Porter Square

Coordinates: 42°23′19″N 71°07′10″W / 42.3886°N 71.1194°W / 42.3886; -71.1194

Porter Square is a neighborhood in Cambridge and Somerville, Massachusetts in the USA, located around the intersection of Massachusetts Avenue and Somerville Avenue, between Harvard and Davis Squares. The Porter Square station serves both the MBTA Red Line and the Commuter Rail Fitchburg Line. A major part of the Lesley University campus is located within the Porter Square area.

In 2004-06 the principal intersection, including the area adjacent to the shopping center, underwent extensive construction to both improve access for vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and mass transit users, and improve drainage and storm water conditions. The artist Toshihiro Katayama^[1] of Harvard University, in conjunction with the landscape architect Cynthia Smith,^[2] designed a new visual look for the new circulation design including contrasting light and dark concrete paving, stone walls and boulders.^[3]

History

The Rand Estate, on site of what is now Porter Square Shopping Center, circa 1900, or earlier

Porter Square was named for the now-vanished Porter's Hotel, operated by Zachariah B. Porter, who also left his name to the hotel's specialty, the cut of steak known as porterhouse. The hotel was demolished in 1909.^[4] The square, formerly flanked by cattle yards that used the Porter rail head to transport their beef throughout the US, was an important center for commerce and light industry as early as the late 18th century. A tunnel for moving cattle to and from the railroad without interfering with street traffic, known as the Walden Street Cattle Pass, was built in 1857. The tunnel survives under the nearby Walden Street Bridge, and recently, in 2007–08, was preserved and restored. The "most dramatic loss" of 19th century landscape in the square was the leveling of the old Rand Estate in 1952 to make way for the Porter Square Shopping Center.^[4]

In 1984 the Red Line was extended from Harvard through Porter and Davis Square to its present terminus at Alewife, a project that also left Porter with its most visible landmark, Susumu Shingu's^[5] 46-foot painted steel and aluminum kinetic sculpture entitled Gift of the Wind. Porter Square railroad history is covered in greater detail in the Porter Square station article.

Lesley University

Workers prepare to relocate the North Prospect Church, future home of Lesley University's College of Art and Design

Lesley University continues to expand in the Porter Square neighborhood, with construction underway to relocate its College of Art and Design to the North Prospect Church and a new building that will be built on the church's former site at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Roseland Street.^[6]

In addition to University Hall at 1815 Massachusetts Avenue and the Lunder Arts Center being constructed at 1801 Massachusetts Avenue, Lesley also has administrative offices at 815 Somerville Avenue and parking areas across Massachusetts Avenue from University Hall.^[7]

Chronic homelessness

The presence of chronically homeless individuals has persisted in recent years in the Porter Square area. Aware of this issue, designers of the Square's 2004 redevelopment intentionally limited the amount of public seating available because of controversy and fear of providing the homeless with a place to rest.^[8] However, some have found shelter inside the route 83 bus shelter at Porter Square Station, partially inhibiting its intended use.^[9] Another homeless individual, who was on the commuter rail tracks in 2007, was struck and killed by an MBTA train.^[10] In its Annual Crime Reports, the Cambridge Police Department has repeatedly named Porter Square as one of the city's "hotspots" of homeless activity, noting that it has been a "constant hang out for homeless people to gather and in some cases, to sleep."^[11][12][13]

Shopping

Porter Square Shopping Center

Porter Square Shopping Center, 2009

The Porter Square Shopping Center consists of two buildings and a parking lot. As of December 2012, it is home to the following stores & eateries:

Porter Square Galleria

Adjacent to the Porter Square Shopping Center is a small mall called the Porter Square Galleria. In recent years it has lost several large tenants.^[14][15][16] It is currently home to:

The Shops at Porter and local "Japantown"

University Hall

A prominent feature of the Porter Square skyline is the tower on the Art Deco-style building located at 1815 Massachusetts Avenue. The building, now known as University Hall, was originally a Sears, Roebuck store from 1928 to 1985. In 1991, Lesley University began leasing classroom space there, and in 1994 the university bought the building, which now houses its Graduate School of Education, bookstore, administrative offices, art and dance studios, and classrooms.^[17]

Porter Square and The Shops at Porter have a recent history of being a center for Boston's Japanese community. In May 2009, Lesley University ousted Kotobukiya, a Japanese grocery store, from The Shops at Porter, after 20 years in business there. Lesley wanted the space to expand its bookstore.^[18][19][20]

As of August 2011, The Shops at Porter is home to many Japanese eateries and businesses. Bluefin and Tavern on the Square are full-size restaurants, Tapicha is a kiosk with no seating, and the other eateries are located in a food court-like area with limited seating.

Other restaurants

Other restaurants in the area include:

References

External links

• Description of Porter Square design project from Cambridge Arts Council
• PSNA Porter Square Neighbors Association