MG Harvard Square

Mt. Auburn Cemetery built in 1831 marked a departure from the usual typology of graveyards such as the Old Burial Ground built 1635. While the 2-acre Old Burial Ground is located in the urban heart of Cambridge adjacent to Harvard University, the 174 acre Mt. Auburn is set in a vast landscape of lush vegetation with classical monuments throughout the diverse terrain.  Established at the dawn of colonial settlement in the area, the Old Burial Ground was in operation for over two centuries before the church and state were legally separated in 1883. The bind of religion and government permeated the influence of the church into the beliefs and lifestyle of the citizenry. Christ Church and the First Parish Church border the historic graveyard, denoting the religious affiliation of the Old Burial Ground.    https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/old-burial-ground The tombstone above of Walter Hasting who died in 1699 holds an engraving of a winged skull and reveals the Puritan per...

  https://historycambridge.org/Cambridge-Revolution/Vassall%20House.html The Henry Vassall House, built in 1746, exuded aristocratic grandeur as the residence of Henry and Penelope Vassall. Henry died in 1769, but his wife Penelope left with many other prominent families of Tory row as the insurgent mood in Cambridge reached its height. Upon seizure by the Committee of Correspondence, the Vassal residence was converted into the central hospital for the Continental Army during the Siege of Boston. Dr. Benjamin Church, a leader of the Massachusetts Whigs and a representative from Boston to the Massachusetts legislature was unanimously chosen to act as the Surgeon-General of the American army. Dr. Church spent most of his time at the hospital that had once belonged to Henry and Penelope Vassall. Its proximity to George Washington's headquarters (Longfellow House) and the political developments of Cambridge meant that Church was privy to sensitive information of the American forces. Ch...

  https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harvard_Square_Hopkins_Map_1873.jpg The map above shows Harvard Square in 1873, a period of growing prosperity nearly a decade after the end of the Civil War. Almost all vacant lots were occupied as the University's growing population converged with the proliferation of student-oriented businesses such as restaurants, tailors, billiard halls, and retailers. Harvard University's changing identity and evolution have undoubtedly shaped Harvard Square and the local community. Both the map above and below illustrate the plethora of small businesses that have provided goods and services to the students, faculty, and visitors of the university. The dynamics of the student population throughout the years have dictated the make-up of the businesses present in the square. Many Harvard affiliated individuals both as renters and property owners have contributed to the growing price of rents and the consequent difficulties for small businesses to su...

Topic 1: Cambridge Housing  A potential final project could explore the housing landscape of Harvard Square and the surrounding Cambridge area with the intention of proposing a residential development. The existing stock of residential buildings, the absorption level, the pipeline of future developments, as well as input from residents, the historic commission, and local businesses could provide insight into the current housing climate. Based on this investigation, I could select an appropriate use for a property to be acquired and redeveloped. I have identified 1670 Massachusetts Ave. as a potential redevelopment project with a land area of 5,750 square feet and a floor area ratio zoning ordinance of 1.51. My initial proposal is to turn the retail space into a multifamily residential building that provides greater selection for the many graduate students and faculty that struggle to find accommodations close to Harvard. From my preliminary research on the zoning of the property, I...