Central Square Red Ribbon Commission Report

CENTRAL,SQUARED The Mayor’s Red Ribbon Commission on the Delights and Concerns of Central Square December 2011 Overview Map of Central Square Central Square emerged at the end of the eighteenth century as a road- side settlement on the way to the West Boston Bridge, today’s Longfellow Bridge. Rapid growth followed in the nineteenth century and by 1900 “Main Street” west of Lafayette Square had become Massachusetts Avenue. The twentieth century saw the slow conversion of the area’s industrial buildings into space for technology, science, and culture- a shift that continues today in 2011 as the Red Ribbon Commission and other stakeholders consider the future of Central Square. This report is one of the elements of Central’s current revisioning. Where is Central Square, exactly? The Square’s boundaries are fluid and in the midst of being redefined. The 1990 Central Square National Register district stretches along Massachusetts Avenue from west of Sellers Street to State Street, but the City of Cambridge’s 1989 Central Square Zoning Overlay District goes from Bigelow to Windsor Street, and all the way up Prospect almost to Harvard Street. Today these boundaries are moving south and east. University Park, though included in neither of the above districts, is now considered to be within Central Square, and new development along Massachusetts Avenue has extended commercial activity almost to the main MIT campus. This map shows Central Square as the stretch of Massachusetts Avenue located be- tween Clinton Street and Albany Street near MIT. HARVARD M I T BOSTON 2 Letter from Ken Reeves Introduction Table of Contents This report was prepared in response to the charge given by Mayor David grateful for the opportunity to move Central Square forward afforded by the In June of 2010, Mayor David Maher announced the establishment of the Overview Map of Central Square p. 2 Maher and the Cambridge City Council when they established the Red Rib- establishment of the commission. Red Ribbon Commission on the Delights and Concerns of Central Square. bon Commission on the Delights and Concerns of Central Square in June Mayor Maher appointed City Councillor Kenneth E. Reeves as chair of the Councilor Ken Reeves’ Letter & 2010. It represents the work of over 120 people, organizations, denizens, We gratefully acknowledge the organizations who have provided financial Commission with the charge that it explore Central Square, the existing Introduction p. 3 supporters, and observers who have met over 13 times, at various locations support for this enterprise and we have high hopes that the spirit of creative character and quality of life in Central Square and the opportunities and Lucky Cambridge: the context p. 4-9 throughout Central Square, over the last 16 months. communal enterprise will continue, including the members of the Red Rib- actions needed to ensure and enhance the future social, economic, and bon Commission. residential vitality and viability of the Square. Special Central: the Square today p. 10-21 This extraordinary and dedicated group of residents, city planners, business Central, Squared: the future p. 22-35 operators, landowners, developers, and institutions examined the past, We are greatly indebted to Deputy City Manager Richard Rossi and many The Commission established, from the outset, the importance of ensuring present, and possible futures for Central Square. All of them have a large other city staff members for facilitating many aspects of the Commission’s that the full spectrum of interests that are represented in Central Square Squaring Central: who and how p. 36-38 stake in the future of the square and they gave unstintingly of their time, work. I must also specially thank my assistant John R. Clifford for seeing and its adjacent neighborhoods would be encouraged to participate in the effort and resources to ensure the success of this effort. this process and its written report through to successful conclusion. process of gathering information on current challenges and emerging issues that confront the Square. Through the establishment of working sub- The members of the commission drew on a wide variety of resources to committees, the Commission set out to develop ideas and solutions for ad- enrich this effort, looking at not only the history and evolution of Central dressing these issues as well as identifying a set of unified themes to guide Square but drawing on experiences in other cities such as New York, New development in the Square for the future. Haven, and Washington DC. We learned how these cities initiated and sustained the revitalization of areas similar to Central Square. We learned how Kenneth E. Reeves Four subcommittees were established: Communications, Identity, Infra- other cities have engaged in partnerships with institutions and the devel- structure and Safety, and Landowners. Each committee was co-chaired by oper community to reimagine and revive troubled sectors of their cities. Cambridge City Councilor dedicated members who in turn reached out to engage a broad spectrum Chairperson, Mayor’s Red Ribbon Commission on the Delights of the Central Square community. The committees reported monthly to the The commission’s work engaged many people in Central Square who had and Concerns of Central Square Commission and also met with their own subcommittees to generate ideas not worked together before. They formed new relationships and opened up for the Square’s future. an unprecedented dialogue that can, if sustained, lead to cooperative and productive efforts in the years ahead. The goals for the area that emerged The Commission, through its many participants, has searched for ways to from this work center on four themes: the need for a major infusion of mid- strengthen existing organizations and develop stronger linkages among the dle income housing, employment opportunities that are sustained by the many interest groups and institutions that, working together, could build a technologies that continually emerge from our universities, retail services, future for Central Square that multiplied its present assets and enriched the an arts, entertainment and culinary district, and the family-friendly services, life of this unique part of Cambridge. such as affordable child care, that will encourage the reestablishment of a healthy, diverse, and vibrant Central Square. This report is both a summary of the many months of discussion of issues and ideas and includes a set of projections for this very diverse, urbane, and The work of the Commission has already had some positive effects by en- complex area of Cambridge. Central Square is in the midst of momentous Central, Squared Design Team couraging landowners to bring new tenants into the area, and to rethink change coming from different social, economic, and physical directions. As their development opportunities as part of a larger Central Square-wide an emerging employment center, entertainment and culinary destination, Brent D. Ryan Assistant Professor of Urban Design initiative. arts district, specialty retail center, and expanding residential community, and Public Policy, MIT Central Square is at the cusp of an even more exciting future. Lorena Bello Gomez Architect, Urban Designer To bring our many thoughts and conclusions together in a unified and co- Yeon Wha Hong Graphic Designer, MIT herent story and to infuse our goals with a focused vision and the mecha- The report presents a challenge to the future stewards of Central Square nisms that can be used to implement this vision, we asked Professor Brent who will need to understand, accommodate, and shape its changes in a Anna Muessig Research Assistant, MIT Ryan and his colleagues at MIT to enshrine the work of the commission in manner that balances the Square’s distinct economic forces, its diverse and this report. We realize that this is the first step in a long journey but we are exciting opportunities, and its unique demographic character, all the while moving it in a positive direction. 3 Part One: Lucky Cambridge Since 1638, when Newtowne, Massachusetts, changed its name to honor the great English university, Cambridge’s future has been tied to the health and creativity of the institutions in its midst. After 1950 the industrial decline that was so damaging to many other American cities was softened by the rise of new technology- based industries and by the increasing attraction of Cambridge as a place to live. Within Cambridge’s 6.7 square miles, the city is fortunate to have four institutions of higher education: MIT, Har- Stata Center at MIT Novartis research facilities on Mass Ave. Technology Square on Main St. vard University, Lesley University, and Cambridge College. Today, Cambridge enjoys a unique combination of circumstances that provide the city with economic, social, and physical prosper- ity. Together with strong institutions and enlightened governance, this means that Cambridge is in a position almost unique in the U.S. to grow in a manner that is innovative, balanced, enlightened, progressive, and productive. Cambridge is lucky and its future is bright. The first chapter of the Red Ribbon Commission report places Central Square in the larger context of the prosperous city of Cambridge. Cambridge’s advantages are Central Square’s advantages, and Central Square’s challenges are Cambridge’s challenges. Cambridge and Central Square are inextricably interwoven: Central Square is the heart of Cambridge. 4 Brunch in Lafayette Sq. Morning rush at Flour Bakery on Mass Ave. Used books for sale on Mass Ave. near the Post Office SAMPLING OF BIOTECH & HIGHTECH COMPANIES FOUNDED AFTER 2000 IN CAMBRIDGE (source: CDD) Economy Acceleron Pharma, Inc, 2003 New England Healthcare Institute, 2002 Aileron Therapeutics, Inc, 2005 Novophage, 2009 Alnara Pharmaceutical, 2009 Parallel Solutions, Inc, 2001 Cambridge has an active healthy economy in multiple Education, Training, and Library Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 2002 Pervasis Therapeutics, Inc, 2003 Anchor Therapeutics, Inc, 2008 Prometrika, 2003 innovation sectors.

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