Community Process
The Project benefitted from over fifty (50) meetings with community members, including some who worked on the original zoning applicable to the Project Site, as well as newer residents who gave significant input during the public process. Large public meetings were attended by one to two hundred participants and included mailings to approximately 3,000 households.
Community Groups
Thank you to the community members and groups that have participated in the engagement process to date:
CAMBRIDGE
BICYCLE SAFETY
MBTA Alewife Station Headhouse Plaza Restoration
Working with MBTA to restore the head house plaza, including: new plaza surface; adding more/new lighting; providing trees in large planters; repainting the head house on west, east and south sides; adding new community mural on the north wall; provisions for food trucks; and replacing existing entry doors.
Jerry’s Pond
Improving public access around Jerry’s Pond, with raised wooden boardwalk style pedestrian paths and viewing stations off the boardwalk with picnic tables and seating at appropriate locations. At Rindge Avenue, a new boardwalk with viewing stations are proposed. The public access plan will include on-going maintenance around the pond and an ecological education program in partnership with Mass Audubon.
Ecological Center Pavilion
Provide an open air, roofed Ecological Center pavilion at the eastern boardwalk of the Project Site for youth and community learning with Mass Audubon and other community partners. The Ecological Center design will include an outdoor grill for community use by reservation.
Communal Garden
Maintenance of communal garden in partnership with Green Cambridge.
Project Site
Providing various public areas, including a new public central plaza (at the heart of the Project Site) with food and beverage amenity; and a smaller, more informal plaza at the east end of the Promenade with sloped lawns. Programming such as food trucks and a temporary performance platform will provide activation and community benefit to the Project Site.
Economic and Other Community Benefits
Project will generate a significant increase in the amount of annual real estate tax revenue for the City and significant State sales and business tax revenue to the Commonwealth.