Cambridge committee hears owners, staff on causes and limits to tackling long-term vacant storefronts

At a June meeting of the Cambridge City Council's Economic Development and University Relations Committee, city staff, property owners and residents discussed why dozens of commercial storefronts remain vacant for years and what the city can and cannot do to speed re-occupancy.

The meeting focused on a list of 23 long-term vacant properties the council asked staff to track under Policy Order 2025-49. City staff said they will soon send certified letters under a newly adopted vacant-storefront policy and described existing programs intended to help tenants and property owners bring spaces up to code.

"We are actually in the process of updating all our vacant storefront database," said Parecis Safari, Economic Development staff, and added the goal is "within the next month or so to actually start sending those certified letters with a new policy to vacant storefront property owners." Allison Allen, Senior Manager of Economic Development, said staff also runs outreach and technical-assistance programs and has hosted workshops on leasing and preparation for entrepreneurs.

Property owners and residents described a mix of obstacles. A property owner who identified herself as Tan (who said she owns 1906 Massachusetts Avenue with family) told the committee the building has been vacant since April 2019 and that COVID, construction delays and required fire-system upgrades have slowed efforts to secure a new tenant. "We also struggle…