Asked the City Manager to conduct a comprehensive, independent planning, and parking study of the neighborhood and use of the First Street Garage

Pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 30B, the City released an RFP on October 18, 2018 for the disposition of property to solicit proposals for a leasehold interest of 420 parking spaces and 7,000 square feet of ground floor retail space in the First Street Garage; and

The disposition of city-owned property is contingent upon the City Council, by a vote of two-thirds majority, finding that the arrangements specified through the RFP process will lead to the greatest public benefit that can be obtained from the City property in question, pursuant to Chapter 2.110 of the City of Cambridge Municipal Code; and

In 2014, the City Council resolved that “it will not simply consider whether the RFP's agreed-upon price represents the fair market value of the city-owned parking spaces in the First Street Garage, but rather, the City Council will listen closely to the concerns of East Cambridge residents and consider the overall impact of the Sullivan Courthouse redevelopment project in order to determine whether the developer's proposal will lead to the greatest public benefit that can be obtained from the City property in question”; and

At a meeting on October 24, 2018, the East Cambridge Planning Team voted

unanimously in opposition to the proposed disposition of First Street Garage; and

At a community meeting on October 30, 2018, which was so well attended it overflowed the room, significant and persistent concerns were raised by members of the community about the proposed disposition and the impact it would have; and

More than 3 million square feet of office space has been added in Kendall Square and Cambridge Crossing (NorthPoint) since the RFP was originally proposed in 2013, with another 5 million square feet of mixed-use buildings coming to the area over the next 5 years, and a recently announced renovation of CambridgeSide, which will eliminate 800 parking spaces; now therefore be it

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to conduct a comprehensive, independent planning and traffic study of the neighborhood and use of the First Street Garage, and include it in the disposition report as required by 2.110, Section B.6, so that the Council can make an informed decision as to whether the proposed disposition is in the best public interest; and be it further

ORDERED: That the City Manager be and hereby is requested to report back on this matter as soon as possible.