Prospect Street Corridor Study

• What's Happening Now
  • Prospect Street Overlay District
  • Tree Planting
• Project Background
• Resources
• For More Information

What's Happening Now

Prospect Street Overlay District

On April 10, 2007, the Cambridge City Council adopted the Prospect Street Rezoning Petition. The rezoning contains the following key elements:

• Permitted uses, densities and heights along Prospect Street remain unchanged.
• An overlay district is established designating the corridor as an area of special planning concern – future development of 2,000 sq. ft. or more will require a public meeting and non-binding design consultation with City staff.
• New front setback (3 feet) and open space (15%) requirements will apply in the business-zoned parts of the corridor.
• A 7-foot landscaped buffer will be required between at-grade parking and the sidewalk.
• New urban design standards and guidelines will address building design, site design, and landscaping to improve the image of the corridor and enhance the pedestrian experience.

The ordinance as adopted by the City Council can be downloaded below:

Prospect Street Overlay Zoning Ordinance – Adopted by City Council April 10, 2007.

Tree Planting

The City of Cambridge has received a grant from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation for the planting of additional street trees on Prospect Street in spring 2007. New street tree plantings were recommended in the Prospect Street Corridor Study as a way to improve the urban character and pedestrian experience along the corridor.

Additional trees will benefit all community members who live, work, and walk along Prospect Street by providing added shade, improving air quality, and contributing positively to the overall attractiveness of the environment. The grant will fund new trees to be planted in existing tree pits, in new tree pits within the sidewalk, or in yard areas facing Prospect Street within ten feet of the public sidewalk.

Tree planting is nearly complete. A map of planting locations is available for download below.

Prospect Street Corridor: Existing Trees and Potential New Tree Planting Locations (241 KB)

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Project Background

The Prospect Street corridor is a vital part of Cambridge that is used by a variety of people. It is home to a mix of residential, commercial, and institutional uses. It is a major transportation route connecting Central Square to Inman Square and beyond into Somerville, and is used by pedestrians, cyclists, automobiles, and trucks. However, it is located between two residential neighborhoods and is often regarded as an “edge” district.

The Community Development Department has undertaken an urban design study exploring possible ways to improve the Prospect Street corridor. Future improvements will focus on urban design and the quality of the streetscape, and will aim to create a more pleasant environment for all users of the corridor.

The process included a short series of public meetings held in winter and spring 2006. Participants at the meetings included area residents, business owners, institutional representatives, and other users of the Prospect Street corridor. Community members also provided feedback via e-mail and telephone.

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Resources

These files are in PDF format and require use of the free Adobe Acrobat viewer.

• Base Map of Study Area (850 KB)
• Aerial View of Study Area (498 KB)
• Zoning Map of Study Area (369 KB)
• Land Use Map of Study Area (197 KB)
• Historic Photos of Prospect Street (113 KB)
• Prospect Street Corridor: Existing Trees and Potential New Tree Planting Locations (230 KB)

Adopted Zoning Ordinance - April 10, 2007

• Prospect Street Overlay Zoning Ordinance – As Adopted by City Council

Submission to City Council: January 16, 2007

• Prospect Street Rezoning Petition (1.4 MB)

Third Public Meeting June 21, 2005

• Meeting Agenda (102 KB)
• Slide Presentation Handout
• Draft Recommendations Handout (456 KB)

Second Public Meeting April 25, 2006

• Meeting Agenda (103 KB)
• Issues, Goals & Objectives, Possible Approaches (755 KB)
• Handout - Patterns of Development: Present and Future (1.1 MB)
• Handout - Traffic Management

First Public Meeting: February 28, 2006

• Meeting Agenda
• Slide Presentation Handout (968 KB)

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