Central Square Demonstration Plan
The CRA has prepared a Demonstration Project Plan (Demonstration Plan) to facilitate new investments in cultural facilities, mixed-income housing, and community-oriented commercial spaces in Central Square. The Demonstration Plan is an implementation tool to enable the CRA to undertake social purpose real estate projects in close coordination with the City and Central Square BID that will support the stabilization of Central Square and its Cultural District. Techniques enabled by the Demonstration Plan include acquiring interest in property, disposing of property via leases and development agreements, and investing in capital improvements for buildings and public spaces.
To learn more about the CRA’s work to protect Central Square as a cultural district, please see the CRA’s October 22, 2025 staff memo to the CRA Board.
project updates
Between December 2025 and April 2026, the CRA met with various stakeholders to better understand the needs of Central Square and identify techniques for the preservation and revitalization of a cultural district.
CRA staff presented an update on the project to the CRA Board on January 21, 2026.
A first draft of the Demonstration Plan was released on May 5, 2026.
The CRA Board approved the adoption of the Demonstration Plan on May 20, 2026. Read the final Plan here.
What’s Next?
CRA staff will work to create an Action Plan highlighting CRA activities that are ongoing and will be planned for the coming year in support of the Demonstration Plan’s goals, targeting a release in Fall 2026. Stay tuned!
events
The CRA hosted a second Open House at the Street Theory Collective on Tuesday, May 5th, from 5:30-7:30 PM to share a preview of the first draft of the plan.
The CRA hosted an Open House at the Street Theory Collective (541 Mass Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139) on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 to collect initial feedback and input into the plan’s goals, tools, and boundaries.
View the event boards here.
frequently asked questions
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A Demonstration Project Plan, which we refer to as a Demonstration Plan, is a document that once adopted allows redevelopment agencies to test innovative public policies within a designated area. This is a mechanism available to urban renewal agencies under state law (MGL c.121B §46 (f)). The CRA previously prepared a Demonstration Project Plan for The Foundry in 2014.
The Demonstration Plan will allow the CRA to develop, test, and report methods and techniques to achieve community identified goals for Central Square by facilitating real estate activities that would not otherwise advance. These activities include, but are not limited to:
Property acquisition
Building and property leases
Development and disposition agreements
Technical assistance to nonprofit property owners
Capital improvement loans
Real estate holding cost support
The CRA's focus shall be open, vacant or underutilized land, structures in need of repair and rehabilitation, and properties uniquely suited to support cultural activities, social services and community-based economic opportunities. In pursuing these real estate activities, the CRA plans to work with other partners including nonprofit organizations, the City of Cambridge, the Business Improvement District, developers, property owners, and small businesses. Ongoing engagement for the Demonstration Plan will continue to shape the final list of activities.
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Various documents and plans for Cambridge and Central Square have highlighted the need to take action around cultural preservation, commercial vitality, and mixed-income housing that are integral to Central Square’s identity and history as a designated Cultural District. For example, in 2021, the City Council issued Policy Order 258 requesting the CRA’s participation in advancing City goals for Central Square, specifically directing the support of the creation and protection of cultural and human service spaces. The Central Square BID Strategic Action Plan (2024) and City of Cambridge Post-Pandemic Commercial District Study (2025) also highlighted needs and goals to fill vacant storefronts in the district. Additionally, the Central Square City Lots Study sought to create partnerships between the City and the CRA in redeveloping city-owned, under-utilized properties.
The Demonstration Plan will enable the CRA to utilize its capabilities and initiate real estate activities and processes that work to realize these goals and support cultural institutions, housing development, and local businesses in Central Square.
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In defining boundaries for the Plan, the CRA is examining current prescribed boundaries for Central Square including the CDD Commercial District, City Lots Study parcels, Central Square BID boundaries, current zoning overlay, and proposed rezoning boundaries. Ongoing engagement will also shape the final boundaries.
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Cultural Districts are areas with a density of cultural facilities, activities, and assets and designated by the Mass Cultural Council. Central Square became a Designated Cultural District in October 2012.
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The Central Square Demonstration Plan is an implementation tool to build off of existing goals from previously completed plans for Central Square including C2, the Central Square City Lots Study, and the Central Square BID Strategic Action Plan. The Demonstration Plan will focus on identifying techniques that the CRA can utilize to realize the goals previously identified in these plans as they pertain to cultural preservation, mixed-income housing, and commercial vitality. While technically fashioned as a “Plan”, the Demonstration Plan in this way functions more as a playbook of actions the CRA can pursue in conjunction with local partners under the authority of state law (MGL c.121B §46 (f)).
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The final Demonstration Plan document will outline this process for participating in any resulting new programs. If your non-profit organization is interested in existing funding support from the CRA, please refer to the Forward Fund page.
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The Central Square Demonstration Plan being advanced by the CRA is a separate process from the rezoning of Central Square being studied by the City of Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD). The CRA does not have zoning powers over Central Square and nothing in the Demonstration Plan will modify the zoning of Central Square. However, policies that may result from any finalized rezoning for Central Square could work in tandem with the tools identified within the Demonstration Plan to support goals for cultural preservation, mixed-income housing, and commercial vitality through mixed use development.
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The Central Square Demonstration Plan will not empower eminent domain takings by the CRA for redevelopment projects. It is the goal of the CRA to work with interested owners to make improvements to their property or consider pursuing redevelopment opportunities facilitated by the CRA.
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Please sign up for our email list above or through this link to receive updates on the project.
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Year Started:
2025
Neighborhood location:
Central Square -
Chelsey Gao, cgao@cambridgeredevelopment.org, ext 25
Jonathan Williams, jwilliams@cambridgeredevelopment.org, ext 21
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