A communication transmitted from Yi-An Huang, City Manager, relative to a recommendation received from City Engineer James Wilcox to name four new private ways: Jackson Place, Clifton Place, Clifton Circle and Graham Place

City of Cambridge Department of Public Works Katherine F. Watkins, Commissioner 147 Hampshire Street Cambridge, MA 02139 theworks@cambridgema.gov Voice: [phone removed] TDD: [phone removed] February 20, 2024 To: Yi-An Huang City Manager From: James Wilcox City Engineer Re: Request to Name Clifton Place, Clifton Circle, Jackson Place and Graham Place I have received a request from the Cambridge Housing Authority for reconfiguring and creation of private ways associated with the Jefferson Park Federal Revitalization and Expansion Redevelopment. The Emergency Communications Department, the Historical Commission and the Traffic Department have reviewed the request. Each of the departments is supportive of the proposed names. Background information on the Jefferson Park Federal Revitalization and Expansion is included at the end of this memo. Under Cambridge Regulation, 12.04, Cambridge City Council is the responsible authority for altering street names. 12.04.010 - Street names affirmed—Changes and new designations The several streets in the City shall continue to be called by the names heretofore given to them, until such names are altered by the City Council. The City Council, subject to any provisions of law relative thereto, shall give names to all streets hereafter laid out and may change the name of a street at any time, except that no street shall be given the designation of any existing street, and no street shall be accepted so long as the name thereof is the same as that of any existing street. I therefore recommend that the requested street names be placed before the City Council for their consideration. Please let me know if you have any questions or would like any additional information regarding this request.

Background on the Jefferson Park Federal and Revitalization Redevelopment The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) has been planning the redevelopment of the formerly Federal Public Housing at Jefferson Park for many years. The proposed redevelopment includes the removal of the existing buildings and roads and replaces them with an updated site design that eliminates the existing dead-end and better incorporates the development with the surrounding neighborhood. The new development consists of six 4-story residential buildings containing 278 affordable housing units. The buildings will also house community spaces, management offices and Head-Start Classrooms. Demolition for the project started in July 2023 and site work is ongoing. The project is permitted as of right under the Affordable Housing Zoning Overlay (AHO) and has completed the AHO review process with the City and Planning Board. The project has undergone an intensive resident and community review process that included the new street reconfiguration. CHA staff held dozens of meetings with residents, held three meetings with the neighborhood and community at large, met with a local neighborhood association, and met with the Cambridge Committee on Public Planting. In addition to completing the AHO process, the project was also granted a curb cut permit for the proposed change in driveway locations on March 28, 2022, by the City Council. Additional information on the redevelopment is available on the CHA website: https://cambridge-housing.org/departments/planning/planning-projects/jefferson-park-federal- modernization.

The proposed names of the new private ways are summarized below: • Jackson Place: The existing private way known as Jackson Place will be relocated to the west of its existing location. • Clifton Place: The existing private way known as Clifton Place will be extended southerly to a new intersection with a new private way, Graham Place. • Graham Place: A new private way will be established as Graham Place, in honor of Saundra Graham, housing advocate, Cambridge City Councilor, and State Representative. Graham Place will be located on the east side of the redevelopment and extend southerly from Rindge Avenue and westerly to the extension of Clifton Place. • Clifton Circle: The existing private way known as Clifton Circle will be extended from the relocated Jackson Place to the new private way, Graham Place.