CityView Newsletter

Spring/Summer 2022

Broadband

Cambridge’s 21st Century Broadband Initiative

The City of Cambridge has released the final report for its comprehensive year-long municipal broadband feasibility study, Municipal Broadband in Cambridge: Feasibility and Business Model Options.

Renovated Foundry Building to Reopen this Fall as Center for Creativity and Collaboration

The transformation of the historic Foundry Building at 101 Rogers Street is nearing completion following COVID related construction delays and is expected to open this fall. This massive brick building, originally constructed as an iron foundry in 1889, is an adaptive reuse project that will reopen as a self-sustaining center for creativity and collaboration for the Cambridge community.

Image of Cambridge City Manager Louis A. DePasquale

City Manager

City Manager's Message

City Manager Louis A. DePasquale's final message as City Manager

Diagram of the Cambridge Alternative Response Program

Proposed Community Safety Department to Offer Alternative Response to Non-Violent and Behavioral Health Crisis 911 Calls

The City of Cambridge is proposing a new Community Safety Department (CSD) that will coordinate community driven solutions to enhance safety in the community, with key services and programs targeted at our most vulnerable populations.

Affordable Housing

City Investing $38 Million in Affordable Housing in FY23

The City’s 2022-2023 Annual Budget again includes a significant increase in funding for the development and preservation of affordable housing in Cambridge. The chart below breaks down the funding sources

Photograph of young children taking part in an arts and craft activity at a round table

Developing Universal Pre-K

The Birth to 3rd Grade (B3) Partnership is serving as the lead office in the design, development, and implementation of the City’s system of Universal Pre-K

Louis A DePasquale Universal Design Playground Photo by Cambridge Arts

Creating High Quality Open Spaces

The last two years have highlighted the importance of access to outdoor open space.

Cambridge Plants 1,000 Trees and Establishes Miyawaki Microforest

In order to increase the long-term survival of newly planted trees, Public Works has improved pre-planting soil preparation, supervision of the planting process, and post-planting watering and other aftercare.

Stormwater Management Initiatives Help Reduce Flooding and Sewer Overflow

Twenty-five years of major investment in sewer and stormwater infrastructure and maintenance has significantly improved the quality of water discharged to the Charles River, the Little River, the Alewife Brook, the Mystic River, and the Boston Harbor.

Cambridge Cycling Safety Ordinance

The City’s Cycling Safety Ordinance calls for the City to build out a 25-mile network of separated bike lanes in the next five years. Separated bike lanes, which generally include space and vertical dividers that create a physical distance between bicycles and motor vehicles, improve safety and create a more comfortable environment.

Young Adult Diversion Program Offers Alternative to Criminal Prosecution

Diversion allows a young person the opportunity to complete an individually-tailored program in lieu of prosecution and may include conditions such as educational programs, counseling, community service, working with housing, letters of apology, and restitution.

City Services

New Trash Carts Arriving Soon

The Department of Public Works (DPW) will deliver standard trash carts to all buildings where the City collects trash between June 6-24.

Expanding Advanced Life Support Services

Cambridge Fire Department (CFD) will hire eight firefighters in FY23 to expand the delivery of Advanced Life Support, (ALS) or Paramedic service, to the community.

Danehy Connector, Linear Path, and Grand Junction Corridor Planning

Off-road paths provide a relaxing and fun way to travel in and around Cambridge.

Climate Change

Climate Change Preparedness Update

The Resilient Cambridge Plan, the citywide climate change preparedness and resilience plan, based on the Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment, was issued in June 2021.

Workforce Development

Cambridge Offers New Apprenticeship Program

The Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Office of Workforce Development (OWD) will collaborate to identify residents interested in committing to one to two-year paid apprenticeships.

Screenshot of the new Digital Publications website

Access Digital Versions of CityView and Other City Publications

A new interactive website for digital City publications

Tobin Montessori Vassal Lane Upper Schools Image Courtesy of Perkins Eastman

Tobin Montessori and Vassal Lane Upper Schools Construction Underway

Located at 197 Vassal Lane, the new complex will house the Tobin Montessori School, Vassal Lane Upper Schools, the City’s Department of Human Services Programs preschool and after school programs, and Special Start.

Supporting Language Justice

The City continues its work to support language justice, the right to understand and be understood in the language in which a person is most comfortable.

How can we help?

Service Requests