Bob Reports:
1. Introductory.
2. History.
3. Initiatives last year.
4. Town-Gown Meeting of February 7, 2006.
1. Introductory.
The Aggassiz neighborhood is east of Massachusetts Avenue going toward Porter Square from Harvard Square.
A useful map is at http://www.cambridgema.gov/~CDD/cp/neigh/maps/nhood_map_9.pdf. The area of interest is at the right hand side of the map. The map may be blown up into great detail.
2. History.
The neighborhood is a matter of good memories to me because it involved the first zoning change I was involved in as advisor to a neighborhood group. We downzoned the first two blocks north of Harvard Law School between Mass. Ave. and Oxford Street.
A matter of major concern was the neighborhood retail block on Massachusetts Avenue just north of Everett Street. The most visible store on that block now is the Three Aces neighborhood restaurant. Three Aces sells pizza, sandwiches and beer and has a vintage Pac Man machine.
When we wrote the zoning, we deliberately left the retail block zoned for housing and only for housing, to force a developer to choose between saving the retail and whatever profits could be made with destroying the retail. Retail tends to be the most dollar generating use. Thus the zoning took away incentives to destroy that retail.
3. Initiatives last year.
The City of Cambridge development department and fellow “defenders” were fighting to legalize retail under whatever guise they could use.
There were zoning changes proposed last year which would do exactly that and also reward the destruction of the park at Porter Station, among other things. That upzoning seems to be abandoned.
Three Aces was kind enough to post one of my campaign signs and distribute materials which communicated my great concern that the block would now be destroyed by Harvard.
As usual, the powers that be who were fighting to destroy the block claimed to be defending it.
I leafleted every property on the side streets between Harvard and Porter Square with my concerns.
4. Town-Gown Meeting of February 7, 2006.
Harvard in its “Town-Gown” presentation on February 7, 2006, gave the impression that its Law School had abandoned intent to destroy the block for development. Comments were made by two city councilors that their constituents were concerned.
It is good to learn that this leafleting and the efforts by Three Aces were successful, but Harvard will promise nothing on a permanent basis.
In Leslie University’s part of the Town-Gown presentation, Lesley announced that they had completed purchase of almost all of the north side of Mellen Street, the second of three streets in my 1978 downzoning.
The only exception was the gentleman who was the lead signer in my 1978 downzoning. I hope he can stand up to Leslie indefinitely.
