Kendall Common ( née Volpe Redevelopment) | Kendall Sq | Cambridge

Per correspondence posted by the Cambridge Redev. Authority:

Proposed Demolition - Kendall Common (formerly known as the Volpe parcels)
"Demolition of four of the existing structures located south of Potter Street is anticipated to commence in early 2025 and continue through completion in Spring 2026"
Click to expand...

I am assuming this includes the tower, since there are four buildings in total south of Potter:
vp_dmo-1.png

Google Maps

There are also a couple of legacy Volpe structures north of Potter (along Binney) that I'm assuming are not included in this stage.
 
Last edited:
There are crews working along the fence line today. I think they are removing the cables used to strengthen the fence against vehicular impact.
 
JeffDowntown said:
www.bostonglobe.com

MIT paid $1.3 million for a landscape artwork by Maya Lin. Then it forgot to tell anyone. - The Boston Globe

“The Sound we Travel at," a series of 11 grass-covered, wave-like mounds of earth, can be found in Kendall Square — though there's no sign installed to tell you what you're looking at.
www.bostonglobe.com www.bostonglobe.com

$1.3 Million Maya Lin landscape sculpture with no acknowledgement or signage! Right next to the new Volpe.
Click to expand...

I've walked by (and over) this probably 50 times by now and never knew there was any special artistic purpose! Kinda assumed it was additional security infrastructure that looked prettier than the bollards. Cool spot, though I wouldn't recommend sitting or lying on the grass as the article suggests as I see dog owners let their dogs use the bathroom in that area all the time.
 
RandomWalk said:
I’m going to miss the established trees.
Click to expand...

Here's a view from the Third St. side, where they've also felled a bunch of trees. My street-level view isn't as dramatic as your aerial; nonetheless, those familiar with this stretch will sense a dramatic difference of what it feels like around there. All around, it is now becoming more clear how massive a land area this is.

vpc1_11-1.jpg
 
Rough demolition schedule:
  • Abatement of low rises through end of February.
  • Demolition of low rises, starting with the one closes to the bike path, in mid-March.
  • Demolition of the tower starting end of April. It will be a slow deconstruction with jackhammers.

They are aiming to start C-3 first, provided they sign the lease with an unnamed biotech.
 
RandomWalk said:
Rough demolition schedule:
  • Abatement of low rises through end of February.
  • Demolition of low rises, starting with the one closes to the bike path, in mid-March.
  • Demolition of the tower starting end of April. It will be a slow deconstruction with jackhammers.

They are aiming to start C-3 first, provided they sign the lease with an unnamed biotech.
Click to expand...
It's Biogen, right?

www.nbcboston.com

Biogen in talks to move to MIT's Volpe development, sources say

Biogen in talks to move to MIT’s Volpe development, sources say
www.nbcboston.com www.nbcboston.com
 
RandomWalk said:
View attachment 59635
Click to expand...
This shot really shows the visual impact of all the downed trees. Though those low-rise wings are all so short, their footprint is enormous - but, before, you couldn't really sense how big their footprint was with all the trees around them. I know this is an aerial view, but the pedestrian-level visual experience is quite changed as well.
 
I remember when they re-did the boston public library and added mature trees around the updated base level and it was game changing. The day it opened it looked like it had always been there. It cost extra money, but it was so worth it. It honestly was one of the most successful parts of the entire project.

Since this site already had a bunch of existing mature trees it would have been nice if they could have used one of those huge spades to scoop up the trees and then replanted them in the new park and sidewalks where they were needed. Having mature trees right away would make the park much better than having some really small trees that take 15 years to grow out. If you already have mature trees on site it seems like kind of a waste to chop them down only to plant a bunch more.

1737846853145.jpeg
 
stick n move said:
I remember when they re-did the boston public library and added mature trees around the updated base level and it was game changing. The day it opened it looked like it had always been there. It cost extra money, but it was so worth it. It honestly was one of the most successful parts of the entire project.

Since this site already had a bunch of existing mature trees it would have been nice if they could have used one of those huge spades to scoop up the trees and then replanted them in the new park and sidewalks where they were needed. Having mature trees right away would make the park much better than having some really small trees that take 15 years to grow out. If you already have mature trees on site it seems like kind of a waste to chop them down only to plant a bunch more.
Click to expand...

I agree planting mature trees would make it look much better. But trees are cut down for projects - that's life. Especially the trees here when the entire site is being reimagined. (Honestly, I miss the trees where the apartment building is going - they grew nicely).

That being said, those trees have been there my whole time in Kendall (40+ years) and are probably close to end-of-life as it is, so 'saving' them probably wouldn't have been the best move. If you walk down broadway, even the trees near the sidewalk are starting to fail.
 
Those trees were one of the few examples of what the pathetic arrays of saplings at many projects could become, if they were given time, space, and proper care.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top