News
Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Confirms Spring 2026 Completion for Neighborhood Storefronts Project
News
Ex-White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre Says Biden Forced Out of Race by Democratic “Firing Squad”
News
Harvard International Review Removes Article on Sikh Separatism After Backlash
News
‘Journalism Is Expensive’: Harvard Public Health Magazine Closes After Financial Struggles
News
Cambridge City Council Considers Home Rule Petition To End Broker Fees
The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority affirmed that the inaugural Neighborhood Storefronts Project will be completed next spring in their annual board meeting on Wednesday.
The NSP, which was first introduced in 2023, provides businesses that are independently owned or owned by people of color with affordable, well-located retail spaces and resources for growth and collective marketing.
“We’re very excited to move forward with this momentum in the pilot of our Neighborhood Storefronts Project,” said Kyle Vangel, CRA director of projects and planning.
By providing lower-cost retail spaces to local entrepreneurs, the NSP aims to preserve the distinct character of Cambridge’s retail districts.
In January, the CRA purchased more than 6,000 square feet of commercial space at 1175 Cambridge St. to house the NSP. The authority is expected to invest a total of $3.94 million into the project, including the $2 million already spent to purchase the space.
At the Wednesday meeting, board members also briefly touched on an ongoing proposal to repurpose the Grand Junction rail line before postponing the discussion.
The rail line, which runs from North Station to Allston, currently transports freight and equipment. An October 2024 report from the CRA proposed to change the route to a passenger rail line running from North Station to Allston’s West Station.
The board also discussed comments from the East Cambridge Planning Team and the East Cambridge Open Spaces Committee expressing concerns about the project.
The introduction of Grand Junction led to slight confusion as some residents expected a full discussion about the rail line, though the item was not on the agenda.
“All we’re doing is accepting the correspondence and sharing that with the board,” said Tom Evans, executive director of the CRA. “If we wanted a longer conversation about the Grand Junction as a board, we could certainly set that on the agenda in the future — but we just wanted to make sure that this communication that comes in about this project was in the board’s hands.”
The CRA also discussed the progress on projects from the past year, including development enabling the expansion of biotechnology firms in the area and transportation initiatives with the Kendall Square Transit Enhancement Program.
Board members discussed the receipt of building permits by 290 Binney St. — set to be occupied by AstraZeneca — and specifically pointed to construction on the Eversource underground substation as a success.
“In many ways, 2024 was a momentous year for this project, and obviously a key celebration for the CRA,” Vangel said.
Board members also shared two projects that the CRA and KSTEP are set to complete in 2025. After receiving a $1.05 million grant from KSTEP, the CRA will expand the membership-based transportation service EZRide to include weekend and all-day weekday service.
The CRA also shared that they will install a new bus shelter on Ames St., one of Kendall Square’s busiest stops.
Moving forward, the CRA will explore setting up a loan fund for energy efficiency projects in Cambridge, as residents grapple with skyrocketing energy costs.
The loan fund falls under the CRA’s sustainability priorities for the year ahead and supports the electrification goals reflected in the Eversource substation that began construction this January, in partnership with the CRA.
“It’s going to be a busy 2025, as it was 2024,” Vangel said. “We’re excited for the journey.”
—Staff writer Stephanie Dragoi can be reached at stephanie.dragoi@thecrimson.com.
—Staff writer Thamini Vijeyasingam can be reached at thamini.vijeyasingam@thecrimson.com. Follow her on X @vijeyasingam.
Want to keep up with breaking news? Subscribe to our email newsletter.