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POR 2017 #294 · Agenda item attachment · Oct 23 2017
That the attached revised letter of Commitment be accepted and attached to the PUD-7 zoning as ATTACHMENT A, and incorporated into and made part of the Cambridge zoning ordinance
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October 23, 2017
Mayor E. Denise Simmons
Vice Mayor Mare C. McGovern
Ordinance Committee Co-Chair Dennis J. Carlone
Ordinance Committee Co-Chair Leland Cheung
City Councilor Craig A. Kelley
City Councilor Jan Devereux
City Councilor Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.
City Councilor Nadeem A. Mazen
City Councilor David P. Maher
Cambridge City Hall
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
Re:
Commitments and conditions accompanying the amended zoning petition (the
"PUD-7 Zoning") for PUD-7 District (the "PUD-7 District") attached hereto as
Attachment A
Dear Mayor Simmons, Vice Mayor McGovern, Ordinance Committee Co-Chairs Carlone and
Cheung and Councilors Kelley, Devereux, Toomey, Mazen and Maher:
The purpose of this letter is to describe commitments and benefits which the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology ("MIT") is prepared to offer the City of Cambridge to facilitate and
enable MIT to revitalize and redevelop the Volpe Transportation Center Site, excluding the
parcel on which a new federal building will be constructed (the "Project"), through the
construction of new mixed-use buildings, subject to the satisfaction of the "Conditions" set forth
below.
Capitalized terms used, but not otherwise defined, herein shall have the meanings ascribed to
them in Article 13.90 of the City of Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.
MIT's Commitments
A. Grand Junction Multi-Use Path. Recognizing the importance of establishment of a
multi-use path along the Grand Junction corridor, which corridor is identified in the
Kendall Square Mobility Task Force Report dated August 2017 (the "Task Force
Report"), to the City's and region's transportation network and mobility and in an effort
to assist the City in its goals of reducing automobile traffic, MIT agrees that it shall, upon
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MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
the passage of the PUD-7 Zoning, commence work with the City of Cambridge and other
stakeholders and agencies to advance the implementation of such a path. In keeping with
the recommendations of the Task Force Report and the findings contained in the Grand
Junction Community Path and MIT Property Feasibility Study (October 2014)(the "2014
Study"), and in order to assist the City in making a path over the Grand Junction corridor
(the "Grand Junction Path") a reality, MIT agrees that:
• immediately following the adoption of the PUD-7 Zoning, MIT will work
with the City to prepare and enter expeditiously into an agreement with the
City that shall memorialize a commitment by MIT to convey to the City
perpetual permanent easements or interests in fee, at the election of MIT,
sufficient for the construction of the Grand Junction Path on all portions of the
Grand Junction Path to be constructed on land owned and controlled by MIT
(the "MIT Property"). The agreement memorializing MIT's commitment to
convey such easements or fee interests to the City shall be (i) consistent with
the 2014 Study, including identification of easement areas, (ii) on such terms
and conditions as MIT and the City shall reasonably agree; and (ill) shall
provide that MIT must convey all such easements and or interests in fee to
the City by no later than thirty (30) days after completion of the design of the
Grand Junction Path;
• immediately following the adoption of the PUD-7 Zoning, MIT shall
contribute $500,000 to the City for the development of the design for the
Grand Junction Path; and
• within thirty (30) days of the completion of the design of the Grand Junction
Path and the City's receipt of all rights, consents and/or approvals necessary
to construct the Grand Junction Path, MIT will, at MIT's option, either (i)
deliver to the City $8,000,000.00 for the design and construction of the Grand
Junction Path or (ii) commence construction of the portion of the Grand
Junction Path located on the MIT Property and diligently pursue such
construction to completion. All construction shall be completed in accordance
with the design approved by the City, and reviewed by MIT, the 2014 Study,
the easement documents and any and all agency approvals and consents.
B. Community Space Design and Construction Funding; Initial Funding of
Operations. MIT agrees that it shall fund, or cause to be funded, in the aggregate (and as
more specifically set forth below), costs and expenses up to $22,000,000.00 that are
incurred in connection with the design and construction of a community center/space
within the PUD-7 District (the "Community Space"). MIT will form an advisory
committee consisting of representatives from City government, members of adjacent
neighborhoods and MIT (the "Community Space Advisory Committee"), which will
review and make recommendations to MIT concerning the design and programming of
the Community Space and fundraising efforts associated with the operating and
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programming funds for the Community Space.
In connection with the planning and construction of the Community Space, MIT agrees to
make the following deposits into an escrow fund to be established with an escrow agent
mutually satisfactory to MIT and the City Manager:
a one-time aggregate amount of $500,000.00 for planning and design costs on
or before the first anniversary of this letter;
• additional amounts, as needed from time-to-time, totaling up to $500,000.00
in the aggregate to pay for planning and design costs; and
a one-time aggregate amount equal to $22,000,000.00 less the cost of any
planning and design costs paid in connection with the community space on or
before the date that MIT (or its nominee) acquires title to the majority of the
PUD-7 District, which contribution shall be paid within thirty (30) days of the
later to occur of (i) the Planning Board issuing its first PUD Final
Development Plan Special Permit for a development within the PUD-7
District (and the expiration of any associated appeal period without an appeal
being taken) and (ii) MIT's acquisition of the non-Government Owned Parcels
from the Federal Government.
The above amounts, after funding, shall be released from escrow periodically to fund the
planning and design and/or construction of the Community Space, as the case may be,
pursuant to escrow instructions reasonably agreed to by MIT and the City.
In addition, immediately upon the opening of the Community Space to the public, MIT
shall contribute $3,500,000 into the above escrow fund, which shall be accessible by the
operator of the Community Space (either MIT or an operator selected by MIT), in order
to provide initial endowment for the provision of operating funds.
C. Graduate Student Housing. MIT agrees that it shall create 950 new beds for graduate
students (collectively, the "New GSH Beds"), pursuant to the schedule set forth in this
letter. To that end, MIT agrees that it shall
use diligent efforts to complete, on or before December 31, 2020, the construction
of Building 4 of MIT's South of Main Street Project in Kendall Square (the
construction of which broke ground on October 11, 2017), containing 450
graduate student beds, of which 250 beds will be net New GSH Beds;
no later than December 31, 2020, apply for a discretionary permit (or a building
permit if no discretionary permits are required) to create at least 500 New GSH
Beds; and
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MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
use diligent efforts, on or before December 31, 2020, to either add, by conversion
it existing beds and/or establishment of new beds, or apply for a discretionar
permit (or building permit(s) and/or alteration permit(s), as the case may be, if n
or a combination thereof, a minimum of 20
view iS Beds in existinguired ings or a corvise oated on maris impos
properties owned by MIT, which may include the recently converted 133 graduate
student beds at 70 Amherst Street.
D. Job Connector Space and Program. MIT agrees to include space and programming for
Job connector operation within the Community Space, the purpose of which is t
onnect Cambridge residents with jobs and programs that will allow them to tak
advantage of Cambridge's innovation economy. MIT agrees, upon the opening of the
Community Space, to deposit $1,500,000 in an account established by the operator of the
Community Space to provide funding, and acquire resources, for the job connector
program. MIT will create such program with the advice of and input from City staff and
other stakeholders. Within eighteen (18) months of the adoption of the PUD-7 Zoning,
MIT will initiate a job connector operation at a location (or locations) to be determined
by MIT. MIT will keep such location open and will fund $125,000 annually toward the
staffing and operation of the program at such location until such time as the Community
Space opens to the public.
E. Middle Ineome Housing. MIT commits to the construction of a minimum of twenty
(20) Middle Income Units (as defined below) in the PUD-7 District, in the aggregate, to
be delivered by MIT proportionately with the delivery of residential units within the
PUD-7 District or at such earlier time as MIT may determine. For the purposes of this
letter, the term "Middle Income Units" shall be defined as residential dwellings units for
which (i) the occupancy is restricted to households whose total income is no less than
eighty percent (80%) and no more than one hundred twenty percent (120%) of Area
Median Income (as defined in the Zoning Ordinance); and (ii) the rent (including
utilities) does not exceed thirty percent (30%) of the income of the renting household or
such equivalent standard as may be determined by the Board of Trustees of the
Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Middle Income Units shall not be considered
Affordable Dweliing Units for the purpose of meeting the Inclusionary Housing
requirements of Section 11.200; however, Middle Income Housing units shall be
administered pursuant to such reasonable policies, regulations, and standards as are
established by the City that apply to the administration of all Middle Income Flousing
units in the City.
F. Innovation Housing; Limitations on Residential Parking Permit. A minimum of five
percent (5%) of the Dwelling Unit Net Floor Area of minimum housing required by the
PUD-7 Zoning shall be devoted to units measuring between three hundred fifty (350) and
four hundred fifty (450) square feet in size (the "Residential Innovation Housing
Units"). MIT agrees that it shall include or cause to be included a covenant that the unit
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tenants shail not apply to the City of Cambridge Traffic, Parking & Transportation
Department for a Resident Parking Permit in thirty (30) of the residential leases (or other
equivalent occupancy agreements) for the Residential Innovation Housing Units
constructed within the PUD-7 District.
G. Open Space and Retail Advisory Committee. In order to ensure that the adjacent
neighborhoods are involved in the programming of activities for the open spaces and the
types of retailers for the retail space in the PUD.7 District, MIT will establish an advisory
committee to provide input on the programming of these spaces. The advisory committee
shall meet once annually for a period of 10 years. The advisory committee shall include
representatives from the Community Development Departnent, adjacent neighborhoods
and three (3) representatives designated by MIT. To effectuate a vibrant community-
based open space and retail plan, MIT shall create an open space and retail programming
plan for any new commercial building and present such plan to the advisory committee
six (6) months prior to the substantial completion of that building. MIT may update the
programming plan from time to time.
H. Community Event Programming. MIT agrees that it shall spend no less than $300,000,
in the aggregate, to host community engagement events in or around the PUD-7 District,
which events shall be held at such time(s) and location(s) as MIT may determine and
shall be open to members of the general public, but shall be held no less frequently than
once per calendar year and shall continue until such time as MIT acquires land in the
PUD-7 District from the United States.
Real Estate Taxes. Notwithstanding the provisions of any agreement that MIT may
have entered into with the City previously, MIT hereby agrees that in the event that it
converts any new commercial building constructed pursuant to the PUD-7 Zoning from
commercial to exempt institutional use, MIT will remove such property from the tax rolls
of the City of Cambridge incrementally over a period of ten (10) years. During the ten
(10) year period following the conversion of such a property to institutional use, MIT
agrees not to claim an exemption for the percentage of the assessed value of the property
that would exceed the following: 10% in year one, 20% in year two, 30% in year three,
40% in year four, 50% in year five, 60% in year six, 70% in year seven, 80% in year
eight, 90% in year nine and 95% in year ten. Commencing in year eleven and for each
subsequent year that the ownership and use of such parcel satisfies the requirements for
exemption under M.G.L. c. 59, MIT will have the right to claim that 100% of the value of
property is exempt from assessinent.
J. Innovation Arts Program. Within thirty (30) days of MIT obtaining a Permanent
Certificate of Occupancy for the first commercial building in the PUD-7 District, it shall
establish an art program that includes, but is not limited to, outdoor exhibits and
recognitions of innovation and entrepreneurship in the Kendall Square area. Between the
date on which MIT establishes the art program and the date that is the tenth (10"")
anniversary of the issuance of the above Permanent Certificate of Occupancy, MIT shall
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MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
expend up to $1,000,000, in the aggregate, in connection with the implementation of such
art program.
Conditions to MIT's Commitments
For purposes of clarification, MIT's commitments set forth above are offered if the following
conditions (the "Conditions") are met:
The amendments to the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance set forth in Attachment A are duly
adopted in the form attached hereto as Attachment A, and no challenge to the validity of the
same shali have been made (or in the event of any challenge, such challenge shall have been
finally resolved in favor of such validity).
With regard to any commitments outstanding as of the date that MIT applies for PUD
and/or Article 19 Special Permits for the Project, MIT shall have received such Special Permits,
including, without limutation, PUD Special Permits and Article 19 Special Permits, from the City
of Cambridge Planning Board, and such other permits and approvals as may be necessary to
allow for the build-out of the Gross Floor Area contemplated by and in accordance with the
attached PUD-7 Zoning.
In addition to meeting the requirements and conditions of any required permits or approvals for
the Project (and the payment of any and all fees associated with the issuance of such permits or
approvals), MIT is making these payments and providing the other mitigation referenced above
to the City in order to provide the City with resources to mitigate any impacts which might result
from the Project as a result of the rezoning and any special permit issued pursuant thereto.
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MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
As MIT's duly authorized representative, 1 am pleased to make these commitments on
MIT's behalf.
Sincerely,
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY,
a Massachusetts nor-profit corporation
By: ...
Name:/ frael Ruiz
Title: Executive Vice President and Treasurer
Attachment A: Zoning Petition
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ATTACHMENT A
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