The Cambridge Housing Authority on behalf of the City of Cambridge June 23, 2011

Currently vacant, City-owned, former Cambridge Police Headquarters will be preserved and renovated into energy-efficient office and classroom space for use by the Cambridge Housing Authority and a number of City Agencies

5 Western Avenue Built in 1933 originally built as municipal building for City offices, the V.F.W. and the American Legion as well as the Police Department In 2008 the Police Department Headquarters moved to 125 Sixth Street CHA began looking at the feasibility of re-using the site as office space starting in 2009;

` ` ` ` `

CHA put out a RFP for Design Services in May of 2009 Sixteen firms responded; eventually picked FAA, strong ties to Cambridge and similar work Began to think about the CHA move again in 2010; Looked at combining the CHA space with space with City Agencies Late 2010 City Manager proposed the redevelopment of the site by the CHA for CHA and City use to the City Council; City Council approved the proposed plan and funding for redevelopment work

CHA will move their offices from their current location at 675 Mass Ave and 166 Prospect Street to the 5 Western Ave Site Two City Offices operated through the City Department of Human Services; the Cambridge Learning Center; and the Multi-Service Center will also move from current location at 19 Brookline Street; Also will continue to provide records room for Elections Commission

CHA considered an Operating Agency of the City giving wide latitude regarding disposition of City owned property;. CHA has significant development experience
Example: Recently awarded $29 million of ARRA funds resulting in advancement of over $81 million in renovation projects; - Direct Experience in CM at Risk Process (Chapter 149A)

Employee Count:
CHA: 81 full-time staff CLC: 23 full-time staff and 30 part-time teaching staff representing a total of 29 full-time equivalent MSC has 16 full-time staff and 2 part-time representing an equivalent of 17 FTE Total of 126 FTE staff will be re-located

` ` `

CHA currently occupies 22,221 sf CLC and MSC total about 11,562 sf; Total 22,770 SF of Office space will be vacated in Central Square

` ` ` `

CEC MSC CLC CHA

Basement 1st Floor 2nd Floor 3,4,5

919 sq/ft 5,264 sq/ft 14,300 sq/ft 21,440 sq/ft

Seeking Special Permit Located in Business (BA) District; proposed uses allowed within this zoning district:
Local Government offices; Other Government Office Use; Social Service Facilities and Educational uses Proposed uses consistent with zoning;

Slight increase of floor area ratio (FAR) resulting from adding the mezzanine to the fifth floor increases the floor area at the site by 1,822 sq/ft which will increase the FAR from 4.22 to 4.36
Will be seeking relief through the BZA for FAR change

Beacause the site was built prior to 1941 (1933) and is located within the Central Square Overlay District, no relief of on the required number of parking spaces is required. However, a Traffic Impact Study (TIS) was commissioned, submitted and approved by the Citys TP&T

` `

13 parking spaces supplied on site in underground garage along with at least 8 bicycle parking spaces Calculation of 30 peak hour trip which is far below the TPT threshold of 240 daily peak hour trip generation The three agencies currently have a total of 24 spaces. In addition to programs aimed at encouraging use of Public Transportation, ZIP Car and bicyle use encouraged

`
`

` `

Special Permit request Tuesday June 28, 2011 ZBA Hearing during summer 2011 Selection of Construction Management by Aug 1, 2011 Secure Sub-contractors and finalize construction number by October 2011 Begin Construction end of 2011 early 2012 Complete Construction early 2013

Re-Use and restoration of Historic City-Owned Property Reinforces role of Central Square as hub of City Activities Conversion of City Building to energy efficient structure at a LEED-Gold Standard Provides long term stabile office location for the CHA and City Agencies

CHA Contacts: John Woods- 617-520-6254 jwoods@cambridge-housing.org Kyle Sullivan- 617-520-6239 ksullivan@cambridge-housing.org

` `

` `