That the City Manager is requested to work with Trinity Property Management to give the nearly 200 tenants of the EMF building additional time beyond April 30, 2018 to find new space, considering the unique circumstances and outsized impact of this eviction

City of Cambridge O-11 ORIGINAL ORDER IN CITY COUNCIL April 2, 2018 COUNCILLOR ZONDERVAN VICE MAYOR DEVEREUX COUNCILLOR CARLONE WHEREAS: The building located at 110-120 Brookline St in Cambridgeport (the so-called “EMF” building) was recently purchased by Ledgemoor, LLC and is managed by Trinity Property Management, Inc. (Trinity), both owned and operated by John DiGiovanni; and WHEREAS: Trinity has given all current tenants of the building an eviction notice, effective April 30, 2018; and WHEREAS: The building is currently used as a multipurpose arts space by nearly 200 different artists, encompassing many different uses including practice and performance space for both amateur and professional musicians, recording studios, mixing and mastering studios, an arts studio, music lessons, and the “Gifted Voice” program which aims to give free voice lessons to underprivileged youth to help them realize their full potential; and WHEREAS: Tenants were initially told that safety concerns were behind the evictions, yet the Cambridge Fire Department has confirmed that there are no fire code violations currently issued and the Inspectional Services Department has not issued any violations or expressed any concerns about the building being occupied that would necessitate an eviction; and WHEREAS: Artist spaces require special configurations in order to comply with local noise ordinances and other regulations, and it is challenging for the displaced artists to find new space which adequately complies and meets the needs of their craft on such short notice, thereby jeopardizing their careers and their livelihood; and WHEREAS: The EMF building has long been considered a treasure within the region’s arts community and was the only building of its kind and versatility remaining within Cambridge city limits; and WHEREAS: Nearby Central Square is one of just 43 designated arts and cultural districts in the Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS: Many of the displaced artists are having to consider options outside of Cambridge, thereby jeopardizing our community’s standing as a welcoming place for artists and the resulting economic, cultural and financial benefits that accrue to our city from a thriving artist community; and WHEREAS: Community accountability should be a priority of developers and property management companies who routinely conduct business within city limits; now therefore be it ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with Trinity Property Management to give the nearly 200 tenants of the EMF building additional time beyond April 30, 2018 to find new space, considering the unique circumstances and outsized impact of this eviction; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to direct the Community Development Department to assist the displaced tenants in locating alternative spaces in or near Central Square, to the extent that staff are aware of any potential alternatives; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager direct the Community Development Department staff to identify and aggressively pursue opportunities to create and preserve artist spaces, including (but not limited to) the current site of the MIT Museum, the vacant city- owned building at 105 Windsor Street, 884 Main St. owned by MIT, or any other such opportunities that may become available in the future; and be it further ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back to the City Council on this matter no later than April 23, 2018.