A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to the Central Square Lots Study Report

C I T Y O F C A M B R I D G E Community Development Department IRAM FAROOQ Assistant City Manager for Community Development SANDRA CLARKE Deputy Director Chief of Administration 344 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02139 Voice: [phone removed] Fax: [phone removed] TTY: [phone removed] www.cambridgema.gov To: Yi-An Huang, City Manager From: Iram Farooq, Assistant City Manager for Community Development Date: February 28, 2024 Re: Central Square City Lots Study and Recommendations for Early Action Building off years of past work, planning, and community input in Central Square, the Community Development Department led a municipal property needs assessment and planning study for city-owned properties in Central Square. The study included ten sites, five parking lots and five parcels with existing buildings. The purpose of the study was to understand community needs, evaluate site constraints and opportunities, and recommend future uses. The final report of the study is attached. Several goals emerged from the community process including the need for increased housing supply, including affordable housing, civic and cultural space, small business support, municipal office space, an improved library, and public parking. The plan recommends long-term uses for the ten sites, including recommendations for short- term uses and phasing. The final report is attached and provides a comprehensive summary of the community engagement process, site conditions and considerations, and future use recommendations. This memo highlights early action items recommended by the City to realize the community’s vision. Early Action Items 105 Windsor Street 105 Windsor Street has historically been used as a schoolhouse, veterans hall, and recreation center with gymnasium, library, and community meeting space. Currently vacant, the building is an opportunity to provide desired community uses for the Port neighborhood. The range of desired uses expressed during the public process include multi-purpose meeting spaces, museum spaces, classrooms/study spaces, and shared co-working spaces. The City is committed to starting a community process to determine the neighborhood’s specific priorities and program uses that would inform the building’s renovation. Funds for capital renovations have been appropriated. 84 Bishop Allen Drive and 96 Bishop Allen Drive 84 Bishop Drive is approximately 34,000 square foot lot currently used for public parking, Starlight Square, Popportunity, and the seasonal farmer’s market. As one of the larger City-owned lots in the study area, 84 Bishop Allen Drive offers a unique opportunity to make permanent the current, temporary activation uses of Starlight Square and Popportunity through a mixed-use development that includes a significant amount of housing, public parking, and civic and cultural space that can support

Page 2 of 2 performances, markets, and community gathering. Norfolk Street was identified for potential pedestrianization that could enhance access to and availability of civic uses. 96 Bishop Allen Drive is an approximately 6,000 square foot lot used as a public parking lot. The site sits on the northwest corner of the block and experiences significant shading, making it less suitable for a park or public space. The plan recommends this site be redeveloped for housing with the ground floor explored for active community use. Given the clear community vision for both sites and their proximity to each other, the sites offer an opportunity for coordinated development to maximize community benefits. The City, working in collaboration with the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, recommends initiating an open process to seek proposals from interested parties to create a mixed-use development that will bring a mix of housing, with an emphasis on affordability, affordable ground floor commercial space, civic and cultural space, and public parking. The City intends to start a procurement process this year to select interested partners capable of delivering development objectives identified by the community. A first step will be to issue a Request for Information (RFI) to potential development partners that will help the City develop and refine conceptual development and business models. Following the evaluation of RFI responses, the City will refine and solidify its development objectives for the sites and release a Request for Proposals (RFP) to solicit development partners to implement this vision. The City would follow requirements set under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 30B and Chapter 2.110 of the Cambridge Municipal Ordinance that govern real property dispositions. Throughout this process, the City will continue to engage with the community, including meeting with organizations such as the Central Square BID, the Central Square Advisory Committee, neighborhood groups, the faith community, senior housing, non-profits, and cultural organizations.