City brainstorms with neighbors to improve North Cambridge

By Brock Parker, Globe Correspondent

Neighbors say the area needs a face-lift, and now Cambridge is taking a closer look at ways to improve the character of Massachusetts Avenue north of Porter Square to the Arlington line.

More than 60 residents met with city planners last night and suggested that bike lanes, bicycle parking, and more trees be added to their neighborhood.

"It's the last part of Cambridge that needs upgrading badly," said resident Tom Flynn, who grew up in North Cambridge.

The northern stretch of Massachusetts Avenue from Beech Street to the Arlington border is lined with everything from 1980's-era office buildings, to new residential buildings, vacant storefronts, active retail space, the crossing point for the Linear Park bicycle path and the MBTA's trolley and bus yard.

While the city isn't planning changes to the roadway, medians or curbing, the community development department is considering improvements along the streetscape and new zoning for the area.

"We've been hearing for years that this was a part of the city that needs attention, and we're getting to it," said Beth Rubenstein, assistant city manager for community development.

In a two hour meeting at the Peabody School Thursday night, neighbors said more street level retail space is needed, and traffic needs to be slowed along Massachusetts Avenue.

Longtime resident John Walker said the city also needs to find a way to capitalize on the neighborhood's proximity to bustling commercial areas, such as Davis Square in Somerville, which is a short walk from much of North Cambridge.

"Davis Square, as we all know, is what Harvard Square used to be," Walker said.
While many of the suggestions neighbors made would require long term projects, Rubenstein said there were some suggestions, such as tree plantings, that the city could tackle quickly.

Taha Jennings, a neighborhood planner for the city, said the community development department will review the suggestions made by North Cambridge residents Thursday, consolidate them, and use them to form a set of recommendations.

The city will hold another meeting with the neighborhood in the next six weeks, Jennings said.

--brock.globe@gmail.com