Recently, East End House, a single nonprofit, negotiated a $20 million “community benefits” package with developer BioMed Realty through a little-known process called contract zoning. This deal was made with minimal public input and benefits only one organization, while overlooking the broader needs of our community.

The Port neighborhood, home to long-standing residents and vital institutions like Community Art Center, has seen decades of disinvestment, despite being at the center of massive development and sprawl. Community Art Center has served generations of families and employed countless neighborhood youth, yet it still operates without a purpose-built space or building ownership, even after nearly 90 years.

We believe community benefits should be equitably distributed, not quietly awarded behind closed doors. Just as East Cambridge residents organized around underinvestment, We, residents of The Port, know the same is true here.

Gentrification has changed the face of the neighborhood, but we are still here. We need investments in the resources that strengthen our community: child care, housing, community centers, arts & culture, youth programs, and accessible public spaces. By signing this petition, you support equitable investment in The Port, specifically in the Community Art Center, and demand a fairer, more transparent process for allocating community benefits.

*Disclaimer: We will not share personal information and/or emails of any signers to this petition*