Is this how we want the Cambridge of the future to look? (160 Cambridge Park Dr.)

Below is an email the FPRA and other neighborhood groups received on May 30 from (Ms.) Iram Farooq (Acting Deputy Director for Community Development) regarding the initial public meetings to inform the city’s master plan process. A subsequent email informed us that Kathryn Madden of The Madden Planning Group will facilitate these preliminary “conversations” with residents.

Please note that the first conversation will be held on Tuesday, June 10 from 6:30-8:30 pm in the Tobin School gym. Residents of any area may attend any meeting; they are not neighborhood-specific. A strong turnout would show residents care (we do!). We also hope to see many of you at the FPRA meeting on Wednesday, June 4 at 7:00 pm in the Tobin School auditorium.

Quoting a May 30 email from Iram Farooq:

Cambridge is stepping forward into a city-wide master plan process!

The first step in this master planning process is Cambridge Conversations, a series of listening sessions to be held in different neighborhoods across the city during June 2014. These conversations will help shape the master plan process as we move from listening to working together to develop a shared framework, and from there to a plan and action. Here is your opportunity to share your ideas about what is working well, what could work better, and what kind of city we want – today and in the future.

Cambridge Conversations will kick off with a series of three community meetings. Join us at a location and time that works for you.

· Tuesday, June 10, 6:30-8:30 PM: Tobin School Gym, 197 Vassal Lane

· Wednesday, June 11, 6:30-8:30 PM: Kennedy School Cafeteria, 158 Spring Street

· Saturday, June 14, 10:00 AM-12:00 noon: Cambridge College, 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, 1st floor

Additionally, informal drop-in sessions are being scheduled in multiple locations around Cambridge. Stop by and see us.

· Monday, June 16, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM: Windsor St Health Center Lobby, 119 Windsor St

· Thursday, June 26, 4:00-7:00 PM: Citywide Senior Center, 806 Massachusetts Ave

… more to come

We will also be available at several community events and public meetings over the summer so look for the Community Conversations table at

· Fresh Pond Day: Saturday, May 31, 11:00-3:00 PM

· Eastern Cambridge Kendall Square Open Space Study/Connect Kendall Square Public Meeting: Tuesday, June 3, 5:30-7:30 PM – Kendall Marriot Hotel, 50 Broadway

· Cambridge Bicycle Network Plan Open House: Thursday, June 12, 5:00 PM-8:30 PM – Cambridge Main Library, 449 Broadway

· Kendall Square Farmers Market: Wednesday, June 18, 11:00 AM-1:00 PM – Main Street sidewalk at Kendall Station

· Alewife Public Meeting (City Council Transportation & Public Utilities Committee): Thursday, June 19, 6:00-8:00 PM — Tobin School Lobby, 197 Vassal Lane

… more to come

Coming Soon:

· Over the next couple of weeks we will be setting up a coUrbanize site to continue the conversation online.

Do we want more of this type of building?