Porter Square Neighbors Association

Location: North Cambridge Senior Center, 2050 Massachusetts Avenue

Revised parking plan for Kaya Hotel

The Kaya hotel project wants to change their underground parking plan to use valet parking, mechanical stackers and tandem parking to reduce the footprint of the garage, the amount of excavation, the cost and the length of the construction schedule without reducing the number of spaces provided.

Neighbors and the Cambridge Traffic Parking and Transportation department have expressed concerns over reliance on 100% valet parking, possible backup onto Massachusetts Avenue at peak times, and conflict with other activities such as taxi pickup and dropoff. As a result of these concerns, the planning board has continued their hearing to a later date to be determined.

Architect Michael McKee has agreed to present the revised plan to us, answer questions, and participate in a discussion. His summary is below.

St. James / Oaktree condominium update

Susan Hunziker will give an informal status report.

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Summary from architect Michael McKee

We are relooking at the basement layout to try to allow some additional flexibility that would allow us to move away from the term 100% valet and convince them that the stackers are reliable and successfully used all over the place. The following is a descriptive summary of what we are proposing...

"The parking garage planned for 1924 Massachusetts Avenue contains 40 spaces, as approved by the Planning Board in November of 2008. At the time, a Special Permit was granted to allow for valet parking, which allowed us to provide 5 spaces beyond the 35 spaces required by the ordinance. We are proposing a redesign of the garage level that introduces mechanical parking aids, termed 'stackers', that would allow us to reduce the footprint of the garage, reducing the amount of excavation, the cost and the length of the construction schedule, without reducing the number of spaces provided. The introduction of the stackers will require valet parking at peak use times in order to achieve the target of 40 spaces. While the stackers are used successfully throughout Boston, and many other cities, they have never been used in Cambridge. We are currently working with the Traffic and Parking Department to address their concerns about the use of the stackers and the impact of valet parking on the functioning of our driveway.

Please note that all proposed changes would take place below grade. No significant changes are proposed to the park or the building that you see from the street or surrounding neighborhood.

Here is a page for one of the manufacturers of a 'stacker'. It also contains a video of the 'stacker' being operated. Click here or see the attachment for a PDF file of local installations of the stackers.