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105 Windsor Community Process. CHARTER RIGHT EXERCISED BY COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN IN COUNCIL AUGUST 1, 2022
O-11
FIRST IN COUNCIL
August 1, 2022
City of Cambridge
COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN
MAYOR SIDDIQUI
COUNCILLOR CARLONE
WHEREAS:
The city-owned property at 105 Windsor Street has a more than 200 year history of
being used for active community purposes including as a school, a recreation center, a
health clinic, a veterans hall, a branch library, and for elder care; and
WHEREAS:
The city’s proposal to renovate this historic building is an important opportunity to
address some of the unique and long-unmet needs of the Port neighborhood; and
WHEREAS:
The design process should be guided by an inclusive, city-led community process to
hear from as many diverse voices as possible in an effort to build consensus; and
WHEREAS:
Such a city-led community process should engage a wide range of stakeholders
including (but not limited to) residents of affordable housing, all residents of The Port,
Margaret Fuller House, Community Art Center, Cambridge Health Alliance,
Cambridge Housing Authority, local small businesses, faith communities, Fletcher-
Maynard Academy community, Cambridge NAACP, My Brother’s Keeper, The Black
Response, and the Port Organizing Group; and
WHEREAS:
The newly-acquired building located at 689 Mass Ave is proposed to be used for city
offices without any input from the community, and a similar outcome must be avoided
at 105 Windsor Street; now therefore be it
ORDERED:
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the appropriate
departments to begin a thorough and open community process that will determine the
future use of 105 Windsor Street, including (but not limited to) a series of events, some
offered virtually and some in person at key neighborhood sites like the Community Art
Center and the Pisani Center in an effort to engage as many diverse voices as possible
and build consensus; and be it further
ORDERED:
That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the Council on the
nature and timeline of the planned community process as soon as possible and ahead of
commencing the outreach.