Community Meeting on Future of the First Street Garage

Join us for a Community Meeting about the Future of the First Street Garage sponsored by Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale.

Give your input on the Proposed Leasehold Disposition of 420 Unassigned Parking Spaces and 7,000 Square Feet of Ground Floor Retail Space at the City’s First Street Garage.

Background:  
The City has proposed disposing of a leasehold interest in 420 unassigned parking spaces and approximately 7,000 square feet of ground floor area intended for retail use in the in the City-owned First Street Garage property located at 55 First Street.  The garage has approximately 1,100 parking spaces and the proposed leasehold disposition is only for the 420 unassigned parking spaces and 7,000 square feet of ground floor retail, and not for the entire building. 

The garage will continue to be used as a municipal parking facility, subject to the proposed new lease for parking and renovated first floor retail space.    

The City is interested in hearing from the community as to what particular ground floor retail uses would be best for the immediate neighborhood and surrounding community.

Process:  
The City’s Municipal Ordinance, Section 2.110.010, requires that a public process be conducted before public land or property may be sold or disposed. Following the October 30th community meeting, public hearings will be conducted at the Planning Board and City Council. A City Council vote will be required in order to approve a proposed disposition of the leasehold interest.

State law (Chapter 30B) also requires that when public land or property is disposed, proposals must be solicited from all interested buyers prior to selecting a buyer. The City has issued a Request for Proposals pertaining to the proposed lease of the 420 unassigned parking spaces in the garage and the use of the 7,000 square feet of ground floor retail in the City-owner First Street Garage. 
Information is available from the City’s Purchasing Department.