Rindge Avenue Community Connectivity

about project

Residents from 362, 364, and 402 Rindge Avenue provide design feedback at a Community Open House held in January, 2024.

The Rindge Avenue community is a residential neighborhood situated in North Cambridge, bounded by Rindge Avenue, Alewife Brook Parkway, the North Cambridge Cemetery, and the Fitchburg Commuter Railroad. Although the neighborhood is in proximity to essential community resources, physical barriers limit convenient access to local natural amenities. The Rindge Avenue community seeks enhanced, safe connections to facilitate easy movement for residents between various locations, accommodating individuals of all ages and mobility levels. In December 2024, Copley Wolff and Nitsch Engineering completed a comprehensive Rindge Connectivity Feasibility Report for the creation of publicly accessible paths and open space improvements within 402, 364, and 362 Rindge Avenue. The study evaluated three primary options for routing paths through the project area, considering their implications for tree conservation, parking space maintenance, and modifications to curbs and drive aisles. Earlier in the year, the CRA joined with City staff to table at the well-attended Fresh Pond Apartments Summer Party on July 25th, which provided an opportunity to inform the community about plans to enhance pedestrian access. In 2024, CRA staff also initiated discussions with both property owners regarding the implementation of the median path proposed in the project’s feasibility study. The project is now poised to advance into the Second Phase of the design process, focusing on progressing the median path through Schematic Design

Project goals

  • Improve a feeling of community and sense of belonging.

  • Empower residents to have a voice in the planning of their community.

  • Make access to local points of interest faster and easier.

  • Make connections safer.

  • Create open space for environmental resilience.

  • Create open space for physical and mental health benefits.

  • Add community amenities like benches, pet friendly areas, and community gardens.

Project Information

  • Project Partners: Just A Start, Schochet Companies, and City of Cambridge

  • Landscape Architect: Copley Wolff

  • Civil Engineering: Nitsch Engineering

  • Year Started: 2020

  • Neighborhood Location: Alewife

Project history

Rindge Avenue community, identified in the image to the left, is a residential neighborhood in North Cambridge, consisting predominantly of permanently affordable housing, positioned between Rindge Avenue, Alewife Brook Parkway, the North Cambridge Cemetery, and the Fitchburg Commuter Railroad. While the neighborhood is geographically close to important community resources, physical barriers restrict convenient, direct access to nearby natural and local amenities. The CRA recognizes that the Rindge Avenue community deserves improved and safer connections that allow residents to move between places easily, at all times of the day, and for people of all ages and mobilities.

To better understand the neighborhood’s existing connectivity conditions and potential opportunities, the CRA contracted with consultants from Gamble Associates, to complete a Rindge Neighborhood Connectivity and Open Space Vision report. The study provided an open space vision, conceptual approach, and near and short-term recommendations to enhance connectivity to and from the neighborhood.

With the preliminary study complete, the CRA has now begun to engage with Rindge neighborhood residents, community groups, and landowners, to discuss the study’s vision, and to understand local connectivity priorities. In the fall of 2021, the CRA collaborated with Gamble Associates to consider further opportunities for connectivity within the Rindge Tower properties, owned by Just-A-Start and The Schochet Companies. Their connectivity ideas were presented to the CRA Board on March 16, 2022, and can be found here.

In the fall of 2023, the CRA has completed its first phase of community feedback through tabling and community survey, which was offered in nine languages and received over 300 responses. The results confirmed resident interest in having the CRA continue to pursue concept design work, and identified that 75% of respondents wanted to see improved connectivity within their neighborhood.

An illustrative site plan of possible multi-use paths that would be added to the southern and eastern edges of the parking lots surrounding 362, 364, and 402 Rindge Avenue. The plan also includes a possible path that would replace the existing fence between properties.

The CRA and Coordinators also conducted focus groups with 362, 364 and 402 Rindge Avenue residents. This provided an opportunity for participants to reflect and comment on the survey results, and to provide more direct design feedback. The CRA conducted one focus group in Amharic and two focus groups in English. In January of 2024, the CRA conducted a Community Open House to further engage with residents, reflect on past input heard, and solicit new feedback.

In December 2024, Copley Wolff and Nitsch Engineering completed a feasibility study assessing the viability of the proposed project. The study encompassed an analysis of the project timeline, site characteristics, land surveys, community input, conceptual designs, cost projections, and recommended subsequent actions. The investigation examined three primary routing alternatives for pedestrian pathways throughout these areas. The primary distinctions among these alternatives pertain to the alignment of the Southern Path and Eastern Abutter Path adjacent to the Brickworks property. Variations in path routing may influence factors such as tree preservation, availability of parking spaces, and modifications to curbs and driveways. Although the study identified these potential challenges, it refrained from selecting a preferred alternative for three of the planning areas pending the advancement of the City of Cambridge’s planning initiatives.

Related city of cambridge projects

The Danehy Park Connector / New Street Path is a proposed multi-use path between Concord Avenue and Danehy Park being developed and built by the City of Cambridge. The goal of the project is to provide community members a safe path to a variety of destinations. The design process will also consider opportunities for landscaping and tree planting, lighting, seating, and public art as part of the pathway project. Path users will enjoy better access to Danehy Park, residential buildings along New Street, Fresh Pond Mall, and to the existing Watertown Greenway multi-use path along Fresh Pond.

Diagram of the project area for the City of Cambridge’s Danehy Park Connector / New Street Path.

Diagram of project area for the City of Cambridge’s MBTA Commuter Rail Line Crossing Feasibility Study.

The City of Cambridge is currently studying the feasibility of creating a pedestrian/bicycle crossing across the MBTA commuter rail line tracks in North Cambridge to better connect the Rindge Avenue residential neighborhood with Danehy Park, retail stores and shopping, and Fresh Pond. The feasibility study includes options for both an underpass and bridge crossings.

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