kendall square Stewardship
The CRA is dedicated to the strategic planning and development of Kendall Square. Our commitment involves overseeing significant projects, partnerships, and initiatives within the Kendall Square Urban Redevelopment Plan (KSURP) and the Mixed-Use District (MXD) zoning district, which shape the area's dynamic future.
Kendall Square has become the heart of Massachusetts's innovation economy, but it hasn't always been this way. The district has transformed from a declining industrial area into the vibrant neighborhood it is today by combining office, lab, retail, restaurants, and homes in a compact area. In the 1960s, the CRA and the City of Cambridge drafted an urban renewal program to revitalize the area and established a modern job center in East Cambridge after winning a bid to house the NASA Electronics Research Center. When that program shuttered, the CRA pivoted to a mixed-use plan for private development, branded Cambridge Center.
While the initial Cambridge Center concept was built as a dense automobile-oriented office park, the past 20 years have provided an opportunity to progress the initial redevelopment towards sustainable urban design standards. Recently the CRA has helped growth in Kendall Square with numerous infill developments, and supported community enhancements to open space, transportation, and economic opportunities throughout the district.
our Projects in Kendall Square
Our Role In Kendall Square
Housing
The CRA has made housing a top priority for new developments in Kendall Square. The Proto building at 88 Ames Street was the first big victory in adding residences within Kendall Square, and the CRA advocated for the inclusion of over 400 rental units as part of the new building at 121 Broadway. The CRA has also committed to building 20,000 square feet of affordable homeownership space throughout the city due to development in Kendall Square.
Economic Growth
An estimated 9,500–12,000 people work within the boundaries of the MXD area that is stewarded by the CRA. To accompany this growth, the CRA mandated the inclusion of 125,200 square feet dedicated to innovation space for smaller companies and organizations. 25% of the innovation space is specifically designated as below-market-rate to ensure Kendall Square remains home to businesses of all sizes.
Transportation
Quality transit has been key to Kendall Square’s success. The area is anchored by the Kendall T station on the Red Line, but is also served by many different public and private transit options. One of the newest improvements is new midday and weekend service on the area’s fare-free EZRide shuttle, which was accomplished through the efforts of the CRA’s Kendall Square Transit Enhancement Program (KSTEP).
Open Space
The CRA is committed to quality open spaces in Kendall Square. The CRA owns and manages multiple open spaces including Grand Junction Park, Parcel 6 located at Third and Binney Street, and Galaxy Park. Many developments in Kendall Square incorporated open space due to the CRA’s design review process, and the CRA also created neighborhood-wide “Open to All” signage to identify publicly open private spaces, often referred to as POPs.
CRA Projects in Kendall Square
OUR GOVERNING DOCUMENTS IN KENDALL Square
A redevelopment authority is a specific type of government agency that is granted powers under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 121B. These powers allow authorities to redevelop areas deemed “blighted” (in continual disrepair, deterioration, and/or neglect). Using these tools, the CRA acquired land, relocated businesses and roadways, demolished buildings, and made public infrastructure improvements to stimulate economic development and private investment.
infill development concept plan
The Infill Concept Development Plan, or IDCP, is an updated planning document for the district coordinated by the CRA and the City of Cambridge. It serves as a binding guide for new construction and related improvements to the KSURP. The plan details density distribution, urban design, circulation, and open space qualities of new development in the MXD District. The CRA enforces the mandates set forth in the IDCP as development projects move forward in the district.
The IDCP continues to evolve as desire for more development in Kendall Square grows, with the latest amended version approved in October 2025.
recent idcp Documents
recent Projects FRom the idcp
Kendall Square Urban Renewal Plan
The KSURP was actually the second urban renewal plan by the CRA in Kendall Square. The Rogers Block was the earliest plan that cleared land that eventually became Technology Square. The KSURP followed in the 1960s and allowed the CRA to transform 42 acres of land into suitable space for dense urban development, and set the framework for the CRA’s work today.
Mapping Kendall Square’s Growth
Explore Kendall Square's development history and see what is planned for the future! The Interactive Kendall Square Development Map illustrates the growth and evolution of Kendall Square since 1980, when the redevelopment of the KSURP Area restarted under the MXD zoning created by the first amendment of the urban renewal plan.
About the Map
The map visualizes development in Kendall Square from 1980-2025 in five to ten year increments. Each time period displays the latest year, with the option to toggle through individual years. The line chart for each time period displays changes in land use by gross square footage of the buildings aggregated per year. Year-by-year changes can be seen over time, as buildings become visible when constructed and disappear when demolished. The “Planned” land use category denotes buildings planned for construction soon. Click on a building to see more information, including the building’s address, land use, gross floor area (GFA), and year built.
CRA History in Kendall Square
