Council OKs city, education budgets, with some decrying school funding hysteria
The city’s $473 million budget was adopted Monday, along with its largest single component: A $151 million schools budget made controversial when four city councillors voted to keep it in committee for further questioning of district officials.
CHA never sought help before child mental health cuts, says councillor rallying opposition (corrected)
Cambridge Health Alliance goes into Friday’s hearing on a plan to cut mental health services for children and teens with a new batch of opponents: the City Council, which voted Monday to send a letter protesting the plan to the institutions leaders.
Foundry building gets $40,000 for study after months of resident, council pleas
The empty Foundry building is getting a $40,000 study that could be done by the end of May to show what is needed to start its reuse by business startups or nonprofit organizations needing cheap space in East Cambridge.
School Committee’s McGovern aims for council seat in November
Eight-year School Committee member Marc McGovern held his officials candidacy for City Council at a Tuesday night party at Tavern on the Square in Central Square.
MIT gets its zoning to remake Kendall Square (updated)
The City Council approved zoning 7 to 2 on Monday that had been requested by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to remake 26 acres in Kendall Square, including about 1 million square feet of commercial space, 800,000 square feet of academic space, 65,000 square feet of retail and more than 300 units of housing.
MIT’s plan in Kendall doesn’t live up to MIT work overseas, sustainability expert says
Noting the city’s upcoming Earth Day announcement of sustainability goals and MIT’s literally groundbreaking work overseas, professor John D. Spengler says he doesn’t understand why MIT wasn’t thinking more boldly – and using its own ideas – in remaking 26 acres in Kendall Square.
MIT sweetens the deal as Kendall Square vote nears
As a zoning vote nears, Massachusetts Institute of Technology officials have offers to the city: among other things, doubling the amount of proposed “innovation space” for startup firms, hiking affordable housing to a proposed 18 percent of units from 15 percent and turning over a decaying parking lot in Area IV to someone who will use it.
Zoning proposal for new Central Square could go to council within four months
The zoning proposal remaking Central Square with taller buildings, more people and a modified mix of public spaces and businesses could be presented “prior to the summer meeting” of the City Council, giving the start of a likely zoning battle a roughly four-month window.
Councillors cast doubts as Kendall Square petition counts down (corrected)
At least three city councillors cast doubt Friday that they could vote for a Kendall Square rezoning petition April 8.
MIT plan for Kendall Square gets roundtable
The City Council plans a roundtable meeting from 9:30 a.m. to noon Friday to look over the plans for Kendall Square proposed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The meeting should be watchable here or on the website of The Tech, but not via city media.
