Cambridge Highlands - Neighborhood 12

The Cambridge Highlands neighborhood, located on the northeastern edge of the city, is comprised of two distinct areas. The eastern part consists of mostly commercial and light industrial uses. A strip mall-style regional retail center is located here, alongside the Alewife Brook Parkway (State Route 2) and near the MBTA Alewife Red Line Station in North Cambridge. A wide corridor of railroad lines is the northern border of the neighborhood, which divides the adjacent office/industrial area into two parts, known as the “Triangle” (officially part of North Cambridge) and the “Quadrangle” (officially part of the Cambridge Highlands). The residential core of the neighborhood lies at its western end, bordering Belmont. The Fresh Pond Reservation borders the neighborhood to the south.

Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood Map

Cambridge Highlands 3D Map

Cambridge Highlands Statistical Profile

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July 2014 Concord Alewife Transportation Update

On June 19, 2014 the Cambridge City Council Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Utilities asked the Community Development Department to “address the traffic, transportation and access to transit issues in the Fresh Pond/Concord Avenue/Alewife area with a view toward understanding the impact of recent development trends in the area.” Staff created and delivered a presentation (found in the Documents Tab and below) at the Tobin School meant to give the Council and public an understanding of how the transportation elements of the Concord-Alewife Plan were being implemented, an understanding of current development taking place and its impact on area transportation, an explanation of the nature of Alewife transportation and vehicle trips, as well an update on recent trends and projects that the City and others have completed, are in progress and hope to pursue in the future.

Click here to view the Alewife Transportation Update (2014) presentation given on June 19, 2014 to City Council Subcommittee on Transportation and Utilities at the Tobin School.

June 25, 2011 - Draft Cambridge Highlands Study Update 2011 Recommendations

A second community meeting for the Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood Study Update was held on June 15, 2011. There was an in depth discussion of the neighborhood issues that were raised at the first public meeting, and an effort was begun to develop a list of planning recommendations for the neighborhood.

Review the draft recommendations.

The 2011 Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood Study Update is anticipated to be complete in Spring 2012. Community Development Department staff will be working within the department and with other city departments to address the recommendations of the study. The 2011 Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood Study Update will also include information on the status and progress to date for each recommendation.

The objective of the neighborhood studies and subsequent study updates is to identify planning issues in the neighborhood and articulate recommendations to address those issues. The study recommendations are the key part of the neighborhood study and updates. The recommendations are used not only to guide neighborhood planning efforts for the Community Development Department but in many cases are included as work items for other City departments when appropriate.

2011 Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood Study Update

Review Draft Cambridge Highlands Study Update 2011 Recommendations

The recommendations are an important component of the 2011 Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood Study Update which is anticipated to be completed in early 2012. Community Development Department staff will be working within the department and with other city departments to address these recommendations. The final 2011 Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood Study Update will also include information on the status and progress to date for each recommendation.

Concord Alewife Planning Study

In 2006 the Community Development Department completed a multidisciplinary study of the Concord-Alewife area in the western part of Cambridge. Concord Alewife is made up of sub areas referred to as the Triangle, the Quadrangle, and the Fresh Pond Shopping Center and overlaps the Cambridge Highlands Neighborhood. The Study provided essentially the same functions as a neighborhood study for the neighborhood.

Concord Alewife Planning Study

To request a printed copies of any neighborhood study please call Tracey Joyce in the Community Planning Division at 617/349-4650 or email her at tjoyce@cambridgema.gov.