Newsletter #32, January 17, 2024 – Alewife Study Group

This ASG Newsletter includes the following updates:

January 18: Deep Dive into Cambridge’s Recycling, Composting and Other waste programs – webinar
January 22: Conversation Commission review of IQHQ’s Proposed Improvements to Jerry’s Pond
IQHQ Construction Updates, including how to get information or report issues

Deep Dive into Cambridge’s Recycling, Composting and other waste programs – webinar

Thursday, January 18, 6:00pm, on Zoom (not in person)

The City of Cambridge will host a Zoom webinar and discuss what happens to our waste, why it’s important to recycle and compost, and how you can help us reach our shared trash reduction goals. We’ll dive into topics such as:

What is anaerobic digestion and why does the City’s compost program send food waste there?
Where do recyclables go after the City collects them? And how do we actually know it’s recycled?
What is the City doing to encourage us to reduce and reuse?
Questions and answers!

Click here to register for your meeting link.

Conversation Commission review of IQHQ’s Proposed Improvements to Jerry’s Pond

Monday, January 22, 7:00pm, on Zoom (not in person)

The City of Cambridge Conservation Commission (ConCom) will begin its review of IQHQ’s proposal for improving Jerry’s Pond in North Cambridge. IQHQ gave a brief presentation of their plans at the ConCom meeting on December 18.

ASG expects that Monday’s meeting with include:

More information from IQHQ about their plans
Questions from ConCom members to IQHQ
Public Comment
Discussion among ConCom members

The meeting is scheduled for one hour. However, based on the complexity of IQHQ’s proposal and the conditions at Jerry’s Pond, and the amount of public interest in this project, ASG expects that the meeting will last a lot longer than one hour.

Based on information from IQHQ, ASG expects that ConCom’s review of IQHQ’s proposal will continue with one or more additional meetings. And, it’s possible that IQHQ might amend their proposal, based on feedback from ConCom and/or the community.

To register for this meeting, and see the agenda, go to: ConCom January 22, 2024 meeting.

The Conservation Commission administers the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (310 CMR 10.0), reviewing, permitting and inspecting projects in or adjacent to Cambridge’s wetlands, floodplains and water bodies. The Commission also plays an important role in implementing the Massachusetts Stormwater Management Policy and Standards.

To learn more about ConCom, go to the
Conservation Commission Public Works webpage.

After IQHQ receives approval from ConCom, they will then apply to the City of Cambridge Planning Board, regarding parts of their Jerry’s Pond plans that are under the jurisdiction of the Planning Board.

IQHQ Construction Updates and Concerns

IQHQ usually posts monthly construction updates on their website: iqhqcommunityprocess.com. However, IQHQ has not posted any updates since October because of problems with the website. ASG will include an update about this situation in our next newsletter.

Road Closures

Eversource Gas plans to be working on Whittemore Ave on Wednesday, January 17, and Thursday, January 18, to install gas valves and service lines in the street for Building 3, the new building along Whittemore Ave. Eversource says they will have one lane open on Whittemore Ave during the work.

Lot D Tenting/Excavation – Noise and Vibrations

Contractors for IQHQ plan to do some work today, January 17, that will be very loud. The work is happening in Parking Lot D, at the corner of Harrison and Whittemore Ave. They will remove metal shoring panels and posts inside the large white tents. The work will include loud banging of steel parts. If the contractors cannot finish this today, they will continue tomorrow, January 18.

Work near Linear Park

This week, IQHQ contractors will relocate a large white tent along the property edge near Linear Park. Sometime next week, they will begin excavation inside the tent. Using a large jackhammer, part of the excavation will remove concrete slabs/floors that were part of the old buildings. The work will cause loud noises and vibrations.

For questions or concerns about impacts to our community from IQHQ construction, including from noise, vibrations, or fumes, please contact both IQHQ and ASG.

IQHQ at 617-314-7252 or info@iqhqcommunityprocess.com

Alewife Study Group at contact@alewifeadmin

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!

Our mailing address is:
Alewife Study Group
20 Kassul Park
Cambridge, MA 02140-1637