Porter Square Neighbors Association

Elaine Severino reports that we have lost a friend in our neighborhood. Long-time Porter Square resident Bob Lewis, of 101 Elm Street in Somerville, died suddenly this past Monday.

A memorial service will be held 2PM Wednesday March 10 at Hancock United Church of Christ, 1912 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington.

Location: Sullivan Square Holiday Inn, 30 Washington Street, Somerville

The U.S. Census will soon be hiring hundreds of people from Cambridge to work as Census Takers. It is work that benefits the community and the pay is $22.00/hour. Work hours are flexible.

Oaktree Development and St. James's Episcopal Church plan to build a 46 unit, 78300 square foot condominium on the combined car wash and church site. The new building would contain a new parish hall for the church, and the project would provide the church with money to maintain their beautiful and historic, but crumbling, church building at the corner of Beech Street and Massachusetts Avenue. Neighbors are deeply concerned about the size of the new building, impact on the neighborhood, and traffic on Beech Street.

Here are letters granting conditional approval from the Cambridge Historical Commission and the Planning Board. Further review of the conditions by the Historical Commission is scheduled for May 6.

Here is a collection of information about the proposal, here are materials from the October Planning Board Special Hearing, and here are updated drawings and a covering letter from the developer, presentated at the December 15 Planning Board review.