tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67801921768596813772024-03-21T11:42:15.163-04:00CAMBRIDGEPORTA blog by and for the neighborhoodJBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.comBlogger124125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-12798994045124451232010-05-30T19:41:00.004-04:002010-05-30T20:16:54.826-04:00Cambridgeport History: Magaret Fuller<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_mWoqACXYhzE9Ttgp03Wn8EWifXhJoQ16hERpnX4lEWjxo7y9lflqlVTVHRjWugEI_6b6AaheQAGKnVQh03_YJWW1qaCCJdyvtMGjtsATcBtoG_O5hNCbAYt9wSRLu94paExMgX9bTJK/s1600/FullerDaguerreotype.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 157px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5477220007074798674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6_mWoqACXYhzE9Ttgp03Wn8EWifXhJoQ16hERpnX4lEWjxo7y9lflqlVTVHRjWugEI_6b6AaheQAGKnVQh03_YJWW1qaCCJdyvtMGjtsATcBtoG_O5hNCbAYt9wSRLu94paExMgX9bTJK/s200/FullerDaguerreotype.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This Memorial Day weekend, as the neighborhood pauses to remember those who have served to defend our country, we might also spare a thought for a giant among C-port's native sons and daughters: women's rights advocate, pioneering journalist, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transcendentalism">leading Transcendentalist</a> and literary critic Sarah Margaret Fuller.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">May 23rd marked the 200th anniversary of Fuller's birth in 1810 in what was then Cambridgeport (now the Area IV neighborhood of Cambridge), just a few short blocks from Central Square on Cherry Street. Dina Harris <a href="http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100523/OPINION/5230340/-1/NEWSMAP">penned a great column </a>in the <em>Cape Cod Times</em> to mark the occassion, unearthing Fuller's amazing legacy, which has not diminished but has faded in the 160 years since her death. (An </span><a href="http://www.biography.com/articles/Margaret-Fuller-9303889"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">amazing life</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> ended in dramatic fashion in an 1850 shipwreck off of Fire Island, NY.) Her account adds to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Fuller">numerous</a> <a href="http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/transcendentalism/authors/fuller/">others</a> in summarizing Fuller's contributions to journalism, to feminism, to philosophy, and to much else. Harris captures the unique blend of qualities in Fuller by quoting Edgar Allen Poe: "Humanity is divided into Men, Women, and Margaret Fuller."</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Her childhood house on Cherry Street is <a href="http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/pwwmh/ma59.htm">now a National Historic Landmark</a>, and since 1902 has served the city's most vulnerable residents by providing needed shelter and services. Today the <a href="http://www.margaretfullerhouse.org/main/">Margaret Fuller House</a> is a community institution with a "busy food pantry, an out of school time program for children, summer camp, outreach to young adults at risk, heath related programs for seniors and men of color, community organizing, and an open computer center and free technology classes. We host community-wide events, financial, exercise, poetry writing, drumming and other classes and welcome the Area IV community to meetings and local gatherings." (from <a href="http://www.margaretfullerhouse.org/main/?page_id=260">the MFH website</a>) The organization is marking 2010 with a year-long celebration of Fuller's legacy.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em>Image of Fuller from Wikipedia.</em></span></div>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-2157943203082058762010-05-26T13:03:00.007-04:002010-05-26T13:25:07.479-04:00Gardening in the City<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eG-dU3gSZ63xLNVxIvWmKSXxthS_dmiHgyakx74o8CFxf4pi8M5UDIagLhg3YFG1yXhUmtIAxjhyd6Xjdy_owm2nhdKelgrFhNuizYfT6LbUx_XcRBvpMXSylDSCpDCgiLdmWRaEoRPn/s1600/Dewey-Bud.jpg"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475628832930532530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eG-dU3gSZ63xLNVxIvWmKSXxthS_dmiHgyakx74o8CFxf4pi8M5UDIagLhg3YFG1yXhUmtIAxjhyd6Xjdy_owm2nhdKelgrFhNuizYfT6LbUx_XcRBvpMXSylDSCpDCgiLdmWRaEoRPn/s200/Dewey-Bud.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cambridge is full of lots of public spaces that are too small to be properly accounted for in budget and maintenance, but too large to just be ignored. So, often we end up with bare patches of dirt and empty tree boxes in places with far more potential.<br /></span><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Enter some active neighbors and their green thumbs, aka the Pick-a-Pocket Gardeners. Last year, these folks volunteered to adopt several City-owned pocket-gardens and maintainted them throughout the growing season. DPW kicked in some training and landscape materials.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This year, the group wants to expand, and so DPW is hosting a kickoff meeting next Wednesday (6/2) at 6:30pm at the DPW offices at 147 Hampshire Street.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:100%;">From an invitation email from the aptly named Kathy Gardner:</span> </span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">[Last year, w]e all enjoyed the fresh air, interesting conversations, and exercise and we were greatly appreciated by passersby and businesses. We also improved our own and our neighbor's quality of life by promoting beauty in our environment. Can you beat that for a free activity?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">This year the program is expanding to include more parks and more people. You may already have noticed a spot you would like to take care of -- we'll help you get started. At the meeting we will match volunteers with garden spaces in their neighborhood...<br /><br />Please contact Ellen Coppinger, </span><a href="mailto:ecoppinger@cambridgema.gov"><span style="font-family:arial;">ecoppinger@cambridgema.gov</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"> for more information or to express interest.</span> </span></p></blockquote></span></div>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-70019024286830760052010-05-25T09:58:00.005-04:002010-05-26T13:22:22.921-04:00Is C-port Safe? (Part II)<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I suppose it was tempting fate to write a post like last week's, where <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/05/is-cambridgeport-safe.html">I noted the decrease</a> in C-port's already low crime rates. It would figure there would be a rash of incidents to follow, and they did:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x884190980/Two-men-stabbed-in-Cambridge-in-argument-over-beer"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Two men stabbed in dispute over beer</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> near Granite Street.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/features/x1035105368/Woman-escapes-attempted-assault-in-Cambridge"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A woman assaulted</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, who thankfully managed to escape, on Pleasant Street.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/news/x1381054243/Suspect-enters-Cambridge-residence-and-threatens-to-kill-woman"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A man breaks into a Fairmont Street home</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, threatening to kill or shoot the female inhabitant.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All harrowing incidents, for sure, and hopefully CPD makes real progress finding and arresting the assailants.</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This rash of incidents doesn't reverse the trends noted in the <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_Content/documents/1stQtr2010.pdf">CPD report</a> discussed last week. But one violent crime is too many, and anecdotal evidence is waaaaaay more colorful and convincing than statistical evidence in instilling uneasyness in the neighborhood. As the weather warms up and crime starts to be more prevelent, please take care (and remind your neighbors) to be vigilent against property crime and to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Let's keep C-port safe! </span>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-73639554157788966582010-05-19T08:50:00.006-04:002010-05-19T09:09:33.652-04:00Magazine Pedestrian Bridge Meeting Thursday<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9w5MhqQIAIx4VDuK4pOWkTKlCzwpJemX32wdlQ6IkU7GsypaFIv5NKsUz3wMCwsYx7ztJUqS3Dkj_F-8OKHV1b7ZGu7rp55SMRceoPrL6saLDynE2uhU4U8mRcXVYU31FuxaDpojJ81A4/s1600/Mag+Pedestrian+Bridge.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5472967428298475042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 351px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 106px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9w5MhqQIAIx4VDuK4pOWkTKlCzwpJemX32wdlQ6IkU7GsypaFIv5NKsUz3wMCwsYx7ztJUqS3Dkj_F-8OKHV1b7ZGu7rp55SMRceoPrL6saLDynE2uhU4U8mRcXVYU31FuxaDpojJ81A4/s400/Mag+Pedestrian+Bridge.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://www.mass.gov/massdot">MassDOT</a> is hosting a public meeting this Thursday (May 20th) at 7pm at the <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/place?um=1&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&q=morse+school+cambridge&fb=1&gl=us&hq=morse+school&hnear=cambridge&cid=2041859863290055097&ei=EeDzS9boFsP68Abu0qHeDQ&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CCQQnQIwAw">Morse School </a>to discuss the construction plans and anticipated traffic and pedestrian impacts for the Magazine Beach Pedestrian Bridge Replacement Project. The Magazine crossing is an important part of three larger efforts: the state's <a href="http://www.mass.gov/acceleratedbridges">Accelerated Bridges Program</a>, the <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2009/08/magazine-beach-cambridge.html">ongoing Magazine Beach transformation</a>, and Cambridge CDD's effort to <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/04/lets-go-to-beach.html">better connect the neighborhoods with the riverside parks</a>.</span> <div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Some more background on the project, per MassDOT: </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></div><div><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">As part of Patrick-Murray Administration’s $3 billion Accelerated Bridge Program, aimed at quickly repairing the Commonwealth’s most neglected bridges, MassDOT recently awarded a contract to S & R Corporation of Lowell for the replacement of the Magazine Beach Pedestrian Bridge. This project consists of the demolition and replacement of the existing pedestrian bridge over Memorial Drive. The new structure will have ADA compliant ramps and code compliant handrails. The project also includes the installation an over height detection system and temporary signals as well as site restoration.</span></p><p><span style="font-size:85%;">Image of the Magazine Beach Pedestrian Bridge from the </span><a href="http://www.eot.state.ma.us/acceleratedbridges/downloads/DOT_CommunityForum_030210.pdf"><span style="font-size:85%;">MassDOT ABP presentation</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> on March 2.</span></p></blockquote></span></div></div>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-39178420621514172512010-05-10T21:34:00.009-04:002010-05-10T23:05:24.867-04:00Is Cambridgeport Safe?<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At the most recent </span><a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/04/next-cna-meeting-on-wednesday-28th.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association meeting</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, Dep. Superintendent Paul Ames and Sgt Leon Lashley of </span><a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/CPD/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">CPD</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> were on the agenda to discuss neighborhood policing and the most recent crime statistics for the neighborhood. The officers are two of our current officers focused specifically on C-port in CPD's </span><a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/CPD/CommRes/NeighborhoodSergeants.cfm"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Neighborhood Sergeants Program</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.<br /><br />First, an interesting note on the nature of community perceptions of safety: having lived in a variety of neighborhoods of different safety levels around the country, I have noticed it is not the amount of offenses that concerns residents as much as the crime rates trends. In other words, people have very different thresholds for what an "acceptable" level of crime, and generally won't live in a neighborhood that doesn't meet that individual threshold. Once someone has settled in a place and adopted the appropriate level of vigilence against crime, if the crime rate changes, it can make a big difference. As an example, Cambridgeport is a far safer place--by any measure--than my old neighborhood in DC, where I was quite content. But if the crime rate here were to increase significantly, I would be very concerned--even if the rates stayed well below my old neighborhood's.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Having said that, we can almost universally declare that yes, C-port is a safe neighborhood, even compared to the broader City of Cambridge--a place without a single murder in the first quarter of 2010. Just this week, CPD released the </span><a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_Content/documents/1stQtr2010.pdf"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">official Crime Report</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> for the first quarter of the year Below is a chart showing crimes by type for </span><a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/cp/neigh/maps/neighmapindex.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">all the Cambridge neighborhoods</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> east of Harvard Square.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 406px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 176px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469827466271185410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7NfZ1BzVRDRYI3_sNCWq8OxNvx1BniLA1x7dXlDtmjSuHtzm04Nb6WhyphenhypheniJZAOd1CFb0i-b03Qm1SXYs22rJHPvEtDvXmX_f9CvcLHAENGRt_SZgE_jj4-ldlAsNqey-GExEFr_gezuie/s400/crimebyhood.jpg" />Two things jump out at me: first, that East Cambridge, C-port, Area 4, and Riverside had very similar crime profiles early this year, noticably more than Inman, Midcambridge and Aggasiz. Second, however, if you park your car in Midcambridge, lock up.<br /><br />But to my earlier point, what about C-port itself? Is it getting more safe? Here's another chart based on data from the CPD report showing the first quarter of the last 5 years, grouped by crime type. Compared to last year, every category of crime shows a decrease except for "malicious destruction," which as Deputy Ames pointed out, is a little misleading, since that crime covers everything from graffiti to more serious property crime. A lot of this is statistical noise from the small sample size, but certainly the neighborhood is not seeing the kind of uptick in crime you might expect in this economy, rather, it has gotten noticably quieter over the past two years.<br /></span><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 390px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 135px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469827020287849362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKS4RbeELdZhNdKEJpCLf5WosSE6Y2eXrJ9dIbIkgzibzZ11g0wj7fDBL_NNpPdiptduyjoLbuY3L9fDT58b2q1FrJO01fTOcDzw6GdyvncYdXhNVefPHASXsvfj_7LOG_j1FHIH1NJzvU/s400/cportcrime.jpg" /> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Check out the <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/CityOfCambridge_Content/documents/1stQtr2010.pdf">full report</a> for yourself, or as always, C-port's consistently updated <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/CPD/publications//n5.cfm">Crime Log</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;font-size:85%;"><em>Thanks to Deputy Ames, Sgt Kathleen Murphy, and Rebecca Burbank for their help and responsiveness.</em></span></p>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-43188530175422582712010-05-09T21:33:00.002-04:002010-05-09T21:41:15.415-04:00Economy Hardware Files for Bankruptcy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMeWVi1KD9z87Ycukk9Fmok7eBmplAW2ih74l2gE8a_VSbb7evK8GBouGXxGpXo-D25tC_lbMRUkbQYy6-6cUfAgbL1yQCjZ0jd_1uzutF12GMdF0oH2Dy6y1VMMGVX4BcZM3yIZ4_d0z/s1600/economy+hardware.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5469450320526098162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMeWVi1KD9z87Ycukk9Fmok7eBmplAW2ih74l2gE8a_VSbb7evK8GBouGXxGpXo-D25tC_lbMRUkbQYy6-6cUfAgbL1yQCjZ0jd_1uzutF12GMdF0oH2Dy6y1VMMGVX4BcZM3yIZ4_d0z/s200/economy+hardware.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Per the </span><a href="http://centralsquare.com/blog/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">CentralSquare.com blog</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, the owners of </span><a href="http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/related_content.html?topic=Economy%20Hardware%20Inc"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Economy Hardware</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> filed for bankruptcy protection in late April. The Central Square store, along with another store in Brookline, have been a fixture for more than a generation. From </span><a href="http://centralsquare.com/blog/?p=563"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">the CS post</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">:<br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><div><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;">In a phone interview Tuesday, owner Larry Friedman said the<br />company “ran into some challenging years” that ultimately prompted the filing. He is the second-generation owner of the family business that has been in Greater Boston for over 61 years.<br /><br />“We have no intention of winding down,” Friedman said. “I expect to have the stores as they exist now.”</span><br /></blockquote></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;font-size:85%;"><em>Photo from <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/economy-true-value-hardware-cambridge">Yelp.com</a></em></span></div>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-65169084456138769322010-05-05T14:17:00.007-04:002010-05-05T14:44:58.048-04:00Green Builidng Ordinance Nearing Approval<p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The work over the past couple of years to develop a citywide Green Building standard has almost reached fruition. The goal is something similar to <a href="http://www.naiopma.org/DV/Pages/images/Permitting/HANCOCK_GREEN_BUILDING.pdf">Boston's Article 37</a> (one of the first and most progressive zoning standards in the country), but adding a few interesting incentives for Green Roofs and other measures. There are a few Hearings upcoming--one this Thursday--on the proposed standards (details at bottom).<br /><br />Here are some of the highlights of the proposed standards, paraphrased from a memo from the City Manager to the community: </span></p><ul><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">All major new construction (and significant rehabs) would be required, at a minimum, to meet </span><a href="http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">LEED green building criteria</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> at the following levels: 25,000-49,999 sf (think small office buildings, drugstore-sized retail) would be required to meet LEED ‘Certified’ level, while </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">50,000 sq. ft. and larger would meet LEED ‘Silver’</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Formal certification from US Green Building Council (USGBC)/ Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) would not be required. </li></span><li><a href="http://www.greenroofs.org/index.php/about-green-roofs"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Green roofs</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> would be excluded from the calculation of gross floor area, allowing buildings to be slightly larger (with increased income potential) in exchange for the expense of installing a green roof. As an incentive to create green roofs, decks or patios less than or equal to 15% of the green roof area and set back 10’ from all building edges may also be excluded from the calculation of GFA in certain zoning districts.<br />Other green building elements that may reduce a building’s energy consumption and improve indoor environmental quality would be excluded from the calculation of GFA, including extensive wall insulation and shading devices. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Building mounted solar energy systems (such as <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/05/mits-solar-air-conditioning-system.html">MIT's proposed Solar Air Conditioning System</a>) would be defined as mechanical equipment in the zoning ordinance and hence would not be subject to FAR and height restrictions. Installation of solar systems would require a building permit and new development projects adjacent to existing solar systems would be encouraged to minimize shadow impacts on those solar systems. </span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Here is the info on the two upcoming meetings, per </span><a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">CDD</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">'s Iram Farooq, a city planner: </span></p><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><ol><li><strong>At the Ordinance Committee, May 6, 6 pm</strong> (Sullivan Chamber, City Hall, 795 Mass Ave </li><li><strong>At the Planning Board, May 18, 7:20 pm</strong> (2nd Floor Meeting Room, at City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)</span></li></ol>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-22316357918779918652010-05-03T13:32:00.008-04:002010-05-03T13:58:17.246-04:00MIT's Solar Air Conditioning System ResearchMIT is planning on installing a Solar Air Conditioning System on the roof of their Mail Facility building at 350 Brookline St (between Henry and Waverly Streets in lower C-port). Solar cooling has a lot of potential to help buildings get closer to zero net energy use, so this is exciting research. These systems have <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_air_conditioning">a ton of variants</a>, however, and the neighborly details (size of system, energy impact, efficiency, etc) is in each installations particular details.<br /><br />Sarah Gallop, MIT's Co-Director of <a href="http://web.mit.edu/govt-relations/www/">Government and Community Relations</a> (and no stranger to the neighborhood), passed along a flyer for a public meeting on Thursday 5/13 at the Mail where some of these questions can be answered.<br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Full flyer with details (including location) below.</span><br /><a title="View Solar AC Flyer on Scribd" href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/30857750/Solar-AC-Flyer" style="margin: 12px auto 6px auto; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; -x-system-font: none; display: block; text-decoration: underline;">Solar AC Flyer</a> <object id="doc_413092676782028" name="doc_413092676782028" height="600" width="450" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf" style="outline:none;" > <param name="movie" value="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf"> <param name="wmode" value="opaque"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="FlashVars" value="document_id=30857750&access_key=key-1gjjiierxvvkj448parc&page=1&viewMode=list"> <embed id="doc_413092676782028" name="doc_413092676782028" src="http://d1.scribdassets.com/ScribdViewer.swf?document_id=30857750&access_key=key-1gjjiierxvvkj448parc&page=1&viewMode=list" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="600" width="450" wmode="opaque" bgcolor="#ffffff"></embed> </object>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-33188518458954977182010-04-30T11:51:00.003-04:002010-04-30T12:06:25.887-04:00Let's Go to the Beach!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRWIGi9I9_1BRfeRg6RMhRp56rnKRB3pCL6qRo-HjhHY_f7FgywRvLpQx3GW0vaVcqFgWdh8pUvRHgSbkNz14hSdUKm8s0GSLIKoc_SFLI4FqnslLYzXKo27dhqi1zAHCvdw8PDDpDLHU/s1600/magbeach.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465962183774519202" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 243px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinRWIGi9I9_1BRfeRg6RMhRp56rnKRB3pCL6qRo-HjhHY_f7FgywRvLpQx3GW0vaVcqFgWdh8pUvRHgSbkNz14hSdUKm8s0GSLIKoc_SFLI4FqnslLYzXKo27dhqi1zAHCvdw8PDDpDLHU/s320/magbeach.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">With what's looking like a </span><a href="http://www.weather.com/weather/weekend/02139"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">great weekend of weather</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> coming up, it will be a great opportunity to head down the the Charles and see the newly reopened Magazine Beach park. The reconstruction by DCR is part of a <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2009/08/magazine-beach-cambridge.html">massive, ongoing transformation</a> of the Mag Beach area that has been underway for years (with some aspects coming under a good deal of <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2009/08/group-protests-dcr-memorial-drive-plans.html">local criticism</a>). </span><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/04/next-cna-meeting-on-wednesday-28th.html">Wednesday's CNA meeting</a>, Cathie Zusy passed along some of the park's key summer dates:</span><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Magazine Beach is open. The big fence is down and Cambridge Youth Soccer is already using the fields. Only the large drainage basin has a fence around it; they are still seeding this area. </span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Magazine Beach pool will be open from Saturday, June 26 to Sunday, August 29th this summer.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">There will be a meeting on the imminent rehabilitation of the Memorial Drive pedestrian bridge at Magazine Street soon, details forthcoming.</span></li></ul><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Also at the CNA meeting, some folks from <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/">CDD</a> presented a draft report as an update on the <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/cp/zng/charles/index.html">City's effort to improve our relationship</a> with the river and the reservation parkland. Have a look at the report <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/cp/zng/charles/charles_pres.pdf">here</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Image from the </span></em><a href="http://www.charlesriverconservancy.org/masterplan/index.html"><em><span style="font-size:85%;">2002 DCR Charles River Masterplan</span></em></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> of an initial idea of the reconstruction.</span></em></span></p>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-55990079993291209932010-04-28T17:30:00.002-04:002010-04-28T17:39:51.048-04:00Spring Cleaning<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4m2T2A0Q6lLaQHx2N8P0XzDWHvqCoZ3AZ5gKJ9RkfSbIlEw604S0nANrsWuyZx_WGHrppvydOABI7QJWTDv1QzaOx7jmfMwYkYfFWPmIndyDp5Jar8gMBjV7UbZuWhutBT-jouh6RZfAb/s1600/centralsq_shalimar.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5465305900621294258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 146px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4m2T2A0Q6lLaQHx2N8P0XzDWHvqCoZ3AZ5gKJ9RkfSbIlEw604S0nANrsWuyZx_WGHrppvydOABI7QJWTDv1QzaOx7jmfMwYkYfFWPmIndyDp5Jar8gMBjV7UbZuWhutBT-jouh6RZfAb/s200/centralsq_shalimar.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Local businesses and active Cantabridgeons take to the streets this Saturday in the <strong>Second Annual Central Square Cleanup</strong>. Looks like the weather will cooperate nicely, too.</span> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Start 8:30 am at </span><a href="http://www.c3cafe.net/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Clear Conscience Café</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (581 Mass Ave) for tea and coffee. Finish up at 11:30 am at </span><a href="http://www.tosci.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Toscanini</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> (899 Main Street) with ice cream and big thanks!!</span> </div><div></div><br /><div><em>h/t to Minka vanBeuzekom; Photo by Flickr user <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/goddessparkle/116034469/">meeralee</a>, used under Creative Commons.</em></div>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-79019905164938269172010-04-25T22:04:00.006-04:002010-04-28T17:26:55.046-04:00A Big Week for C-Port Meetings<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><span style="color:#ffff99;">UPDATE: 24 Decatur Street has been removed from Thursday's BZA agenda (and moved to June's meeting) at the owners' request.</span> </strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Here is their reasoning:</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><em>Because we have made some last-minute changes to rearrange parking and further reduce the footprint and volume of the proposed building in the back of the lot, we will be asking the Board of Zoning Appeals for a Continuance of our case. This means that it will be a waste of time if you were planning on attending the meeting to support or oppose our plans (or simply hear more about them). We regret any inconvenience this change may cause. When the Board instructs us about the new date we will spread the word.</em></span></blockquote></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Lots of actvity in the neighborhood lately, and there are several meetings this week to gather info and give feedback:</span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Monday (4/26): Western Ave Community Walk </span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">6pm, beginning at </span></strong><a href="http://www.andalacafe.com/map.php"><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Andala Cafe</span></strong></a><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> at 286 Franklin St.</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The third of the </span><a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/03/public-meeting-about-western-ave-on.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ongoing series of community walking tours</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> to inform the </span><a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/01/help-plan-western-ave-reconstruction.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">planned Western Avenue reconstruction</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, this walk will focus on traffic, signals and stop signs. Over 20 people turned out for last Monday's walk. Per the City: "These informal walks are led by city staff with occasional outside guests. The walks provide opportunities for neighbors to learn more about the project, and provide input to city staff. The walks are free and open to the public. Each walk will start near Central Square, go down Western Avenue to the Charles River, and back. All walks are on RAIN or SHINE." </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Tuesday (4/27): Neighborhood Meeting for LBJ Apartments revitalization</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">7pm, Morse School auditorium at 40 Granite St.</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The second of two public meetings to discuss the </span><a href="http://www.cambridge-housing.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">CHA</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">'s </span><a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/04/cambridge-housing-authority-held.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">planned revitalization of the 178-unit LBJ Apartment complex</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> on Erie Street. Spurred by a $10 million Federal stimulus grant,<br />the CHA and Tise Design Associates have been working to develop plans to renovate the building exterior, core buildings systems such as heating and ventilation, as well as significant improvements to unit interiors and common spaces. The meeting will provide an overview of the first meeting and also present new plans for the landscape design and site work. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Wednesday (4/28): C-Port Neighborhood Association meeting</span></strong><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">7pm, Woodrow Wilson Court community room off of Fairmont St.</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The regular CNA meeting, with a </span><a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/04/next-cna-meeting-on-wednesday-28th.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">full and interesting agenda</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><s><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>Thursday (4/29): BZA Hearing on 24 Decatur Street proposal</strong></span></s><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><strong>8pm, Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Mass Ave.</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Come hear about a relatively small project that has garnered a <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/04/its-little-things.html">large amount of neighborhood attention</a> lately. Come especially if you have useful input for the BZA to make an informed decision on the proposed variances.</span>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-15438975654309981732010-04-23T19:43:00.004-04:002010-04-23T20:49:34.393-04:00It's the Little Things<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeJ8VX1rsbGt19gD2ZD-Bea_tzbdk2qs_Yx6JVgkeusefqdjatb4QCBxixV9srHpX8dEYLNC6gkt5nnsf_9C7rVay-WfppENJuQPH-5HgT0dBBTMEi7e7EMhO4c2ZqZjEJV3EYN6I84W-/s1600/24+Decatur.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463498500924030898" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeJ8VX1rsbGt19gD2ZD-Bea_tzbdk2qs_Yx6JVgkeusefqdjatb4QCBxixV9srHpX8dEYLNC6gkt5nnsf_9C7rVay-WfppENJuQPH-5HgT0dBBTMEi7e7EMhO4c2ZqZjEJV3EYN6I84W-/s200/24+Decatur.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Every generation or so, a really huge, transformational change comes to a neighborhood like Cambridgeport, sparking endless discussion, heated argument, and immediate and obvious impact. The redevelopment of the University Park is an example of one such change, masterplanned and debated to the Nth degree. But really it's the little decisions made by each of us, repeated hundreds of times across the years, that shape C-port's physical and social makeup. I've often wondered while walking through the neighborhood if we really grasp how our decisions on our own property affect others, just by adding or altering our daily routines, from using a garish new color of housepaint, to planting a beautiful flowering pear tree, to keeping junk in our front yard. These decisions--and how we react to them as a community--are a big part of what makes up our daily lives.</span><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">I've been fascinated to watch this interaction play out in recent weeks in sidewalk conversations and over the CNA listserv as neighbors discuss one single decision by C-port homeowners to build an accessory unit that requires special permission from the city (variances from city zoning laws, but fairly common ones). Some reacted to the physical constraints the new structure would impose on the block and on abutters, reducing light, open space, privacy, and parking in a block with little of each. In contrast, others saw a family following the right process with the city and their abutters, on their own property, to pursue a decision with plenty of local precedent. Some of these observers wondered how they would feel about others opposing a similar decision of their own.</span><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">First, from the owners themselves:</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></div></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><div><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;">We know that there has been considerable development in the area in the recent past, and not all of it has had a positive impact on the neighborhood.We think our project will have a positive impact, for we are renovating (and slightly reducing the size of) an existing structure that's in very bad shape and building a new home in the back of a lot that's also in rough shape. Where no one could live before, two families will be able to reside—in buildings very much in keeping with the character of the neighborhood.</span></blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">...and selections from the ongoing dialogue:</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /></div></span><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"several of us in the neighborhood oppose this new construction as it would destroy the privacy and open space currently in place between 15, 21, 23 valentine st, 20, 22 decatur st, and other abutting properties. adding another single family house on the small lot would ruin green space, crowd the neighborhood, and increase the number of cars parked on decatur st. we feel that renovations and an addition to the existing structure would suffice, and see no reason to grant the variances."</span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"We would much prefer a new unit and a renovated unit on that lot to the existing run-down building. The large number of run-down buildings in our neighborhood is certainly a much greater drag on our neighborhood’s property values than adding a unit in the back half of that large lot would be." </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"The privacy and open space enjoyed by the properties adjoining no 24, in Decatur St, Valentine Place and Valentine St, will be lost forever; increasing the density of housing by allowing a second house to be built on a very small lot will alter the character of the neighbourhood for the worse and devalue the existing properties." </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">"It makes sense for all to work in a cooperative manner if possible - for those who are building to have some consideration for the neighbors and for the neighbors not to raise objections based on their preference of having space they don't own stay vacant."</span></p></blockquote><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">To me, this is exactly how these things should be done. Reasoned commentary from neighbors leading to a public meeting next week where City planning and zoning officials can make an informed decision based on letters and comments from the public.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Have an opinion? Join the meeting: the Board of Zoning Appeals will be holding a hearing on the variance application on <strong>Thursday April 29 at 8:00 PM</strong> at the Cambridge Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Avenue. </span></p>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-37136670424100476872010-04-15T13:19:00.003-04:002010-04-15T13:22:38.367-04:00Next CNA Meeting on Wednesday the 28th<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association meeting announcement, per Carolyn Shipley:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><strong><span style="font-family:arial;">Wednesday, April 28th at 7 p.m. </span><br /></strong><span style="font-family:arial;">(Community Room of Woodrow Wilson Court, enter on Fairmont St. off Magazine St.)</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">There will be two presentations on proposals for future use of the land bordering the Charles River, principally on the Cambridge side. Representatives from Livable Streets Alliance and the City of Cambridge will present their riverside concepts. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Other items of discussion or update: Magazine Beach openings, Memorial Drive pedestrian overpass, crime stats.Also a brief report on planned Western Avenue reconstruction, upcoming community events, and the proposed middle schools.</span></blockquote></span>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-5576828675156642932010-04-12T23:27:00.004-04:002010-04-12T23:41:36.327-04:00LBJ Apartments to be Renovated this Summer<span style="font-family:verdana;">The </span><a href="http://www.cambridge-housing.org/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Cambridge Housing Authority</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> held a meeting last night to review plans to renovate LBJ Apartments on Erie Street. Construction is anticipated to begin in August of this year. Having been out of town, we missed the meeting, but here's some information from the flier sent to abutters:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The Cambridge Housing Authority, residents of L. B. Johnson Apartments and </span><a href="http://www.tisedesign.com/index.html"><span style="font-family:arial;">Tise Design Associates</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> have been working to develop plans for a renovated LBJ including the building exterior, core buildings systems such as heating and ventilation, as well as significant improvements to unit interiors and common spaces. A main focus has been to improve the energy efficiency of the building. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">The Cambridge Housing Authority received a $10 million Federal Stimulus Grant that completed the funding necessary to proceed with modernization at L. B. Johnson Apartments.</span></p></blockquote></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">For more information, call (617-520-6259) or </span><a href="http://www.cambridge-housing.org/Contact-Us/Contact-Planning-and-Development.aspx?fname=Allison&lname=Lynch"><span style="font-family:verdana;">email</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> Allison Lynch in the Planning and Development for the Cambridge Housing Authority.</span>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-36677291675859155962010-04-07T23:39:00.002-04:002010-04-07T23:45:15.201-04:00Rodney's Bookstore Closing<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggB0cqXiVz9Hz7ShAbl4b76zYZdvMWjGMYuhyJBZpi4n3ann_CuH1xz6mPWn6rwuoGMrkt3ISIknAVNZ6KTQclliljHH3-_X5DDQxoX9AoqE3flOWGRkVaXuzw_dJ0zyZQetflXgcYz5vS/s1600/rodneys.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457607507264000786" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggB0cqXiVz9Hz7ShAbl4b76zYZdvMWjGMYuhyJBZpi4n3ann_CuH1xz6mPWn6rwuoGMrkt3ISIknAVNZ6KTQclliljHH3-_X5DDQxoX9AoqE3flOWGRkVaXuzw_dJ0zyZQetflXgcYz5vS/s200/rodneys.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">More </span><a href="http://centralsquare.com/blog/?p=521"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Central Square retail news</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, via </span><a href="http://centralsquare.com/blog/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">CentralSquare.com</span></a>.<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> From the post:</span><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;">Ken Reeves announced Monday at the city council meeting that Rodney’s used bookstore is closing as the owner wants to retire. He said there was some good news that the space may become a nightclub. Rodney’s book store is located at 689 Massachusetts Ave in Central Square.</span></blockquote></span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>Photo of Rodneys from </em></span><a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/rodneys-bookstore-cambridge"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>yelp.com</em></span></a></div>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-17789835915888175312010-04-04T19:18:00.005-04:002010-04-04T19:44:17.232-04:00Improving Central Square through Neighbor Input<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Spurred on by lots of recent and impending changes to Central Square--including <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/02/central-square-changes-phoenix-rising.html">store closings</a> and <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/03/central-square-retail-tide-turning.html">news of restaurant openings</a>--the City is tackling the oft-maligned Square's public image head on. The first step is to move through a process that encourages a broad public dialogue in the Square's problems, its strengths and its potential. That dialogue will next take the form of specific, topical conversations held over the next few weeks. Join any or all of the groups below (listed in order of meeting date):</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Retail Mix & Vacancies</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Discussing the need for more, affordable family apparel stores, better general merchandise stores, vacancies that fit needs, anchor tenants, potential math tutoring venue, a home-style, affordable diner, kid-friendly stores, especially bookstores, and business condos. </span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>April 5th, 344 Broadway, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m, 4th Floor Conf. Room</em></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Human Service Issues<br /></strong>This group will tackle some of the trickiest issues for the Square and ways to address homelessness, public intoxication and drug enforcement, discourage unruly hangout locations, and discourace panhandling, improve the physical ambiance, and to increase police facilities.<br /><em><strong>April 6th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., 344 Broadway, 4th Floor Conf. Room<br /></strong></em></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Public Relations & Marketing</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This group focuses on perceptions of Central Square, including a potential marketing and branding campaign, better communications, creating more positive press and a clear identity for the Square. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>April 12th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., 344 Broadway, 3rd Floor Conf. Room</em></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Event Programming</strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A group that will discuss expanding Central Square's capacity to host events, that support save, vibrant, lively nightlife venues, including ideas to extend stores onto sidewalks, produce more outdoor entertainment, and to take a look at long-term planning operational support. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong><em>April 13th, 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm, 344 Broadway, 4th Floor Conf. Room</em></strong> </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><strong>Street and Sidewalk Appearance and Cleanliness</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This group will tackle another of Central Square's most stubborn problems related to its often dingy appearance. Some initial topics include more bike racks and moped parking, improved facades and window art, incorporating the backstreets of the Square into the retail environment, examining recycling and public toilet options, pedestrian safety, lighting, and benches, and improving snow removal.</span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">April 15th, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., </span><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">344 Broadway, 4th Floor Conf. Room</span></em></strong><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></em></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">For more info on the broader effort by the City, contact Estella Johnson, the Director of Economic Development, at <a href="mailto:estellaj@cambridgema.gov">estellaj@cambridgema.gov</a> or at 617-349-4616. </span>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-2689963172006791362010-03-31T11:04:00.003-04:002010-03-31T11:34:46.460-04:00Recession Got You Down?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfQ1I1-iE-cOKo8t6wZoATnHSewqNCHohRxGNCRBMTZKS8ykVt9TmJlLFlmYf6UGMZJZkYsGBtFf4PD0tnqX0nXapBeTCPxuOEKaLGMPeATmyyDiQf14RV17AYJXDiiEuV3VQRktJwBF8/s1600/anncorio.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454818126489381394" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 158px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEfQ1I1-iE-cOKo8t6wZoATnHSewqNCHohRxGNCRBMTZKS8ykVt9TmJlLFlmYf6UGMZJZkYsGBtFf4PD0tnqX0nXapBeTCPxuOEKaLGMPeATmyyDiQf14RV17AYJXDiiEuV3VQRktJwBF8/s200/anncorio.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Rethinking your career path in light of the ongoing economic blues? How about a job in a new line of work that combines "a populist blend of satire, </span><a title="Performance art" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Performance_art"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">performance art</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, and </span><a title="Sex industry" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sex_industry"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">adult entertainment</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">"? This weekend the world of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlesque">Burlesque</a> descends on the <a href="http://cambridge.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp">Cambridgeport Hyatt</a>, in the form of <a href="http://burlesque-expo.com/">The Great Burlesque Exposition</a>. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">The Expo will feature dozens of classes (including some free drop-in classes), with fabulous titles such as <em>Hula Hands and Flirting Eyes</em> with Vivienne Vavoom" and "<em>Planning a Comedy Striptease,</em>" as well as a costume exhibit and art show. The weekend promises to give us some fascinating people watching in the neighborhood.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Photo of </em></span><a href="http://www.anncorio.com/bio.html"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>noted 1930's Burlesque performer Ann Corio</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em> from the </em></span><a href="http://burlesque-expo.com/costume-exhibit/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Expo website</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>.</em></span></span>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-42164577675968870842010-03-30T16:05:00.004-04:002010-03-30T16:17:19.037-04:00Public Meeting about Western Ave on Wednesday<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Per an email blast from the city:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><strong>Community-wide Public Meeting</strong><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;">Wednesday, March 31, 2010, 7:00 P. M. - 9:00 P. M.Cambridge Citywide Senior Center, 806 Mass Ave., Central Square (</span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=806+massachusetts+ave,+cambridge&sll=42.372345,-71.090362&sspn=0.002818,0.006947&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=806+Massachusetts+Ave,+Cambridge,+Middlesex,+Massachusetts+02139&ll=42.366862,-71.106166&spn=0.00">map</a>). We are currently at the very beginning stages of design. The purpose of this initial community-wide meeting is to give residents an opportunity to learn about the scope of the project and provide initial input as to what they like and don’t like about Western Avenue, what works and what doesn’t work. If you cannot attend the meeting, be sure to <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/RCKD7MZ">fill out our quick survey</a> to give us some feedback.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />For more information about the project, please visit <a href="http://westernavenue.info/">our website</a>. </span><span style="font-family:arial;">On the website, you will find some great maps and other resources that help us better understand the corridor. Copies of the committee presentations and meeting notes are also available.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><strong>Community walks</strong> <strong>of Western Avenue corridor</strong><br />These informal walks are led by city staff with occasional outside guests. The walks provide opportunities for neighbors to learn more about the project, and provide input to city staff. The walks are free and open to the public. Each walk will start near Central Square, go down Western Avenue to the Charles River, and back.<br /><ol><li><strong>Project Overview walk</strong>: Monday April 5, 2010, 6:00pm – 7:30pm (meet at Andala Café,</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=andala+cafe,+cambridge,+ma&ie=UTF8&hq=andala+cafe,&hnear=Cambridge,+MA&ll=42.364876,-71.105758&spn=0.00136,0.003473&t=h&z=19&iwloc=A">map</a>): Led by Jeff Rosenblum, Project Manager for Western Ave. surface design, <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/~CDD/">CDD</a>.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Human Centered Design, Design for persons w/ Disabilities walk</strong>: Monday April 12, 2010, 6:00pm – 7:30pm (meet at Au Bon Pain, 684 Mass Ave, Central Square, </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=684+massachusetts+avenue,+cambridge,+ma&sll=42.366471,-71.099567&sspn=0.045089,0.111151&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=684+Massachusetts+Ave,+Cambridge,+Middlesex,+Massachusetts+02139&ll=42.36596,-71.104685&sp">map</a>): Led by Chris Hart, <a href="http://www.humancentereddesign.org/">Institute for Human Centered Design</a> and Michael Muehe, <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/DHSP2/disabilities.cfm">Cambridge Commission for Persons with Disabilities</a></span></li><li><span style="font-family:arial;"><strong>Traffic, Signals, and Stop Signs walk</strong>: Monday April 26, 2010, 6:00pm – 7:30pm (meet at Andala Café, </span><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=andala+cafe,+cambridge,+ma&ie=UTF8&hq=andala+cafe,&hnear=Cambridge,+MA&ll=42.364876,-71.105758&spn=0.00136,0.003473&t=h&z=19&iwloc=A">map</a>): Led by Jeff Parenti, City Traffic Engineer </span></li></ol><p><span style="font-family:arial;">All walks are on RAIN or SHINE. </p></span>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-84045425076406560872010-03-27T10:49:00.004-04:002010-03-27T10:52:56.149-04:00Turkish Night on Saturday<span style="font-family:verdana;">It's </span><a href="http://campaign.constantcontact.com/render?v=0018iMS5L3VR6PChjnJWG09AKigYdDDM0Xg5OzIy1luvNuV3mcan0ezX_ifgG6OieWXYCfF0b40Y35jqVJbj9bsWmhIcaEJLwQl79a18ZQ8pfYK_OhZJ_EMflHozOD3OPf6qgfENUTNJvw%3D"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Turkish Night tonight</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> down at the Morse School, a fundraiser for the CRLS students headed on a trip there. Food, music, and crafts...</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDXxXpe-Bm7OMTjTcX1Jcjoox4yASUusCIujCdW2Y2jnXchfYMws5081ZxutiOySJlttJst_qGkdnzgltIGuvmhhnI2f-LmPRFmDL0ynS-aY7G6qSam802Zqzq98vVqw6HmAC9d5_t9du/s1600/turkish+night.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 307px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 428px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5453326096568233970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghDXxXpe-Bm7OMTjTcX1Jcjoox4yASUusCIujCdW2Y2jnXchfYMws5081ZxutiOySJlttJst_qGkdnzgltIGuvmhhnI2f-LmPRFmDL0ynS-aY7G6qSam802Zqzq98vVqw6HmAC9d5_t9du/s400/turkish+night.jpg" /></a>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-63009656421329357332010-03-17T09:10:00.002-04:002010-03-17T09:18:31.515-04:00DPW Comes Through<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Though one could find <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/03/thought-exercise.html">some humor in the Brookline Street sinkholes</a> blogged about on Monday, the situation was probably more than a little dangerous for cars and pedestrians alike. DPW's reaction was commendable: warning signage and traffic barrels were put up during the rain Sunday. The water-filled holes were filled (again, in the rain) with gravel on Monday. By Tuesday, the two main sinkholes were asphalt patched and driver-ready. Nice work.<br /><br />Now count me among those who are ready for Brookline Street to be resurfaced, <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/projects/brookline.htm">the project completed</a> and leaves to appear on all the new trees!</span>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-39964674978473575102010-03-15T19:31:00.008-04:002010-03-15T19:46:28.508-04:00A Thought Exercise<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Start with a <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/TheWorks/projects/brookline.htm">not-yet-completed street improvement project</a>. </span><br /><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Add days of unrelenting, saturating rain, which causes sinkholes in the unfinished roadway. Fill the sinkholes with more rain, disguising the sinkholes as mere puddles.<br /><br />Throw in some speeding cars that run into the sinkholes with a great deal of force, jarring anything not bolted to the car loose.<br /><br />What do you get?</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyqzrHba7DnIbVPIHeJ4ulPm3wLVag346snpdZxlSxZV4cOaL4K4FA_fPGfoMkkm96UY-Vo7uPzqXHema93ePCQe1TYYrqIn5OFbAVd9sQXrku4SMt62bbMtKAa9qhczul_qg20czDQPM/s1600-h/hubcabs.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449008999766372674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvyqzrHba7DnIbVPIHeJ4ulPm3wLVag346snpdZxlSxZV4cOaL4K4FA_fPGfoMkkm96UY-Vo7uPzqXHema93ePCQe1TYYrqIn5OFbAVd9sQXrku4SMt62bbMtKAa9qhczul_qg20czDQPM/s400/hubcabs.jpg" /></a> <div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>A) C-port's newest public art project;</em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em></em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>B) a new mom-and-pop auto body shop; or</em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em></em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><em>C) a severely value-engineered <a href="http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/et/tc/index.html">traffic calming installation for CDD</a></em></span></div>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-22584061440060455892010-03-14T12:57:00.005-04:002010-03-14T13:13:33.578-04:00Walk for Haiti on March 27<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQdG7Yt5dWkWYFr4KRivm5U3SZW4VV4oZ7n66iW5tbu3m2agN5q7_IX9bEiYFq5gSnAF1VW1h0-b7oiAJz87WjB3JABRLlPHxbysgy-jsxBMzEU3BcgnEhWSj5BY6uC3PZBNeXMXooOom/s1600-h/flagpic.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 196px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5448538630529599554" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilQdG7Yt5dWkWYFr4KRivm5U3SZW4VV4oZ7n66iW5tbu3m2agN5q7_IX9bEiYFq5gSnAF1VW1h0-b7oiAJz87WjB3JABRLlPHxbysgy-jsxBMzEU3BcgnEhWSj5BY6uC3PZBNeXMXooOom/s200/flagpic.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Not technically in Cambridgeport, but on a rainy weekend you can't help but daydream about springtime strolls on the Charles... especially those that also raise funds and awareness for an extremely worthy cause. The annual <a href="http://www.walkforhaiti.org/">Walk for Haiti</a>, organized by <a href="http://www.pih.org/home2.html">Partners in Health</a> (PIH), is Saturday, March 27th. PIH is the Boston-based organization started by Dr. Paul Farmer (featured in <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1472188">Tracy Kidder's <em>Mountains Beyond Mountains</em></a>) that has worked for decades </span><a href="http://www.pih.org/what/PIHmodel.html"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">to bring health care to places the international community has forgotten</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, especially to Haiti--making this year <a href="http://www.standwithhaiti.org/haiti">an especially poignant year</a> for the walk. From the website: </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><div><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;">Now in its seventh year, the Walk has brought together students, activists, religious organizations, high schools, colleges, and others for a three-mile scenic walk around the Charles River and an afternoon of Haitian music, culture and crafts. All funds raised directly support the health initiatives of the world-renowned Dr. Paul Farmer in various sites throughout Haiti, specifically in Boucan Carré and Cange. Since its inception, the Walk has helped equip operating rooms, provide community health education and schooling (including scholarships for over 800 students), supply medicine, construct reliable shelter, improve and expand water/food programs and raise the standard of living for thousands of Haitians through PIH with nearly $250,000 in funds raised.</span></blockquote></span></div><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For more info, see the Walk's </span><a href="http://p.b5z.net/i/u/2076121/i/WFH2010.OfficialPressRelease.pdf"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">press release</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> and </span><a href="http://www.walkforhaiti.org/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">website</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>Image courtesy Walk for Haiti </em></span></div>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-68491386270403558972010-03-05T09:04:00.003-05:002010-03-05T09:14:59.383-05:00Cambridge: Bad for Renters<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsgyZVC9LpqMGXokMeENYxI_XJARBHcjNlfbX8NlFZawAgef4pHcgybIRlLkSfFZoWlV0q-RX1Cb7hzDXDKGGucLMoxDA0PIj1J92pehyUJN9_kv5Igbha_trrt9Q4I2Ce75SFlaIIjin/s1600-h/for+rent.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445152963222804242" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 150px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOsgyZVC9LpqMGXokMeENYxI_XJARBHcjNlfbX8NlFZawAgef4pHcgybIRlLkSfFZoWlV0q-RX1Cb7hzDXDKGGucLMoxDA0PIj1J92pehyUJN9_kv5Igbha_trrt9Q4I2Ce75SFlaIIjin/s200/for+rent.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Not really news for those of us that have had the experience of scouring the city for a meager but pricey pad, but some entertaining Friday survey results, per <a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/cambridge/features/x1013166716/Survey-Cambridge-not-so-good-for-apartment-renters">the Chronicle</a>:</span><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><blockquote><p><span style="font-family:arial;">Looks like Cambridge might not be the best place for apartment renters, according to </span><a href="http://apartmentratings.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family:arial;">ApartmentRatings.com</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;">, which released rankings of renter satisfaction for the largest college towns and college cities in the country. </span></p><p><span style="font-family:arial;">At the bottom of the list, along with Cambridge, were West Lafayette, Ind., San Antonio, Texas, University Park, Pa., Northridge, Calif. and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.</span></p></blockquote></span></div>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-74063612087047151942010-03-02T09:08:00.002-05:002010-03-02T09:34:26.129-05:00Central Square Retail Tide Turning?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI41OvugFHohId2s1dD5JKh8eDZSDFC8cBoOVUHo2icqZmx8bYPq-s7LAJeDGJbGdpC6J93PuOKPGafmQyI76pGbCMrZlpcwri-akwA2p6otVSMvfNnTuRYUUptEK-P0jLCH10yfKNyUjs/s1600-h/central+bottle.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5444044660980598834" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI41OvugFHohId2s1dD5JKh8eDZSDFC8cBoOVUHo2icqZmx8bYPq-s7LAJeDGJbGdpC6J93PuOKPGafmQyI76pGbCMrZlpcwri-akwA2p6otVSMvfNnTuRYUUptEK-P0jLCH10yfKNyUjs/s200/central+bottle.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Every few weeks in the past year, you notice another one. Another Central Square retailer, here one week, gone the next, replaced by brown packing paper blocking the windows and a phone number to inquire about leasing. The AT&T store on the corner of Mass Ave and Magazine St. A printer supply store. The Gap. The Attic. A florist. <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/02/central-square-changes-phoenix-rising.html">Pearl Art</a>. </span><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">This week, some good news comes to us via Gus Rancatore of <a href="http://www.tosci.com/">Toscanini's</a> via <a href="http://www.tosci.com/2010/02/19/silly-news-about-food-new-restaurants-and-news-about-central-square/">his blog</a>:</span><br /></div><ul><li><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><a href="http://flourbakery.com/">Flour Bakery</a>, <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/flour-bakery-and-cafe-boston">a South End favorite</a>, is moving in next to <a href="http://www.centralbottle.com/">Central Bottle</a> (in itself <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2009/09/veneto-comes-to-mass-ave.html">a new success story</a>).</span></li><li><a href="http://www.lifealive.com/"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Life Alive</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">, an organic cafe in Lowell, is moving into the Hollywood Express space across from the Post Office.</span></li><li><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">"Revere's famous Cambodian restaurant" which Gus identifies as Floating Island (but I think he means <a href="http://www.northshoredish.com/2009/05/22/exploring-cambodian-flavors-at-floating-rock/">Floating Rock</a>) is moving into part of the old Gap space.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">It's interesting (and wholly unsurprising) that many of the closed stores were national tenants with corporate decisionmakers far from Cambridge, and many of those filling the void are ventures with local or regional bases. Come out and support the new business--as well as some of our favorite, more established ones!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>Image of Central Bottle, 196 Mass Ave, courtesy </em></span><a href="http://www.centralbottle.com/about/story/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>their website</em></span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>.</em></span></span></div>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6780192176859681377.post-33707358455527033542010-02-28T19:48:00.007-05:002010-02-28T20:15:40.374-05:00Western & River Bridges Meeting March 9th<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gUTMwKzRBdSKWTOr7A85IyT-SX7UXb2XH7RN5qkoJVvYGRG1Pdd3BRVtdehi4mjJZkNsbvABWpUJ8Yc16Qrm883Fk_U0RRtNdSci8hJmycDzo1wibrxQJJXhnH2DY1wYMO42PFqy7K4d/s1600-h/abp.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 118px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 50px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5443467261568260626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_gUTMwKzRBdSKWTOr7A85IyT-SX7UXb2XH7RN5qkoJVvYGRG1Pdd3BRVtdehi4mjJZkNsbvABWpUJ8Yc16Qrm883Fk_U0RRtNdSci8hJmycDzo1wibrxQJJXhnH2DY1wYMO42PFqy7K4d/s200/abp.gif" /></a> <span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Following <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/02/dots-western-river-bridge-proposal.html">a meeting in Allston-Brighton last month</a>, MassDOT comes to the Cambridgeport side of the Charles for a second meeting on the River/Western Bridges rehabilitation. If you have questions about the bridges project or the state's <a href="http://www.eot.state.ma.us/acceleratedbridges/">Accelerated Bridge Program</a>, please come; this C-port meeting only came about because Rep. Marty Walz and others <a href="http://c-portneighborhood.blogspot.com/2010/02/bridge-to-nowhere.html">stuck up for our neighborhood</a>.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Trebuchet MS;">Here's the announcement:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><br /><div><blockquote><span style="font-family:arial;"><a href="http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/main/main.aspx">MassDOT</span></a> will sponsor a Public Information Meeting for the River Street/Western Avenue Bridges Rehabilitation Project on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, from 6:30 – 8:30 PM, at the Morse Elementary School Auditorium, Cambridge, MA. The purpose of this meeting is to provide an overview of the proposed rehabilitation of the historic River Street and Western Avenue Bridges, introduce MassDOT’s design team, answer questions, and gather comments. If you have any questions on the meeting, please contact </span></blockquote></div><a href="mailto:antoinette.whitmore@state.ma.us">Toni Whitmore</a> Assistant Director of Community Affairs, MassDOT (617.973.8454).<span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">For news and updates, check MassDOT's </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.mass.gov/massdot"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">website</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> or </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.mass.gov/blog/transportation"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Transportation Blog</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">. For the tweaters among us: </span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/massdot"><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">www.twitter.com/massdot</span></a><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">.</span>JBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08305590708741707447noreply@blogger.com0