That's only planning board yes? Historically, is the ordinance or the building the tougher one to pass? I was mostly referring to the litigation following special permits granted, which I believe these buildings can still be subject to.
CambridgeSide Galleria Reno/Redev | First Street | East Cambridge
- Thread starter Equilibria
- Start date
That's only planning board yes? Historically, is the ordinance or the building the tougher one to pass? I was mostly referring to the litigation following special permits granted, which I believe these buildings can still be subject to.
Mall redevelopers must prove need for project at its proposed size, according to stalled order - Cambridge Day
Skeptical about how much additional size is needed for the CambridgeSide mall to survive, city councillors are calling for the developer’s financials to undergo a rigorous analysis – and will keep calling for it in two weeks, when an order making it official returns for a vote.www.cambridgeday.com
The Cambridge City Council kicked this one down the road based on some technicalities - under the terms of the site, the developers have to prove that they need the development at the proposed size to keep the mall open.
I get that they're following the terms of the agreement, but come on. Saying that you need to prove you're saving a suburban-style mall to build mixed-use urban density is about as bass ackward as it gets.
This story occurred to me after I was looking at the council vote. All councilors present voted in favor, including Dennis Carlone, who previously wrote an op-ed in opposition (in my opinion, motivated by his professional hubris as the designer of the canal district).
What changed? Well, the councillors got to look at the financials. I guess Cambridgeside wasn't bluffing and the outlook is looking as dim as they claimed. Or I'm missing something, which is possible given how convoluted these processes are.
Equilibria
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2007
- Messages
- 6,949
- Reaction score
- 7,995
That sounds like a good guess. Either that or they just wanted the pound of flesh and were ready to move on.
RandomWalk
Senior Member
- Joined
- Feb 2, 2014
- Messages
- 3,013
- Reaction score
- 4,224
Proximity to elections has a powerful effect on Cambridge politicians.
Years ago, I was involved with public art process around Fresh Pond as part of the CWP plant rebuild. There was an approved design, which had made it through most approvals. At the last minute, a couple of neighbors caught wind and raised a stink because it was going to be too much of a draw for outsiders to “their” place. The politicians held community meetings, and ultimately changed the art because of those complaints. In private the pols said, in effect: “we like it, but we can’t support it if we want to be here next year...”
Years ago, I was involved with public art process around Fresh Pond as part of the CWP plant rebuild. There was an approved design, which had made it through most approvals. At the last minute, a couple of neighbors caught wind and raised a stink because it was going to be too much of a draw for outsiders to “their” place. The politicians held community meetings, and ultimately changed the art because of those complaints. In private the pols said, in effect: “we like it, but we can’t support it if we want to be here next year...”
It does look like I spoke to soon - there is a special meeting tomorrow to finish up the Cambridgeside discussion. Perhaps the motion was to have a separate meeting, and not to approve the PUD.
A Cambridgeside meeting is scheduled to take place on Dec. 16th. This might be the final one who knows.
Here [PDF] is a hilarious (in my mind) exchange from today's meeting between a NIMBY and a city councillor. The developer made the claim that they were seeking a 6% ROI and the NIMBY (who fashions himself a finance/development economics expert, though admittedly he did write a book on pricing) was concerned that was too low. Of course, if it was too high he would be concerned the city wasn't bargaining hard enough! The kicker is that he was comparing this to a Vanguard bond fund...
Here [PDF] is a hilarious (in my mind) exchange from today's meeting between a NIMBY and a city councillor. The developer made the claim that they were seeking a 6% ROI and the NIMBY (who fashions himself a finance/development economics expert, though admittedly he did write a book on pricing) was concerned that was too low. Of course, if it was too high he would be concerned the city wasn't bargaining hard enough! The kicker is that he was comparing this to a Vanguard bond fund...
The zoning amendment passed yesterday 6-3. There will be special permits and so on for the individual buildings, but we can expect this to be going forward.
Yes: McGovern, Siddiqui, Simon, Kelley, Toomey, Mallon
No: Zondervan, Devereaux, Carlone
Yes: McGovern, Siddiqui, Simon, Kelley, Toomey, Mallon
No: Zondervan, Devereaux, Carlone
Equilibria
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2007
- Messages
- 6,949
- Reaction score
- 7,995
Interesting things I noticed in the presentation from November:
Harvard Square_20191119 - Cambridge City, MA
1) The developer appears to be funding a new park and dock/plaza at the MDC boathouse, including reopening the building itself to the public (as a "rowing center" - maybe they'll do something like spin classes
) The path along the canal will be much more of a visible bike alternative to O'Brien Highway than it is today, as well.2) The slides at the end strongly imply that each of the buildings along First Street is a freestanding structure. That would mean that the mall behind would get a new facade too, but they haven't rendered it...
Anyway, great news!
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2011
- Messages
- 5,599
- Reaction score
- 2,707
Is this thread for the whole " Cambridgeside 2.0" (including affordable residential)?
www.bostonmagazine.com
The Cambridge City Council Has Approved "CambridgeSide 2.0"
The beloved but slightly dated Galleria is turning into housing, restaurants, and office space.
www.bostonmagazine.com
stick n move
Superstar
- Joined
- Oct 14, 2009
- Messages
- 11,073
- Reaction score
- 14,809
Is this thread for the whole " Cambridgeside 2.0" (including affordable residential)?
The Cambridge City Council Has Approved "CambridgeSide 2.0"
The beloved but slightly dated Galleria is turning into housing, restaurants, and office space.
Great news!
Equilibria
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2007
- Messages
- 6,949
- Reaction score
- 7,995
Is this thread for the whole " Cambridgeside 2.0" (including affordable residential)?
The Cambridge City Council Has Approved "CambridgeSide 2.0"
The beloved but slightly dated Galleria is turning into housing, restaurants, and office space.
I'd be interested to hear how this is "saving the mall" financially - seems like it's replacing the mall with something NED can make more money on. Is there any plan for getting stores back into the mall that's left behind? Will the rest of that building also come down in the late 2020s? Will the only Apple Store in Cambridge move to a more visible location nearer to the train (I'm actually surprised that neither MIT's development nor Cambridge Crossing appears to be on Apple's radar for any more than office space). If the mall is really filling up with banks, then I don't see how it's worth saving.
Given that NED is the team behind the Newton Wegmans, it's worth noting that repurposing the mall proper as a grocery store wouldn't go amiss...
- Joined
- Dec 10, 2011
- Messages
- 5,599
- Reaction score
- 2,707
The goal for any collection of retailers has to be "be better than Amazon" on some measure, and you're already seeing the switch to models that still work in the age of Same Day delivery.
It is going to be more like "indoor neighborhood shopping" + "stuff things workers buy before/lunch/after work"
- Delivery Now of unplanned need (Food, Drug, Convenience)
- Get something physically looked at (Apple, MSFT store)...probably should have a bike shop, too.
- Get somebody pysically looked at (Urgent Care), and why not Chiropractor/Massag
- Exercise & Leisure (Gym & Movies)
- Clothes that fit people's bodies & budget
- Financial services
- Unique franchise: Registry of Motor Vehicles
It is going to be more like "indoor neighborhood shopping" + "stuff things workers buy before/lunch/after work"
JumboBuc
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2013
- Messages
- 2,646
- Reaction score
- 1,515
I'm with you on this, but one minor quibble: Best Buy fits much more into the "Get something physically looked at" category than most give it credit for, and the chain has been doing very well lately.
Equilibria
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2007
- Messages
- 6,949
- Reaction score
- 7,995
But with smaller stores and a different layout... new Best Buy is more in his Apple/Microsoft category.
The long-term question to me is why any of those stores would want to be in the mall as opposed to in the ground floor of a multi-use building with street frontage.
Agreed. The decline of foot traffic in malls doesn't even help justify the loss-leader arguments for brick and mortar storefronts anymore. Though with Best Buy at Cambridgeside, they are on the ground floor of a soon-to-be mixed use building with street frontage (on a fairly busy urban intersection). Plus, they're a well-known brand and their services are a luxury that many people in the affluent surrounding area can afford.
Last edited:
Equilibria
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2007
- Messages
- 6,949
- Reaction score
- 7,995
Not to derail the thread, but I wonder about Best Buy's ability to become a brand-agnostic Apple/Microsoft store. If you have the money to throw at brand-name electronics you probably prefer the red-carpet treatment at a brand-specific store and do your research online. It's why Samsung is now opening stores as well.
whighlander
Senior Member
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2006
- Messages
- 7,812
- Reaction score
- 647
Arlington -- you did a nice job summarizing the Amazon Era for retail -- you only missed one category:
Stores that offer some interesting diversions or support functions in addition to shopping such as:
- Jordan's Furniture with movies, the old Jordan Marsh Christmas Village, motion simulation, etc.
- Duluth Trading in Burlington with a room full of displays of old tools
- probably several others
Big box stores still have an advantage on things that are big/bulky and hard to ship. My last few appliance purchases were all from such places (An air conditioner from home depot, a microwave from this best buy) and they easily beat amazon on price, presumably because they didn't have to pay for the last mile delivery of such a chonky package.
Equilibria
Senior Member
- Joined
- May 6, 2007
- Messages
- 6,949
- Reaction score
- 7,995
Re-proposal (dated March, but the meeting got postponed to next week). I like the Macy's building fine, but it's a dime-a-dozen Kendall lab building. The Sears one has more to recommend it. There is still residential in this project but it has moved to the First Street side.