Kendall Square: MXD Substation Development Plan Community

Kendall Square: MXD Substation Development Plan

Kendall square looking towards an office building — Introducing
Kendall Square MXD Substation Plan

Project location

Cambridge, MA

Project phase

Construction

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Project Background

In response to a call from the City Manager and in consultation with the City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA), Boston Properties (BXP) proposed an alternative site for the Eversource substation, on the site of the Blue Garage in Parcel Two of the Kendall Square Urban Redevelopment Plan (KSURP), located between Binney Street, Galileo Galilei Way, and Broadway.

On February 3rd, 2021, the Cambridge City Council voted unanimously to approve the MXD Substation Project's Article 14 Zoning and KSURP Amendment 11. After zoning approval, an amendment to the MXD's Infill Development Concept Plan (master plan) was approved in December of 2021. Building design review was completed in April 2022, and the DRDAP process for 290 Binney and 121 Broadway concluded at the end of 2023. Demolition and site clearing activities began in January 2023, and foundation work in April. Construction is ongoing on 290 Binney, the Eversource Substation, and 121 Broadway, with completion dates ranging from Spring 2026 - late 2027. Review of the proposed Center Plaza open space will be ongoing through the end of 2024.

The renovation of Danny Lewin Park was completed in September 2024.

office buildings — Project DETAILS

The project includes:

**Providing a site for the substation and needed distribution infrastructure**
**Burying the substation underground**
**Demolishing and reconstructing the Blue Garage below grade**
**Completing 420,000 SF of housing on Parcel Two, with 25% below-market-rate housing**
**Constructing two new ~400,000 SF commercial buildings**
**Creating new open space and circulation connections**

What Was There

The Blue Garage at 290 Binney was approximately 300,000 SF and provided 1,136 parking spaces for Kendall Square visitors and employees. Demolition of the Garage began in January 2023, and was completed at the end of March.

What is Coming Next

Slurry wall and foundation activities concluded in the middle of 2024, and vertical construction is underway. Utility and enabling work will continue in Binney and Broadway through 2025 as well. Please refer to the site plan in the project images for information on roadway impacts.

In October 2024, BXP kicked off the permitting process for a Phase 4 development alternative, which would provide the option to shift approximately 145,000 sf of approved development rights from 250 Binney to 105 Broadway. Public meetings will be held throughout the fall and winter of 2024 to study this proposal.