 | Newsletter #22 August 27, 2022 http://alewife.org |
TODAY, Wednesday, Oct 12: Working Group on Alewife Development Rules
The Cambridge Community Development Department has been holding working group meetings to discuss the rules regarding future development in the Alewife area. The next meeting will review and get consensus on draft zoning principles that will serve as the basis for a future zoning petition. The zoom meeting will be held Wednesday, October 12, 6:00 pm
https://cambridgema.zoom.us/s/82034744308
Some in the North Cambridge community are concerned that the City staff is moving ahead with zoning recommendations without having a good urban design plan for the area. Currently, the main focus is the area between Fresh Pond Reservation and the Commuter Rail tracks. There will be an opportunity to share your comments, questions and concerns near the end of the meeting.
In the last meeting on Sept 29, a variety of topics were discussed, including infrastructure needs, strategies around mobility, open space, and community facilities in the area. Traffic and climate resiliency (flooding and heat issues) were also discussed.
During the meeting on Sept 14 there was a discussion with property owners and developers on their future goals for their land holdings and how they relate to planning in the area. The presentations, video and minutes of the meetings can be found at the Alewife Zoning Working Group webpage.
Tree Rally Update
On Tuesday, Sept 27, the Association of Cambridge Neighborhoods hosted a rally in support of better care for City trees, which was co-sponsored by the Alewife Study Group and other neighborhood organizations. About 60 people showed up to hear speakers including State Senator Will Brownsberger and a few neighborhood leaders. A summary of the event is available at the Cambridge Day website: Tree rally in Danehy Park: Brownsberger speaks, MIT collaborates for greenery and city should too
IQHQ Update
The Alewife Study Group (ASG) will continue to provide updates in this newsletter about the IQHQ development in North Cambridge. See our most recent updates in our August 27 ASG Newsletter #22.
Since August 27, IQHQ has:
- Set up a phone number for community members to contact IQHQ with questions, concerns and requests about their construction project: 617-314-7252.
- Created a sign-up sheet on their current website to received email construction and development updates: https://iqhqcommunityprocess.com/contact/
- Continued interior demolition in existing buildings
- Set up scaffolding and begun exterior work on buildings that will be renovated
- Started to set up tents with HEPA filters for soil disturbing utility work at the end of Harvey Street. This and all other soil disturbing work on the site will follow the Cambridge Asbestos Protection Ordinance, proposed by ASG and approved by Cambridge City Council, by a vote of 9-0, in 1999.
- Continued work to obtain permits for path safety improvements (see ASG Newsletter for more details)
In the next few weeks, IQHQ will:
- Demolish buildings that will no longer be used
- Do sub-surface probing to locate any objects in the soil such as old pipes, foundations, etc.
- Set up a large tent and vent (with HEPA filters) structure for asbestos protection during soil excavation
- Set up tree protection, and soil erosion and sediment controls
- Go live with their new website for construction updates, ways to contact IQHQ, and other information about their development at Alewife. ASG will post the new website address in our newsletter.
For more information on IQHQ’s construction activity, go to the News Section of ASG’s website: http://alewife.org/category/news
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 (or unsubscribe) 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!