Cambridge Ordinance Committee Hearing #2 9/13/2017
Agenda 1. Key updates 2. Community Benefits 3. Responses to feedback 4. Present models developed through community process 2
Development Site Site is 14 acres, MIT controlled land is 10 acres MIT awarded contract after bid of $750 million GSA contract requires construction of new Volpe Center regardless of zoning 3
Community Process Timeline February 16, 2017 First Community Meeting October 31 Zoning Petition Expires May Site Plan Evolution EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2 EXAMPLE 3 EXAMPLE 4 4
Community Workshops June 29 September 7 5
Free food, games, and live performances Bocce and Basketball tournaments Transportation will be provided 6
Update on Graduate Student Housing Construction of new 450 unit graduate student residence is underway (250 net new units) MIT is a leader in providing graduate student housing in the region MIT has established a new Graduate Student Housing Working Group to update findings from the Clay Report, interim findings will be made available by October 13 th 7
Community Benefits
Community Benefits Payment of approximately $8.5 million to the community fund Payment of approximately $8.5 million for transit improvements Total of $17 million 9
Community Benefits ZONING REQUIRES $15 million for on-site community center 10
Financial Benefits Linkage Payment of $15/SF commercial to the Affordable Housing Trust, totaling approximately $26 million 11
Financial Benefits Estimated future tax payments of approximately $23 million annually on current tax-exempt site 12
Affordable Housing ZONING REQUIRES approximately 280 affordable housing units at Volpe this is more units than Newtowne Court
Affordable Housing MIT IS COMMITTED TO 14.7% of all housing units in Cambridge are currently affordable 20% permanently subsidized affordable housing units at Volpe 14
Responses to Zoning Feedback
What We Heard ZONING Open Space Retail Sustainability Hotel Community Center OTHER Transportation Grand Junction Path Graduate Student Housing Workforce Development Institutional Use 16
ZONING Open Space What we heard Required open space should not include open space located on the Volpe facility site Open space should remain public in nature What we are doing Open space requirement will be calculated based on MIT s 10 acres only MIT will work with the City on mutually agreeable covenants
ZONING Retail What we heard 5,000 SF is too large for retail exemptions Retail should include neighborhood oriented and family-friendly retail at a variety of price points Entertainment/ performance uses were a priority for community members What we are doing Willing to reduce the max SF for exempted retail space to 3,000 SF As illustrated in new drawings, we are anticipating a diverse and active retail realm that includes neighborhood service retail, family friendly restaurants, and entertainment venues, both inside and outside 18
Retail - Ground Floor Plan Example 19
ZONING Sustainability & Resiliency What we heard Resiliency and future flooding conditions are a concern MIT should be a leader in sustainability What we are doing The project will improve current stormwater conditions at the site Will pursue LEED Gold or better for new commercial development Will work with the City towards Net Zero targets 20
ZONING Hotel Use What we heard Community does not want less than 40% residential What we are doing We are taking the comment into consideration 21
ZONING Community Center What we heard There is a strong need for a community center focusing on recreational uses Community center should include endowment Should only be considered open space if it is a freestanding building What we are doing Committed to fund up to $15 million for the design and construction of a new community center on the Volpe site Continuing the conversation around location, operation, and uses Recognize that only a freestanding building would be counted towards open space 22
OTHER Workforce Development What we heard Job training should be provided to ensure that Cambridge residents can benefit from, and be a part of, the innovation economy in Kendall Square What we are doing The community center or another location could include space for classrooms and training for innovation jobs 23
OTHER Transportation What we heard MIT s Volpe project should serve as a catalyst to advance the Grand Junction Multi-Use Community Path What we are doing We will work towards a cooperation agreement and contribution for the Grand Junction Path Transit improvements contribution of approximately $8.5 million 24
OTHER Transportation What we heard Concern that Red Line will not be able to handle additional riders What we are doing Performing preliminary analysis to better understand Red Line impacts Passengers 24,000 20,000 16,000 12,000 8,000 4,000 0 Existing Ridership 486 13,300 Inbound Platform Entering Kendall (Southbound) 352 11,300 Inbound Platform Exiting Kendall (Southbound) MIT/KSURP/Volpe Future MBTA Policy Capacity Existing MBTA Policy Capacity 761 6,700 Outbound Platform Entering Kendall (Northbound) 52 3,500 Outbound Platform Exiting Kendall (Northbound) Red Line Morning Peak Hour Ridership 25
Ongoing Topics to Discuss Grand Junction Community Space Design and Construction Funding Location and Use of Open Space Retail Plan Graduate Student Housing 26
Illustrative Models Developed Through Community Process
EXAMPLE 1 SITE PLAN 28
EXAMPLE 1 AERIAL VIEW 29
EXAMPLE 1 GROUND FLOOR CUT-THROUGH 30
Conceptual Rendering 31
Conceptual Rendering 32
Conceptual Rendering 33
EXAMPLE 1 OPEN SPACE 34
EXAMPLE 2 SITE PLAN 35
EXAMPLE 2 AERIAL VIEW 36
EXAMPLE 2 GROUND FLOOR CUT-THROUGH 37
Conceptual Rendering 38
EXAMPLE 2 OPEN SPACE 39
EXAMPLE 3 SITE PLAN 40
EXAMPLE 3 AERIAL VIEW 41
EXAMPLE 3 GROUND FLOOR CUT-THROUGH 42
EXAMPLE 3 OPEN SPACE 43
EXAMPLE 4 SITE PLAN 44
EXAMPLE 4 AERIAL VIEW 45
EXAMPLE 4 GROUND FLOOR CUT-THROUGH 46
Conceptual Rendering 47
EXAMPLE 4 OPEN SPACE 48
EXAMPLE 1 EXAMPLE 2 EXAMPLE 3 EXAMPLE 4 49
Q&A contact us: volpemit@mit.edu regular updates and presentations will be available on our website: https://volpe.mit.edu/ 50