Newsletter #5, September 22, 2021 – Alewife Study Group

Newsletter #5

September 22, 2021

The Alewife Study Group isn’t on vacation – we’ve been busy!

NEIGHBORHOOD EVENTS THIS SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25

> Cambridge Miyawaki Forest is first for city and northeast USA

Biodiversity for a Livable Planet and volunteers will plant a Miyawaki forest right in our neighborhood! Not far from the Sherman Street entrance of Danehy Park, the dense planting Miyawaki method will mimic how a native forest starts. Miyawaki forests grow faster and have a better chance of survival. Read more by CLICKING HERE. Be part of this project by signing up to help at a two-hour shift, no experience necessary – all tools and guidance will be provided. Or just come by (bring the kids!) from 10 AM – 2 PM see this project unfold in real time. CLICK HERE to sign up to help.

> Improving Cambridge Parks, Playing Fields and Green Spaces: Access and Equity in the Public Sphere

On Saturday, September 25, from 4-6 PM, join a public Zoom forum hosted by Cambridge Residents Alliance and Green Cambridge and co-sponsored by the Alewife Study Group (ASG). Hear many ideas to make Cambridge parks and public spaces better. North Cambridge resident, Mike Nakagawa, from ASG, Alewife Neighbors, Inc. and Fresh Pond Residents Alliance will speak about improving access to Danehy Park, Russell Field and other areas. Many topics will be covered by a selection of local speakers. Learn more by CLICKING HERE.

HOT TOPICS

> Policy Order for funding Jerry’s Pond redo

Mayor Siddiqui, and Councillors Carlone, Nolan, and Zondervan submitted a Policy Order (PO), that was supported by Friends of Jerry’s Pond, at a Special City Council meeting in early August. The PO asked the city manager to research using city funds to redesign or reshape Jerry’s Pond and the area around it.

At the September 13 City Council meeting a letter from the Department of Public Works stated that, “City staff will continue working with IQHQ as the plan is further developed and submitted to the Planning Board and the Conservation Commission for their review and approval.” Members of the Alewife Study Group provided public comment in support of the DPW’s letter, asking that councillors get more feedback from residents before committing funds to the Rindge Avenue area. Members of the City Council all voted to wait until more residents have a chance to comment on possible neighborhood improvements. We look forward to learning more about how YOU would like city funds invested in North Cambridge.

> Changes coming to North Mass Ave – TAKE OUR SURVEY

On September 14, the City of Cambridge (TPT and CDD) held a virtual community meeting to discuss significant changes to Mass Ave from Dudley St to Alewife Brook Pkwy, including converting one inbound lane to be a bus lane, directing left turn traffic to Cameron Ave instead to Cedar St then left on Harvey St, and adding protected bike lanes through the whole stretch. The City is moving quickly to make these changes by November 22. They will affect public parking, plus traffic, bus, and bicycle flow. ASG is concerned that the city has not provided enough chances for residents to weigh in on the proposed changes. CLICK HERE to take the ASG survey.

IQHQ DEVELOPMENT UPDATES – MORE COMMUNITY BENEFITS

Since IQHQ’s last community meeting on May 26, IQHQ has agreed to the following benefits, based on suggestions from the community:

Restrictive covenant that will prohibit construction of buildings in the four-acre habitat area or around Jerry’s Pond.
Tree nursery on top of the garage, managed by Green Cambridge, growing about 350 trees at a time, for the Cambridge Backyard Tree Planting Program
Planting more trees on both sides of Rindge Avenue
Separated pedestrian and bike paths along Alewife Brook Parkway
Adding a bike path along Rindge Avenue
Better stormwater management on Whittemore Avenue parking lots.
See Whittemore update below for other community benefits in that part of the neighborhood.

IQHQ DEVELOPMENT NEXT STEPS

ASG will share dates and times for the meetings listed below once they are set. Look for them in our next Newsletter.

> Special Permit: IQHQ plans to send it’s Article 19 application to the City of Cambridge Planning Board this week. A Special Permit from the Planning Board is one of several permits IQHQ needs for this project. For more information on Article 19, click HERE.

> Planning Board Hearing(s): The Planning Board will hold one or more public hearings about IQHQ’s Article 19 application. The first hearing will likely be in late October or in November.

> IQHQ Community Meeting: IQHQ will hold a community meeting before the first Planning Board hearing to share updates to their plans and information about next steps in the permitting process.

> ASG Community Meeting: ASG will hold a community meeting about one week after IQHQ’s meeting, but before the Planning Board hearing. This is an opportunity for the neighborhood to discuss plans and how we can participate in the permitting process.

> Notice of Intent (NOI): IQHQ will send it’s next NOI to the City of Cambridge Conservation Commission in early October. See below for more information, including a public hearing.

> RAM Plan: IQHQ will send it’s RAM plan to the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection in early October. See below for more information, including about public comment.

> Wetlands Protection Act process (Notice of Intent)

Before construction begins, IQHQ needs approval that the project meets the state’s Wetlands Protection Act (WPA) requirements. The first part of this process was done a few months ago through an application with the Cambridge Conservation Commission (ConComm) to find out which resources covered by the WPA are on the site and along the boundaries. The next step is to make sure those resource areas are not damaged by the new development.

IQHQ will apply for approval to the ConComm by submitting a “Notice of Intent” with detailed design and construction plans. Issues under review will include making sure that the new design will not increase flooding or degrade the water quality of Alewife Brook during storms, plus checking that wetland areas on the site, and the plants and animals living there, are protected. There will be a ConComm public hearing to discuss the plans.

Alewife Neighbors, Inc. wants to hire an environmental consultant to help with the review. ANI would appreciate any financial help. Contact info@alewifeneighbors.org; donations qualify for a tax deduction.

> Construction, Hazardous Waste and the RAM Plan

What’s a RAM? And what does it have to do with toxic waste at the Grace site? When toxins at a hazardous waste site, such as the old W.R. Grace site now owned by IQHQ, are spilled, leaked, dug up (or “released”), the property owner must submit a plan that describes their cleanup (or “abatement”) of the site to a state of “No Significant Risk.” That plan is called the RAM Plan. RAM stands for “Release Abatement Measure.” Construction requires digging some of the hazardous soil, so this site must have a RAM Plan.

Good News. Neighbors and the Alewife Study Group have been active since 1995 investigating and testing the site. We know what’s in the soil. We know what is necessary to protect everyone. Fortunately, IQHQ is committed to treating the entire site as contaminated with asbestos. That’s a giant win right there. It means IQHQ must treat all dug-up-soil with safety procedures from Cambridge’s 1999 Asbestos Protection Ordinance. (HUGE kudos to neighbors and Alewife Study Group and the 1999 City Councillors, who passed that ordinance nine to zero!!)

Next Steps. We expect IQHQ will submit their RAM plan to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) in early October. Neighbors, DEP and the City will have 30-45 days to review the RAM and make suggestions. We’ll keep you posted.

Alewife Neighbors, Inc. wants to hire the environmental consultant that has helped the neighborhood with previous site reviews over the past 20 years to help with this review. ANI would appreciate any financial help. Contact info@alewifeneighbors.org; donations qualify for a tax deduction.

Interested in learning more about the cleanup of hazardous waste sites? Or how the public can get involved? Click here.

WHITTEMORE AVE UPDATE

As the main artery in and out of the IQHQ campus, some residents in the Whittemore Ave area have been meeting and advocating for their concerns about traffic flow, employee parking, truck access, pedestrian safety, and on-campus benefits for the entire neighborhood. For More info on Whittemore, please click here.

ASG Newsletter: ASG will try to send email updates every 2-4 weeks during this busy time in the development of the IQHQ site. Go here for our previous 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!