16-28 Porter Street
16-28 Porter Street is a 12,920 square foot vacant lot located in the Wellington-Harrington neighborhood, a location surrounded by many amenities such as Twin city Plaza, Gold Star Mothers Park, and the Lechmere MBTA station. It was acquired by the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) in April 2026 with financial support from the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust (CAHT). The site is expected to be developed under the provisions of the Affordable Housing Overlay.
1826 and 1840 Massachusetts Avenue
Just A Start Corporation (JAS), a local non-profit affordable housing provider, purchased 1826 and 1840 Massachusetts Avenue, two surface parking lots, from Lesley University in late November 2024. Located in the Neighborhood Nine neighborhood, the site is in close proximity to the many amenities of Porter Square including restaurants, retail and the MBTA station.
JAS is planning to create new affordable housing at the sites under the provisions of the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO).
True Crime Book Group (Main)
This month's book: Furious Hours: Murder, Fraud, and the Last Trial of Harper Lee by Casey Cep
Audience: Adults who are true crime fans.
How to get the print book: Copies of the print book are set aside at the Main Library. Visit the Main Library Q&A Desk at 449 Broadway during service hours and a staff member can help you check out a copy.
How to get the e-book or digital audiobook: This month’s book is available as a digital audiobook through the Libby app.
How to register: Click the registration link below to register.
We'll meet in the Rossi Room on the first floor of the Main Library.
For more information, contact Amie at alemire@cambridgema.gov.
2 - Area 2/MIT
Area 2 consist almost entirely of the MIT campus, along the Charles River on Cambridge's southernmost edge and across the river from Boston's Back Bay.
East Cambridge Zoning Guide
1985 design principles and land use plans for the former industrial area of East Cambridge, covering the triangle from the First and Second Streets to the Charles River. Referenced in Zoning Ordinance, Articles 13.30, 13.40 and 13.50.
Dates Announced for Next Police Exam and Application Deadline
The deadline to apply for the next Civil Service exam to become a Cambridge Police Officer has been announced. The deadline to apply for the exam is January 17, 2023. Late applications, which would result in an additional $50 fee, will be accepted until January 31, 2023. In advance of the application deadline, the Cambridge Police will host a series of recruiting information sessions.
Danehy Gateway Pavilion Project
The Danehy Gateway Pavilion project, a collaboration between the Department of Public Works and the Department of Human Service Programs Recreation Division, is the construction of a new sports pavilion (5,800 sq. ft.) and other improvements to Danehy Park. Located at 100 New Street, the pavilion will serve sports teams from Cambridge Rindge and Latin School (CRLS) and the community. The facility will provide female athletes with more equitable access to amenities, including new restrooms, changing and locker rooms, an athletic trainer’s room, a coach’s office, storage for athletic equipment, and multi-purpose space. The pavilion will also provide public restrooms for park visitors.
Additionally, the project scope includes lighting improvements to Danehy Dog Park, the provision of fiber optic to enable public internet access in the park, landscape improvements, and renovation of the existing New Street Parking Lot.
The project will be net‐zero emissions (all electric) and will target LEED Gold new construction and Passive House Certification. It will include a solar photovoltaic array and provisions for future electric vehicle charging stations.
The project is currently in the design phase.
Canopy Report
The Department of Public Works is excited to share the latest update to the City’s tree canopy assessment! The assessment was prepared by the University of Vermont’s Spatial Analysis Lab and analyzes changes to the tree canopy from 2018 through 2024. Our canopy experienced both loss and gains with an overall increase in Cambridge’s canopy by 5% from 2018 to 2024!