HSNA AND OUR ACTIVITIES
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Reminder: October 3 HSNA Meeting by zoom (5-7 PM)   PLANNING CAMBRIDGE'S FUTURE

• MAIN SPEAKER: Geeta Pradhan, President of the Cambridge Community Foundation (CCF). Geeta previously worked for The Boston Foundation, where she oversaw the development of strategic initiatives. She studied architecture in India and holds an MA in Urban Design from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. She and CCF have been transformative in addressing the core issues that Cambridge is facing. NOTE: CCF's 2021 report, on Equity & Innovation Cities - the Case of Cambridge https://cambridgecf.org/ei-report/ should be required reading for every Cambridge resident.
• Discussion of a new petition before the Ordinance Committee on September 29  to gut our longstanding Conservation Districts and make it virtually impossible to create more. Key parts of Harvard Square lie in Conservation Districts - the Harvard Square Commercial area and the Marsh-Half Crown District. Preservation is a key part of the HSNA's mission and we have grave concerns about related political efforts to destroy what residents have done on this. 
• Discussion of the Advancing Housing Affordability Petition - a new Cambridge citywide zoning petition. Addressing this petition for us, is one of its authors, Mid-Cambridge Attorney Fritz Donovan. This petition will be coming before the City Ordinance Committee and Planning Board in late October. 

Reminder: If you were not able to watch the recent CCC 2021 City Council Candidate Forum a video of it is now posted on Youtube: https://youtu.be/dnK2HglPr-8. It will also be showing on CCTV (Channel 8).

Of importance: Wed. September 26, 2021 at 5:30 PM 
Ordinance Committee meeting to possibly gut long standing Cambridge architectural preservation and conservation efforts. 

Cambridge Day has published an Op Ed by Katiti Kironde titled: "Playing Monopoly in Cambridge is not just a game." This Op Ed looks at how Cambridge has come to resemble a real life investors' Monopoly game:  https://www.cambridgeday.com/2021/09/27/playing-monopoly-here-isnt-a-game/ The issues are closely related to a Petition before the City Council's Ordinance Committee today at 5:30 PM that could bring significant changes to long standing conservation and preservation efforts here. The current system of neighborhood conservation districts (NCDs) has worked well in Cambridge for years - from Mid-Cambridge to areas east, west, north and south - allowing important building changes, new structures, along with core reviews. The petition appears to be aimed at furthering the interests of real estate investors and developers and could stymy or terminate current conservation processes, leading to the demolishment of key examples of our rich and varied architectural history.
EMAIL  Cambridge City Councillors at council@cambridgema.gov
Please also SIGN UP TO SPEAK today at 5:30 (by zoom or in person) https://www.cambridgema.gov/Departments/citycouncil/publiccommentsignupform

Harvard Square undergoing a number of important changes!

The 57 JFK building project shown below is under review, has been preliminarily approved by the Cambridge Historical Commission and will  coming for review this Fall before  the Planning Board. The new plan removes the top story and sets back the residential entry on the right.

The Harvard Square Garage is about to undergo alterations. The review process is underway. There will be upcoming meetings before several bodies this Fall.. www.cambridgeday.com/2021/05/14/plan-to-remake-harvard-squares-garage-mall-bows-to-changed-retail-landscape-nods-to-past/

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ONGOING ISSUES

Changes coming to the Kiosk

The Changing Face of HarvardSquare

Zoning Changes in Harvard Square

We share an interest in protecting and nurturing both the
deep historic legacy and broad environmental, social and
material sustainability of our neighborhood as we work to
​build a strong future.

HARVARD SQUARE
NEIGHBORHOOD
ASSOCIATION

We are a 501(c) 3 Nonprofit Organization
Donations and membership payments by check may be sent to:
P.O. Box 380060
Cambridge, MA 02238

​Email: info at Harvardsquareneighborhood dot org

​©2023 Harvard Square Neighborhood Association