News

NEW LIFE FOR 500 BLOCK OF RACE STREET?

500 block of Race StreetIn 2012, a fire ravaged 507 Race Street. In 2013, a series of storms severely damaged the Hearn Building at 509-511 Race Street. Both sites have stood vacant since those two devastating events, but the future for the 500 block of Race Street is looking brighter, according the Brandon Hesson, Cambridge Main Street Executive Director.

A development project has its sights set on those two buildings, Hesson announced following a community meeting to discuss the area’s future sponsored by Cambridge Main Street on August 27th in City Council Chambers.

Community members, officials, building owners, and others filled Council chambers; the response to the meeting clearly reflected that “Cambridge still cares about the 500 block of Race Street and wants to ensure it reclaims its prominence in our downtown commercial district,” Hesson said.

Speakers included Dorchester County Councilman Ricky Travers, Historic Cambridge Inc. representative Farrell McCoy, and Gene Tolley, owner of the Tolley Theater at 513 Race Street.

Travers, speaking on behalf of County Council, said the county has yet to seek foreclosure on the Hearn Building. McCoy mentioned that, in addition to the current developer, several others have expressed interest in the sites; however, her organization wanted to ensure that its integrity be integral to any sale or development. Tolley said that he would like to have the theater available once again to the Cambridge downtown community.