By Dave Ryan

CAMBRIDGE — Mayor Andrew Bradshaw said Thursday afternoon that the opening of the city’s Downtown Promenade, originally planned for today, will not be held until a later date. The move comes in response to the fatal fire on High Street early this morning, which took the lives of three victims.

“Out of respect for the family, we’re postponing the promenade,” Mayor Bradshaw said. Given the celebratory nature of the open-air street event, “We felt it would be inappropriate,” he added.
The move was made, he said, after consultation with downtown business owners. Also considered was the proximity of the tragedy, which is a short distance from Poplar Street, where the promenade will be.

When it does open, Poplar Street will be closed to traffic from Thursday afternoons until Sunday evenings. It will be similar to the plan conducted last year, when the city allowed restaurants to place tables in the street, as a way to conduct business while following COVID-19 precautions.

The cause of the morning’s fire is under investigation by the Office of the Maryland State Fire Marshal and the Cambridge Police Department. One victim remains hospitalized.