Also, we are concerned about the high cost per unit (projected to be $906,000) for rental units.

You can submit comments to the Planning Board by 5pm Tuesday at planningboardcomment@cambridgema.gov.  Register to attend the Zoom meeting here: Zoom Webinar Registration Link – Webinar ID: 874 7738 8462

 

ASG Newsletter

ASG will send email updates about once a month during this busy time in the development of the IQHQ site.

Click here for previous ASG Newsletters

Anyone can sign up for this newsletter by completing the Contact Form at the bottom of the ASG home page: alewife.org  We also welcome your questions, comments, ideas, and offers of help!