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Mass Ave Planning Study - Cambridge Common to Alewife Brook Parkway

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The Mass Ave Planning Study (MAPS), spearheaded by the Cambridge Community Development Department, is creating a vision plan for what Massachusetts Avenue will look like in 2040 between Alewife Brook Parkway and Cambridge Common. 

This plan is part of the implementation of Envision Cambridge, the City's comprehensive plan. It will study various aspects such as land use, zoning, urban design, housing, climate resiliency, small business support, mobility, and public space.

The team will work with the community to develop a shared vision to shape future development types and scales, and lead an engagement process to capture all the voices that call this part of Mass Ave home.

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Latest Updates

Mass Ave Planning Study - North Mass Ave Draft Ideas 

In case you missed our community open house on November 14, don't worry! There's still time to provide input via our ideas survey.

The following draft ideas focus on the North Mass Ave planning area and were shared with community members at a community meeting on Thursday, November 14 at Lesley University (1815 Massachusetts Ave). Using the online form, you can participate and share your thoughts and feedback in a similar format as the in-person event.
 
Please answer a few questions to help us understand who is participating and then explore the potential ideas for North Mass Ave!

You can submit comments via our feedback form. Please take a moment and explore the ideas for North Mass Ave!

Submit Feedback

Community Engagement

Upcoming Meetings

MAPS Working Group Meeting - Recommendations for North Mass Ave & Porter Square - February 26, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Join us as the planning team presents final planning and urban design recommendations for the areas of North Mass Ave and Porter Square to the Mass Ave Planning Study Working Group. This session will be a participatory discussion between working group members to provide input and feedback for the planning team. At the end of the meeting there will be an opportunity for public comment. 

This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. Click here to register.

Date and Time: Wednesday, February 26, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Location: Virtual via Zoom.

MAPS Working Group Meeting - Zoning Recommendations - March 13, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Join us as CDD's Zoning & Development Division reviews zoning recommendations for the study area with the MAPS Working Group. Issues such as building height, use, density, and dimensional and design standards will be discussed. 

This meeting will be held virtually via Zoom. Click here to register.

Date and Time: Thursday, March 13, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Location: Virtual via Zoom

Recent Meetings

Porter Square Community Meeting - A Focus on Porter Square - January 30, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Thanks to everyone that joined us for a virtual Community Meeting as part of the Mass Ave Planning Study (MAPS) to review and provide feedback on alternative ideas for the future of Porter Square! Attendees were able to provide feedback on draft ideas, including zoning changes, urban design concepts, and open space improvements. Over 100 people attended and provided a wealth of input for the planning team!

To view meeting materials, including the video recording and presentation, please visit our Meeting Materials section below.

Meeting Materials

Working Group Meetings

  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 7 (Zoning - NMA and South of Porter) 12/11/24 presentation
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 7 (Zoning - NMA and South of Porter) 12/11/24 video
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 6 (North Mass Ave) 10/30/24 presentation 
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 6 (North Mass Ave) 10/30/24 video
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 5 (North Mass Ave) 10/11/24 presentation and meeting minutes
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 4 (South of Porter) 06/27/24 presentation
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 4 (South of Porter) 06/27/24 video
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 3 (South of Porter) 04/24/24 presentation
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 2 (South of Porter) 03/14/24 video
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 2 (South of Porter) 03/14/24 presentation
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 1 02/08/24 video
  • MAPS Working Group - Meeting 1 02/08/24 presentation

Community Meetings

 

Working Project Schedule

Study Area

The Study Area for the Mass Ave Planning Study stretches from the Cambridge Common to Alewife Brook Parkway, two miles of Mass Ave. 

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Key Resources

Local and Area Plans

Citywide Plans

Links to Neighborhood Planning

Mass Ave Planning Study Working Group

For a more complete description of the working group and its members please reference the City Council packet from January 22, 2024 (page 88)

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