The Manager's report back on vacant store fronts

store fronts and commercial properties keep their properties in safe and clean conditions.

CDD has implemented a wide range of efforts to understand and tackle ground floor retail vacancies in Cambridge’s squares and commercial corridors. Efforts include a ground floor vacancy data set (updated bi-annually since 2018), engaging property owners in tenancy and vacancy issues, supporting pop up and temporary activations, connecting entrepreneurs with vacant storefronts, developing the 2018 Vacant Storefront Best Practices Report, and adopting retail zoning changes in 2021. Through these efforts, Cambridge has established itself as a regional policy leader on this issue.

During the March 11, 2025, Economic Development and University Relations Committee, two key items were discussed – one, that the City cannot additionally tax property owners with vacant storefronts and there are limits to how the City could fine property owners for noncompliance; and two, there are a wide variety of reasons that storefronts look or remain vacant. On the latter issue, as discussed by city staff and business association leadership, storefront vacancies can be attributed to several factors: ongoing lease negotiations, former tenants retaining a lease, property owners seeking a specific type of retailer, or new tenants with signed leases currently under construction. These factors, coupled with broader macroeconomic challenges impacting both small and large businesses, are part of the daily landscape our property owners are navigating.

Draft Vacant Storefront Policy To ensure that ground floor spaces remain safe, clean, and presentable between tenants, we propose the attached Cambridge Vacant Storefront Policy. This Policy would apply to ground floor vacant commercial storefronts within the City of Cambridge.

The Policy states that ground floor vacant storefronts without a lease, or those that have otherwise been vacant, the property owner is required to:

Melissa Peters | Acting Assistant City Manager for Community Development Sandra Clarke | Chief of Administration & Operations 344 Broadway Cambridge, MA 02139 [phone removed] [email protected] www.cambridgema.gov/CDD

• Put up leasing contact information in the storefront window(s) that is visible to a prospective tenant; and
• Consider putting up artwork for purposes of covering storefront window(s) that face a public way so that the window(s) is activated.

For ground floor storefronts with a lease, but undergoing renovations, the property owner shall

• Place a “coming soon” sign with information about the new tenant in accordance with the City’s Sign Ordinance, Article 7.000 of the Cambridge Zoning Ordinance.

In addition, all ground floor vacant storefronts, regardless of lease status, need to comply with the regulatory requirements per the Cambridge Municipal Code, the Building Code and all other applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations (e.g. snow removal, trash, etc.). Any property owner that does not comply with these municipal codes will be fined according to the regulation violated.

Next Steps We are asking Council to vote to request that the City Manager issue this policy. Once issued, CDD staff will send property owners a copy of this policy via certified mail annually to the address on record until the space is leased. We will also include city program information and pop-up resources available to them and their tenants with the policy.