Overview

The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA) and the City of Cambridge have adopted changes to the Kendall Square Urban Renewal Plan (KSURP). These updates allow for an additional 600,000 square feet of new commercial development and 400,000 square feet of housing within the project area. at least 25% of the new housing will be below market rate available for low to middle income households and 10 - 20% of the commercial space will be developed as 'Innovation Space' to provide shared work space for start-up and scale-up companies. The CRA has reserved 25% of the Innovation Space for subsidized entrepreneur programs service Cambridge residents. The project will also support revitalized parks and transportation improvements.

Background

The original Kendall Square Urban Renewal Area included all the land between Main, Third and Binney streets and the Grand Junction Railroad. This included 29 acres of federally-owned property, 14 acres of which are now occupied by the Volpe Transportation Research Center.

In 1977 the plan was amended to create the Cambridge Center MXD District, shown in red, for all the land not owned by the federal government. This change was intended to attract mixed-use development to the area north of the Kendall MBTA station. The CRA selected Boston Properties as the master developer of the Cambridge Center project.

The "ski boot" outline of the MXD represents the primary focus of this project, and nearly everything you see on this website relates to zoning and proposed new buildings in this area.

What are the next steps?

Boston Properties will submit an Infill Development Concept Plan for review by the CRA and the Planning Board. Elements of this plan will include phasing plans, an open space plan, a retail plan, a transportation impact study, a sustainability plan. These will be made available for review as they are drafted. Boston Properties presented a initial set of open space ideas to the CRA Board in March of this year, and concepts for building massing in April. Please see those presentations below.

KSURP Open Space Ideas

MXD Conceptual Massing Options