Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association names four people to its seven-seat Board of Directors. Elected on February 24 were (starting at 3rd from left) Elizabeth Torrey, Drew Phelps, Cathie Zusy, and Leslie Greis. With them are Marco Werman, Treasurer (left); Bill August, President (2nd from left); and Carolyn Shipley,* Secretary (right).

The Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association (formerly Dana Park Neighborhood Association) had a full house and a full agenda, including election of officers, at its Annual Meeting this week. In all some 32 local residents plus about a dozen presenters and non-residents were at the event in the community room of the Woodrow Wilson Court apartments at the corner of Fairmont and Magazine Streets.

Election: Incumbents carried the day; Elizabeth Torrey, Drew Phelps and Leslie Greis are current board members, and Cathie Zusy had served previously. Elections will take place next year for the three seats now held by Bill August, Carolyn Shipley, and Marco Werman.

Western Avenue Reconstruction: Transportation Planner Jeff Rosenblum of the Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD) said conceptual planning is currently under way for the project. This phase will end in June, when the engineering design phase begins. Construction is expected to begin in summer of 2011. The project includes the stretch of Western Avenue from the Charles River to Central Square, with actual reconstruction ending at the intersection of Western Avenue and Franklin Street; conditions between that point and Central Square will be reviewed in terms of the interface between the reconstructed roadway and the square. The reconstruction will include sub-surface features such as sewer and other utility connections; the 1870s-era brick-lined sewers will be replaced. The reconstruction also includes surface features such as plantings, lights, green space, and other factors that affect traffic, businesses, neighborhoods and residences.

Public input is critically important during this early conceptual stage, Rosenblum said. He urged people to send him their comments and suggestions as soon as possible, since new ideas cannot realistically be incorporated once the engineering design phase begins. He can be contacted at jrosenblum@ambridgema.gov, or at (617)349-4615. An opinion survey is on line at www.westernavenue.info. The project’s municipal website is http://www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/et/infra/western/index.html.

Facilities for the Aging: CDD Planner Elaine Thorne and Roger Boothe, Director of Urban Design, discussed possibilities for improved physical design and services that would help make the community more livable for seniors. Improvements were considered in terms of Land Use and Zoning (including restrictions on accessory apartments), Open Space Design, Transportation, Housing, Economic Development, and accessibility of supermarkets.

Concerns were voiced from the floor about the need for a community center, better sidewalk maintenance, and improved bus service, particularly with respect to the #47 bus.

An on-line questionnaire for input into this planning process is at www.cambridgema.gov/Aginginthecambridgecommunity. Elaine Thorne can be contacted at 617-349-4648 or by email at ethorne@cambridgema.gov.

Charles River riverfront: CDD Project Planner Iram Ifarooq and Roger Boothe presented an overview of projected improvements for Cambridge's extensive riverfront. There was special attention to the ideas under consideration for the stretch from the BU bridge to the Western Avenue Bridge, including Magazine Beach and the access to the river at the end of Magazine Street. The website for the program is at http://www.cambridgema.gov/~CDD/cp/zng/charles/index.html. Ifarooq can be reached at ifarooq@cambridgema.gov or at 617/349-4606.

CCTV: Nilagia McCoy, Coordinator of Membership, Outreach and Promotions at CCTV, spoke about communications opportunities available at CCTV, located at 675 Massachusetts Avenue. On April 13 CCTV will present “From the Net to Your Neighborhood,” a panel discussion about how local citizens can learn to use the Internet to promote community connection and civic engagement. Details and registration information are available at http://www.cctvcambridge.org/Net_to_Neighborhood_Event.

Other: Concern was expressed about a report of gunfire heard in the vicinity of Pleasant Street on February 23.

Information and updates about the Cambridgeport Neighborhood Association can be accessed by signing up for the organization's listserv at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cportneighbors.
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* Thanks to Carolyn Shipley for assistance with this report.
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