A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to Awaiting Report Item Number 19-18, regarding a report on regular project updates from the GSA and MITIMCO on the new Volpe Center

MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY P: [phone removed] INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT COMPANY www.mitimco.org One Broadway, 9th Floor, Suite 200 Cambridge, MA 02142 June 19, 2019 VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL Louis DePasquale City Manager City of Cambridge Cambridge City Hall 795 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02139 Re: Update on Volpe Project Dear City Manager DePasquale: In response to your request, we are pleased to provide an update on the federal government’s Volpe project in response to City Council order #0-13. Through you, that order requested background on the Volpe building’s siting, design, and size, as well as the schedule for its construction and completion. We are happy to provide that information here. Since the City Council’s approval of the Volpe parcel rezoning in October 2017, we have been focusing our efforts on the design of, and site preparation for, the new Volpe National Transportation Systems Center headquarters — as stipulated by the Exchange Agreement between the General Services Administration (GSA) and MIT. We have been working closely with the GSA, Volpe representatives, Turner Construction, and a team of planners and architects on the building design, landscape plan, and site access plan. Attached are several renderings of the new approximately 400,000 SF headquarters which will be located on the northwest corner of the parcel, as anticipated through the zoning deliberations. We are grateful to City staff from many different departments who have been working through a variety of project-related details with us. Construction Schedule Last fall, we commenced utility work to prepare the site for construction. The existing utility plant and underground utilities required relocation, and 22 existing trees were removed. Removal of the existing parking area has commenced and further site prep work is underway. Key construction schedule dates include: • Commenced utility site work in October 2018 • Mobilized for site prep work on June 3, 2019 • Target completion of utility site work in September 2019

Louis DePasquale June 19, 2019 Page 2 • Commence construction of the new building in September 2019 • Target completion of the building in December 2022 Community Outreach On February 5th, we provided a public update on the Volpe project at our Town Gown presentation to the Planning Board. We presented the proposed massing and design for the building, as well as the Maya Lin landscape art installation for the adjacent open space. On May 21st, we met with residents of the directly-adjacent 303 Third Street and Third Square Apartments to provide an overview of the project so abutters could anticipate and understand the timing and impacts of the construction. All residents have been provided with direct contact information for our team members, as well as Turner Construction team members, so we can respond to concerns and questions as they arise. In addition, we will be issuing regular e-mail construction updates. As part of the project, the GSA is seeking curb cut approval from the City Council for replacement site access on Binney Street. The new curb cut location is required by the GSA to meet its security, safety, loading, and site access requirements. As part of our curb cut outreach process, we provided Volpe project updates to the East Cambridge Planning Team, the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority, and other abutters. When we turn our attention to the planning process for the remaining 10 acres on the site, we will, of course, solicit input and feedback from abutters and the community through a variety of community meetings, workshops, and small group discussions. Our proposal, as discussed during the zoning process, includes four residential buildings (including approximately 280 affordable and 20 middle-income units), four commercial buildings, retail, open space, and a community center. In addition, we have been progressing on two Volpe-related commitments — the Job Connector is now open and we are working with the City and other stakeholders to advance the Grand Junction community path process. We appreciate your ongoing support of our Volpe initiative and are happy to answer any further questions that you may have. We will continue to provide updates to you and the City Council as the project advances. Sincerely, Michael Owu Managing Director, Real Estate

View of New Federal Building from Fifth Street and Potter Street View of landscape edge along Fifth Street featuring art installation by Maya Lin

View of building entrance on Fifth Street View of South façade of New Federal Building

View of North façade of New Federal Building