Final Report of the Graduate Student Housing Working Group - message from MIT Provost Martin A. Schmidt (June 3, 2014)

Report to the Provost of The Graduate Student Housing Working Group - Clay Report (May 2014)

In the Cambridge housing market, rents have been increasing steeply, condo conversions have been reducing the supply of affordable housing, and new housing construction consists mostly of luxury units. The 62% of MIT graduate students living off campus will likely be negatively affected further by these trends. MIT cannot rely on the local market to provide affordable housing to its graduate students to the extent it has in the past.

Although graduate students living on campus express high levels of satisfaction with their housing, there is some dissatisfaction with deferred-maintenance and operational issues in three of the graduate residences. The Institute has already committed to capital renewal that will ensure the continuance of existing housing resources.

The number of graduate students is not likely to increase or decrease significantly in the next decade. Reliance on postdoctoral staff has grown in recent years, a trend that may continue.

Our survey of housing opportunities for graduate students at peer institutions revealed that MIT is a leader in supporting on-campus graduate housing.

We recommend that MIT build housing for 500–600 students to meet current unmet need. We recommend that these housing units be configured not in traditional dormitory-style facilities but in buildings that can accommodate a variety of housing types, ranging from studios and multi-bedroom suites to apartments. We recommend further that these housing units be capable of accommodating both married and unmarried students and families.

We recommend that to facilitate capital renewal, MIT create 400 additional beds to meet swing-space needs over the course of the next decade and, at the end of that period, make that housing available to graduate students.

Mindful of the resource constraints faced by the Institute, we urge consideration of a range of development options for this new housing instead of the traditional, costly, and inflexible dormitory development models of the past. These include partnerships with developers, long-term leases on new housing, adding space in already-planned capital renewal in existing graduate housing, and incorporation of housing into nonresidential building on campus and nearby. We make no recommendations regarding potential locations for these projects.

We make other recommendations with the aim of supporting the service, renewal, and operational aspects of graduate housing. We also make the argument that as MIT undertakes capital planning both on the east end of the campus and in Kendall Square, graduate students should be considered as a vital population that could contribute significantly to an outstanding and enhanced environment. MIT faces an opportunity in the next few years to greatly enhance the value of the campus environs and to create a place worthy of our legacy, achievement, and ambition.

Graduate Student Housing Working Group - Report to the Chancellor (August 2018)

Final Recommendations from the 2017–2018 Graduate Student Housing Working Group

KEY FINDINGS

• The Cambridge rental market has rising rents and low vacancy rates; both trends are anticipated to continue.
• MIT’s graduate student population has grown in the last several decades due to changes in research volume and educational programs.
• MIT has a strong history of addressing both graduate student housing needs and Cambridge housing needs.
• Despite the graduate residences that MIT has added over the last 20 years, the student population has also grown, and there remains a need for additional housing capacity.
• The majority of students (~85%) are satisfied with their current housing situation. Many students are dissatisfied with the cost (62%) and availability (33%) of housing. High housing costs relative to graduate student incomes contribute to reported financial stress. Graduate students have also voiced other concerns about housing including dissatisfaction with aspects of the assignment process and housing quality.
• Estimating graduate student housing preferences is complex. We estimate additional preference for on campus housing to be between 1,000 and 1,100 students relative to the number we have the capacity to house today (2,424 AY17).
• Some of MIT’s current housing stock has features and amenities that do not fully align with what some of our students value. In general, students value price and proximity to campus over all other amenities.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• MIT should increase on campus graduate housing capacity with an optimal mix of unit types aligning with the evolving needs of students and families over time. The Institute should assess the feasibility of doing so in a way that breaks-even financially at 30 years with comprehensive stewardship.
• The Institute should identify ways to operate our housing differently. Currently our revenue falls short of what is required for comprehensive stewardship. This leads to lower quality housing and creates an impediment to adding more housing.
• The Institute should develop a process for evaluating the benefits and detriments of changes to our housing policies.
• A detailed evaluation of graduate student housing should be conducted by a similar working group every three years, with a report to Academic Council and the MIT Faculty. This should also include a short yearly update to assess progress relative to the last detailed evaluation.

Central Square Mural Project

Michael Monestime	Women's Independent Living Group (WILG) - side view
Barrett Hotel - Toscanini's	Barrett Hotel - Toscanini's
Norfolk Street & Mass. Ave.	Norfolk Street - side
Vandalism	Cambridge Electric Light Company building
Side of HMart building	Side of HMart building
Rear of HMart building - Bishop Allen Drive	Rear of HMart building - Bishop Allen Drive
Green Street garage - Pearl St. side	Green Street garage - Pearl St. side
Pleasant Street - side of 7-11 building	Pleasant Street - rear view
Middle East mural - Brookline Street	Mural at Brookline & Green Streets
Rear of Citizens Bank building	IDEO building - Prospect Street
Neon signage	Neon signage
Neon signage	Neon signage
Neon signage	Former Neon signage
Good Advice

Endless Summer - July 30, 2018 Cambridge City Council Agenda (abridged) Committee Report #2. A communication was received from Paula M. Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councilor E. Denise Simmons, Chair and Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui of the Housing Committee for a public hearing held on May 15, 2018 to discuss the development of an Affordable Housing Overlay District plan. Committee Report #4. A communication was received from Paula M. Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councilor E. Denise Simmons, Co-Chair and Councilor Sumbul Siddiqui Co-Chair of the Housing Committee for a public hearing held on Apr 10, 2018 to discuss the first annual report from the Community Development Department as called for in the updated Inclusionary Zoning ordinance. Committee Report #6. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez, City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Craig Kelley, Chair of the Public Safety Committee, for a public hearing held on June 13, 2018 to was to receive an update on the Short-Term Rental Ordinance #1397. Committee Report #7. A communication was received from Paula Crane, Deputy City Clerk, transmitting a report from Councillor Sumbul Siddiqui, Chair of the Economic Development and University Relations Committee, for a public hearing held on May 23, 2018 to discuss an Arts Overlay District ordinance that would achieve the goals of creating and preserving spaces for the arts in the Central Square Cultural District. Communications & Reports #2. A communication was received from Donna P. Lopez City Clerk, transmitting a communication from Mayor Marc McGovern, appointing Councillor Mallon as chair to the newly formed Mayor’s Task Force on the Arts.

Pending Zoning Amendments

Nakagawa/Brown Petition - See you in two years!
Applications & Petions #5 (Apr 23, 2018). A Zoning Petition was received from Douglas Brown Et Al, regarding Zoning petition that aims to balance the future health and safety impacts of climate change.
Referred to Planning Board & Ordinance Committee

Applications & Petitions #4 (June 25, 2018). A zoning petition has been received from the Pizzuto Family Limited Partnership Cambridge Zoning Ordinance 20.900 and Zoning Map by added section entitled New Street Overlay District.

Order #1 (June 25, 2018). That the City Council refer proposed changes to Cambridge Zoning Article 5.000.Rainwater & Flat Roof Zoning to the Ordinance Committee and the Planning Board for hearing and report.   Councillor Kelley, Mayor McGovern, Councillor Zondervan

Order #4 (June 25, 2018). That the zoning amendment to section 4.22 of the zoning code, with strikeouts and highlighting to identify proposed changes for discussion, be forwarded to the Planning Board and the Ordinance Committee for their review as a zoning solution to the challenges posed by current zoning constraints regarding accessory dwelling units.   Councillor Kelley, Councillor Carlone, Councillor Zondervan

Cannabis Regulation Zoning Petition (July 30, 2018)
Manager's Agenda #22. A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a draft zoning petition concerning the regulation of cannabis establishments in the City of Cambridge in response to Awaiting Report Item Number 18-75. [Cannabis Zone Map]

My prediction: Legal marijuana shops will sell the expensive stuff and the riff raff will still buy from other sources. Also, let's face it - so-called "medical marijuana dispensaries" were always intended to be a first step toward recreational pot shops. I hope they can at least bring back the Peter Max posters and lava lamps from the head shops of my youth.

Envision Cambridge Updates - Working Group Draft Recommendations

Economy Working Group Draft Recommendations

Housing Working Group Draft Recommendations

Mobility Working Group Draft Recommendations

Climate & Environment Working Group Draft Recommendations

Urban Form Draft Recommendations

Community Wellbeing Draft Recommendations

The Triviality of SeeClickFix

Not a day goes by without a flurry of SeeClickFix (Commonwealth Connects) requests for matters ranging from dangerous to absurdly trivial. In addition to the ridiculous complaints about armored vehicles parking in a bike lane (because the cyclists wants the driver to carry sacks of money to a loading zone a block away) or a flatbed truck queued up at a construction site (and they want him to do what? - keep circling around the block with many tons of steel on a long, wide vehicle?) to matters so trivial that it could make your head spin. For example, I saw one this morning from 23 Clinton Street where the complainant says: "Can you please remove white mark left on brick sidewalk by parking dept?" Perhaps I should file a string of complaints about the large hot top temporary patch on my sidewalk left by NStar (before they became Eversource) that's now been there for most of the past decade plus a medley of various painted markings from Traffic & Parking, the Dig Safe folks, etc. Let's also not forget those 02138 sensitive souls who lost their minds over the color of their NEW sidewalk having a shade that didn't quite match their ideal. Good grief!

Members Sought for Mayor’s Arts Task Force

Aug 6, 2018 – Mayor Marc McGovern is seeking Cambridge residents interested in serving on the newly formed Mayor’s Arts Task Force. The Mayor’s Arts Task Force, Chaired by City Councillor Alanna Mallon, will be charged with the responsibility of producing a set of action-oriented policy recommendations that will promote diversity and investment in the arts, as well as support the Central Square Arts and Cultural District.

The Mayor’s Arts Task Force will be comprised of city staff, local community leaders, and members of the artist community. Candidates will provide guidance on:

• Policies the City can pursue that will continue to foster and promote arts that are reflective of the diverse communities that live in Cambridge
• Ensuring a robust funding source for our arts community using both city resources, and the resources of local companies
• Collaboration between the City, the Central Square Business Association, and local artists to strengthen Central Square as an Arts and Cultural District

The Mayor’s Arts Task Force will meet monthly on a Thursday, from September 2018 through June 2019, from 5:30pm to 7:30pm in City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA.

Applicants should email a letter of interest that addresses their qualifications to Afiyah Harrigan at aharrigan@cambridgema.gov. Letters of interest can also be dropped off to Afiyah Harrigan in the Mayor’s Office, 2nd Floor, Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline for submitting letters of interests is August 31, 2018.

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Cambridge Human Services Commission Vacancies

Aug 8, 2018 – City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking Cambridge residents interested in volunteering to serve on the nine-member Human Services Commission. The Commission advises the City Manager and the Assistant City Manager for Human Services on human services policy issues, needs assessment, and funding allocations.

With the Department of Human Service Programs, the Commission also promotes activities that enhance the quality of life for Cambridge residents. Over the years, the Commission has responded to local needs by recommending Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for a wide range of programs offered by the city and community agencies.

The Commission usually meets with the Assistant City Manager for Human Services on the second Thursday of each month from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. For more information, contact Mike Payack at 617-349-6208 or mpayack@cambridgema.gov. Commission members serve without compensation.

Applications to serve on this committee can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at www.cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience may be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, September 7, 2018.

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Cambridge Conservation Commission Members Sought

July 24, 2018 – City Manager Louis A. DePasquale is seeking two Cambridge residents to fill vacancies on the Cambridge Conservation Commission. The Conservation Commission is responsible for administration of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act (WPA), a state law governing activities in and immediately adjacent to local wetlands, waterways, and floodplains.

The Commission holds two regularly scheduled public meetings each month to review permit applications under the WPA, issue permits, and conduct other business related to the management of Cambridge’s natural resource areas.

The Conservation Commission consists of seven members appointed by the City Manager to serve three-year terms. Cambridge residents with expertise in landscape architecture, civil/environmental engineering, hydrology, ecology, or law are encouraged to apply.

Applications to serve on this committee can be submitted to City Manager Louis A. DePasquale using the City’s online application system at www.cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and resume or applicable experience may be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline to submit an application is Friday, September 7, 2018.

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Cambridge City Manager Seeks Members for Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship

July 30, 2018 – Cambridge City Manager Louis DePasquale is seeking persons interested in serving on the Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship (CIRC). The Commission consists of 11 volunteer members, who are appointed by the City Manager, following an application and interview process. The term of the appointment is three years. Commissioners are expected to be knowledgeable about immigrant rights and citizenship and must be residents of Cambridge. It is desirable for this Commission to be fully representative of the diverse Cambridge community.

Cambridge welcomes immigrants and wants to encourage their success and access to opportunity and advancement in this country. It will be a goal of this Commission to get the message of welcome out, through collaboration with organizations that already provide services and outreach to our immigrant community. The Commission will act as a centralizing organization in Cambridge, to address immigrant rights and citizenship issues through providing information, referral, guidance, coordination and technical assistance to other public agencies and private persons, organizations and institutions engaged in activities and programs intended to support immigrant rights and citizenship.

Commissioners are expected to work with other members of the Commission and staff to fulfill the goals and objectives of the Cambridge Commission on Immigrant Rights and Citizenship Ordinance (CMC Chapter 2.123).

Individuals interested in being considered should apply by using the city’s online application system at www.cambridgema.gov/apply. A cover letter and résumé or summary of applicable experience can be submitted during the online application process. Paper applications are available in the City Manager’s Office at Cambridge City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. The deadline for submitting applications is Friday, August 24, 2018.

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Availability of Absentee Ballots for the State Primary, September 4, 2018

The State Primary will be held on Tuesday, September 4, 2018. Absentee Ballots are now available at the Cambridge Election Commission office. Any voter who is unable to go to the polls on Election Day due to physical disability, religious belief, or absence from the City may request an Absentee Ballot from the Commission. The deadline to apply for an Absentee Ballot is Friday, August 31st at 5:00pm. Absentee Ballots may be mailed to voters, or such voters may choose to vote at the Commission office during regular city office hours: Monday, 8:30am-8:00pm; Tuesday-Thursday, 8:30am-5:00pm; Friday, 8:30am-Noon. The office will be open for extended hours on the following dates:
Last Day to Apply for an Absentee Ballot Friday, August 31, 2018 from 8:30am-5pm.

The polls will be open on Election Day, September 4th from 7:00am until 8:00pm. For any additional information, please visit the Cambridge Election Commission office at 51 Inman Street, call (617-349-4361) or visit the Election Commission website at www.cambridgema.gov/election.

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Temporary Locations for the State Primary, September 4 & New Polling Location

1) Due to renovations, those who vote in Ward 3 Precinct 3, Salvation Army Headquarters, 402 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge will vote next door at the Lafayette Square Fire Station, 378 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge (Entrance on Sidney Street) for the 2018 State Primary. The Cambridge Board of Election Commissioners approved the temporary relocation of the polling precinct for Ward 3 Precinct 3 at a meeting held on Wednesday, June 1, 2018.

2) Those who vote in Ward 9 Precinct 3, Haggerty School, 110 Cushing Street, Gym, Lawn Street Entrance, Cambridge will no longer vote at this location. The new voting location will be Corcoran Park Community Building, 1 Corcoran Lane, Cambridge. The Cambridge Board of Election Commissioners approved the relocation of the polling precinct for Ward 9 Precinct 3 at a meeting held on Wednesday, March 14, 2018.

3) Due to renovations, those who vote in Ward 10 Precinct 1, Russell Apartments, 2050 Mass. Ave., Cambridge will vote at the Peabody School Gym, 70-R Rindge Ave., Cambridge (Entrance in rear of building). The Cambridge Board of Election Commissioners approved the temporary relocation of the polling precinct for Ward 10 Precinct 1 at a meeting held on Wednesday, April 18, 2018.

Cambridge Polling Locations for 2018 State Primary Election

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Boston Properties Infill Development Concept Plan Phase 2 / 325 Main Street Development Proposal

Follow the project on Boston Properties CoUrbanize website: https://courbanize.com/projects/kendallsquared/updates

For more detailed information on the project you can click here and here to download two PDFs.

 

CIVIC CALENDAR

Tues, Aug 21

6:30pm   Planning Board meeting  (2nd Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)

General Business

1. Update from the Community Development Department

2. Adoption of Planning Board meeting transcripts

Public Hearings

6:30pm   New Street Self-Storage Zoning Petition [a continuance has been requested] – Zoning petition by Randy Kasten for the Pizzuto Family Limited Partnership to amend the Zoning Map of the City of Cambridge to create a new overlay zoning district entitled New Street Overlay District with the existing Industry A-1 District to remain as the base zoning district. (Notice) (Materials)

7:30pm   Flat Roofs Zoning Petition – Zoning petition by the City Council entitled “Proposal for converting flat concave roofs to a kind of greenhouse/glass porch, Z.O. 5.55,” to mitigate environmental impacts of certain older types of residential buildings, namely so-called “triple-deckers”, while improving the City’s storm-water management, modifications to the applicable dimensional requirements of this Article 5.000, in particular regarding FAR and height limitations. (Notice) (Materials)

General Business

4. PB#141 – 650 E. Kendall Street – Use Determination (Letter)

5. Board of Zoning Appeal Cases

BZA-016894-2018 – 1815 Massachusetts Avenue – Special Permit to remove existing previously-permitted rooftop telecommunication equipment and replace with up-graded equipment. Art. 4.000, Sec. 4.32.G.1 & Sec. 4.40 (Footnote 49) (Telecommunication Facility); 6409 Section 47 USC 1455 (a). (Materials)

BZA-016964-2018 – 330 Mt. Auburn Street – Special Permit to make minor modifications to existing cell site as part of nationwide network upgrades, including replacement of 3 panel antennas, installation of 9 remote radio units and associated equipment. Art. 4.000, Sec. 4.32.G.1 & Sec. 4.40 (Footnote 49) (Telecommunication Facility); Art. 10.000, Sec. 10.40 (Special Permit); 6409 (Middle Class Tax relief and Job Creation Act). (Materials)

Wed, Aug 22

6:00-7:30pm   Central Square Advisory Committee meeting  (City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 4th Floor Conference Room)

This meeting will focus on "Placemaking in Central Square" to reintroduce and revisit the City's approaches to public space with the goal of creating a set of values for public spaces in Central Square. The focus of this meeting will be - Public Safety.

Thurs, Aug 23

5:30-9:30pm   Special Meeting of the School Committee  (Royal Sonesta Hotel (Longfellow A Tower), 40 Edwin Land Boulevard)

By Order of His Honor, Mayor Marc C. McGovern, acting in accordance with Chapter I, Section 3.6, of the Rules of the School Committee, there will be a Special Meeting of the School Committee on Thurs, Aug 23, 2018, 5:30-9:30pm, at the Royal Sonesta Hotel for the purpose of a Retreat with the School Committee, the Superintendent of Schools and any other invited School District Senior Administrators focusing on Cultural Proficiency/ Equity and any other business that may properly come before the Committee. Note: Per the Rules of the School Committee, the meeting will not be televised, no votes will be taken and there will not be public comment.

Tues, Aug 28

6:30pm   Planning Board meeting  (2nd Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)

Wed, Aug 29

6:00-7:30pm   Central Square Advisory Committee meeting  (City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 4th Floor Conference Room)

Large Project Review – Revolutionary Clinics (Medical Marijuana Dispensary that will eventually add recreational sales) - 541 Mass Ave

Tues, Sept 4

6:00pm   School Committee meeting  (Henrietta Attles Meeting Room, CRLS, 459 Broadway)

Wed, Sept 12

8:00-9:30am   Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber, City Hall)

1:00pm   The City Council's Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the guiding policy and safety priorities for regulating and permitting shared electric scooters to operate in Cambridge. This meeting is to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

4:00pm   The City Council's Economic Development and University Relations Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss the Storefront Vacancies Best Practices report recommendations, and any other updates from the Retail Strategy Report.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Sept 17

5:30pm   City Council meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Thurs, Sept 20

3:00pm   The City Council's Transportation and Public Utilities Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss reducing the speed limit to 20 MPH on residential streets Citywide and the creation of 20 MPH safety zones on certain other streets (yes, the description is self-contradictory).  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Sept 24

5:30pm   City Council meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Tues, Sept 25

6:00pm   School Committee meeting  (Henrietta Attles Meeting Room, CRLS, 459 Broadway)

The School Committee will reconvene in Executive Session immediately following the regular meeting in the School Committee Conference Room, 459 Broadway, for the purposes of hearing a Level III grievance as part of collective bargaining with CEA Unit E and for the purpose of discussing collective bargaining strategy and litigation/arbitration strategy with respect to such grievance as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining and the litigation/arbitration positions of the Cambridge School Committee.

6:30pm   Planning Board meeting  (2nd Floor Meeting Room, City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway)

Wed, Sept 26

6:00-7:30pm   Central Square Advisory Committee meeting  (City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 4th Floor Conference Room)

This meeting will focus on "Placemaking in Central Square" to reintroduce and revisit the City's approaches to public space with the goal of creating a set of values for public spaces in Central Square. The focus of this meeting will be - Arts + Programming.

Thurs, Sept 27

3:00pm   The City Council's Health and Environment Committee will conduct a public hearing to discuss storm water management practices and get an update on how Cambridge will be impacted by the EPS’s new MS4 permit which took effect on July 1, 2018.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Oct 1

5:30pm   City Council meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

6:30pm   Tax Rate Hearing  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, Oct 10

8:00-9:30am   Recycling Advisory Committee (RAC) Meeting  (Sullivan Chamber, City Hall)

Mon, Oct 15

5:30pm   City Council meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)

Wed, Oct 17

6:00-7:30pm   Central Square Advisory Committee meeting  (City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway, 4th Floor Conference Room)

This meeting will focus on "Placemaking in Central Square" to reintroduce and revisit the City's approaches to public space with the goal of creating a set of values for public spaces in Central Square. The focus of this meeting will be - Public Health.

Mon, Oct 22

5:30pm   City Council Roundtable/Working Meeting to discuss the Envision process. This Meeting is to be televised.  (Sullivan Chamber)

Mon, Oct 29

5:30pm   City Council meeting  (Sullivan Chamber)