Official websites use .gov
A
.gov website belongs to an official government
organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
secure websites.
The city is home to a vibrant mix of architectural styles, as well as unique commercial districts and corridors. This makes Cambridge an exciting and pleasant place to live, work, learn, and play. Additionally, a strong economy means that some areas of the city are undergoing change. These include the major squares and mixed-use corridors, as well as formerly industrial districts, and areas next to parkways and institutions. Cambridge works with developers to provide community benefits and ensure that the urban form of new districts advances the community’s values and complements existing neighborhoods.
Envision indicators are updated as new data becomes available, which varies by indicator, but no more often than annually.
New development density is best suited for places well-served by urban amenities such as transit. This indicator tracks whether housing development in Cambridge is distributed in areas with a high concentration of urban amenities, using transit as a proxy.
New development density is best suited for places well-served by urban amenities such as transit. This indicator tracks whether housing development in Cambridge is distributed in areas with a high concentration of urban amenities, using transit as a proxy.
Housing Starts data from CDD
New housing units permitted each year were mapped, and developments within a half-mile walking distance of T stations were identified. The percentage of new units within the walking distance buffer was calculated for 2015. For subsequent years, the percentage is cumulative, meaning the 2016 number covers new units from 2015-2016, 2017 covers new units from 2015-2017, and so on.
Cumulative percent of new housing units within a 0.5-mile walk to an MBTA subway station
86.4%
75%
New development density is best suited for places well-served by urban amenities such as transit. This indicator tracks whether commercial development in Cambridge is distributed in areas with a high concentration of urban amenities, using transit as a proxy.
New development density is best suited for places well-served by urban amenities such as transit. This indicator tracks whether commercial development in Cambridge is distributed in areas with a high concentration of urban amenities, using transit as a proxy.
Development Log data from CDD
New commercial developments completed each year were mapped, and projects within a half-mile walking distance of T stations were identified. The percentage of new commercial gross floor area (GFA) within the walking distance buffer was calculated for 2015. For subsequent years, the percentage is cumulative, meaning the 2016 number covers new commercial GFA from 2015-2016, 2017 covers new commercial GFA from 2015-2017, and so on.
Percent of new commercial gross floor area within a 0.5-mile walk to an MBTA subway station
99.4%
85%
Cambridge has many high-quality open spaces, serving different needs for people at different times. Through this indicator, Cambridge will track whether the community has access to several kinds of park uses, increasing the likelihood that they can find a nearby open space that serves their needs. This metric uses a revised standard introduced by the Open Space Needs Assessment.
Cambridge has many high-quality open spaces, serving different needs for people at different times. Through this indicator, Cambridge will track whether the community has access to several kinds of park uses, increasing the likelihood that they can find a nearby open space that serves their needs. This metric uses a revised standard introduced by the Open Space Needs Assessment.
Park Types from CDD Open Space Needs Assessment; Population from 2010 and 2020 Census, Annual Housing Starts data from CDD
Population counts by Census block were applied to 1-acre hex grid cells covering the City. For non-Census years, changes in population were estimated based on the net change in housing units listed in annual Housing Starts data, and these changes were applied to the hex grid cells at the location of the development projects. The percentage of the population located within the walksheds of at least three of the four types of parks as classified by the Open Space Needs Assessment was then calculated. The four walksheds are as follows: a quarter-mile walking distance from a Mini Park; a half-mile walking distance from a Neighborhood Park, a Community Recreation Park, or a Citywide Park.
Population in proximity to park types
62.8%
Percentage
The tree canopy covering our streets and sidewalks has a significant impact on the comfort of pedestrians, as well as the public health, sustainability, resilience, visual appeal, and livability of the city as a whole. This indicator will track street trees’ contribution to creating a more healthy, resilient, and pleasant environment by measuring the amount of roadway area that is under the tree canopy.
The tree canopy covering our streets and sidewalks has a significant impact on the comfort of pedestrians, as well as the public health, sustainability, resilience, visual appeal, and livability of the city as a whole. This indicator will track street trees’ contribution to creating a more healthy, resilient, and pleasant environment by measuring the amount of roadway area that is under the tree canopy.
University of Vermont Spatial Analysis Laboratory in collaboration with City of Cambridge; Cambridge Assessing Department
The intersection of the roadway parcel (Map-Lot = ROAD in Assessing data) and the tree canopy layer was used to calculate the area of the roadway that is under the tree canopy.
Tree canopy over streets and sidewalks
25.6%
Percentage
Most people have an intuitive understanding of what makes the design of a city great, whether or not they have formal design training. Of course, reasonable people can disagree on designs they like. Nonetheless, this indicator tracks Cambridge’s progress in building a city that people find aesthetically pleasing overall.
The chart shows the percent of survey respondents that rate Cambridge's overall appearance as "good" or "excellent" (survey responses collected by calls to randomly selected Cambridge phone numbers).
Most people have an intuitive understanding of what makes the design of a city great, whether or not they have formal design training. Of course, reasonable people can disagree on designs they like. Nonetheless, this indicator tracks Cambridge’s progress in building a city that people find aesthetically pleasing overall.
The chart shows the percent of survey respondents that rate Cambridge's overall appearance as "good" or "excellent" (survey responses collected by calls to randomly selected Cambridge phone numbers).
City Manager's Biennial Survey
The survey is administered citywide every even numbered year. Responses are collected through online open response and a randomized sample contacted by phone including cell phone. Only the results of the truly random phone sample are tracked for Envision.
Percent of survey respondents that rate Cambridge's overall appearance as good or excellent.
82%
90%
As Cambridge grows, it is imperative that the amount of open space relative to the number of people remains at a healthy level. This indicator tracks the amount of space. Though privately owned public spaces are also an important component of Cambridge’s open space inventory, this indicator specifically tracks the amount of publicly owned open space.
The chart shows the total acreage of publicly-owned open space in Cambridge over time.
As Cambridge grows, it is imperative that the amount of open space relative to the number of people remains at a healthy level. This indicator tracks the amount of space. Though privately owned public spaces are also an important component of Cambridge’s open space inventory, this indicator specifically tracks the amount of publicly owned open space.
The chart shows the total acreage of publicly-owned open space in Cambridge over time.
CDD GIS land use data
Annual inventory of City open space projects. Projections based on current inventory and any projects of significance in the coming years.
Acres of publicly owned open space
501.88 Acres
518 Acres
As a governmental entity, the Massachusetts Public Records Law applies to records made or received by the City. Any information received through use of this site is subject to the same provisions as information provided on paper.
Read our complete privacy statement
Enter a service request via SeeClickFix for things like missed trash pickups, potholes, etc., click here
