Thoughts about Cambridge waterfront development

I’ve been a part of the waterfront development process for almost 30 years and I’ve seen lots of different plans and designs and concepts. I have participated in many public hearings and surveys and have watched us slowly but surely get to this point where most of the public’s hopes and visions for the property could be realized.

It’s important to point out that this is a concept plan - it is not the finished product for Cambridge Harbor. It is a tool that CWDI will use in meetings with developers, so that they can be guided by what those 30 years of public meetings have resulted in. The designer of these plans is world renowned and was instrumental in some truly amazing towns and villages including Rosemary Beach, Florida and Celebration among many others.

So if I could, I’d like to lay this all out piece by piece:

1) The public has universally said they want access to the water. This plan has a wide and expansive river walk that runs from the Visitors Center all the way along the Choptank, and up along the existing Cruise Ship pier, ultimately connecting with Maryland Avenue to lead people back into downtown. In fact, the river walk is the first thing that will most likely be built, as a testament to how important access to the water is with this project.

2) The public has said they want to still feel connected to the water. This plan expands and extends existing streets enabling people to drive down near the water and connect to the rest of the city logically. There are no gates. There is nothing walled off. Streets and sidewalks all lead to the river walk, open spaces, parks and shopping areas. You’ll be able to look down each street straight out to the water - that’s something you’ve rarely been able to do because of the hospital and other buildings in the way.

3) The public has wanted to preserve open space. Almost half of this design is actually public space and open space. Of the 28 or more acres on this site, only about 14 acres is developed. Much of the open space is also along the water, with an expanded beach area that can be used for small concerts, volleyball and sporting areas, event lawn, etc., stretching from the bridge down to the mouth of the creek. There are also smaller parks at the front end including preserving the two giant elm trees that were part of the hospital property.

4) The public has wanted to preserve our maritime heritage. The design directly incorporates the boat ramp and boat parking as a huge component of the area. Many potential developers have discussed how important the vibrancy of having boaters use the area is to the success of their shops, hotels, etc. Moreover, the existing Yacht Maintenance and the Richardson Maritime museum are both expected to expand as part of this project - preserving our shipbuilding heritage and acting as a living classroom for visitors.

5) The public has said they want limited residential. While residential units have always been a component of this or any project, it’s important to note that again, this is a small percentage of the overall project. There are no giant high rises or condos walling off the creek. This design intersperses the housing amongst much of the shopping and retail, and in some cases places them above the commercial spaces effectively mirroring our downtown so that it still has the feel of something from Cambridge. The types of commercial spaces are small and manageable and can be used as companions and connections to the heart of our downtown. Walking and biking trails as well as wide sidewalks and the river walk all make this a welcoming community area.

6) The public has wanted shops, hotels and restaurants that will help and not hurt downtown. It’s important to note that Cambridge Harbor is designed to be a living breathing and vibrant community that people will want to live in and visit. But those same residents and visitors will not be stuck in one place. A huge component of the visions and plans for this and for Cambridge as a whole is all about connections - connecting the Hyatt to Cambridge Harbor, connecting the Harbor to downtown, connecting downtown to Cannery Park and the Packing House, and connecting all of that to the rest of our city. The plans below show a liveable, walkable, bikeable area that connects to everything else. A small boutique hotel, restaurants space, open air market, food trucks, etc., are all components and envisioned in these plans.

There is so much more to say and discuss about this and it’s so important to understand that these are still concept plans. So keeping an open mind at this stage is the most important thing you can do to help your city.

There will literally be months and years more of planning, meetings and public hearings before the first new buildings are built. But at the very least you can be excited about how far we’ve come in the last 30 years of debating this property and be encouraged by the potential that lies ahead.

Mr. Malkus is Cambridge city commissioner from Ward 5.