[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 112 (Friday, August 3, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




FEDERAL PROPERTY IN CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, TO ADDRESS OPEN SPACE AND 
                        AFFORDABLE HOUSING NEEDS

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                        HON. MICHAEL E. CAPUANO

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, August 2, 2001

  Mr. CAPUANO. Mr. Speaker, I rise to inform the House of my intent to 
introduce legislation aimed at assisting a unique community development 
project in my district. Specifically, when the House convenes following 
the August recess, I plan to introduce the Kendall Square Project 
Redevelopment and Real Property Reconveyance Act of 2001.
  This legislation is critical to the efforts of the Cambridge 
Redevelopment Authority to provide much needed open space and 
affordable housing to the residents of Cambridge, Massachusetts. The 
parcel of land that will be utilized for the project is currently 
federal property, owned by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). 
Known as Parcel 1, the land is home to the John A. Volpe National 
Transportation Systems Center. The Center provides technical analysis, 
research and project management to DOT and other Federal agencies.
  Recently, the General Services Administration has concluded that 
fifty-five percent of the federal land adjacent to the Volpe Center is 
not being utilized and another twenty-eight percent of the land is 
underutilized. The legislation which I will propose directs the DOT to 
reconvey any unused or underutilized Parcel 1 to the Cambridge 
Redevelopment Authority for the development of open space and 
affordable housing. The area proposed for reconveyance represents 5.8 
acres of almost entirely vacant land. DOT will retain the remaining 8.5 
acres of Parcel 1, which has been deemed to be enough land to allow for 
a continuance of current operations at the Volpe Center, as well as 
future expansion of its physical plant to accommodate future growth of 
the facility's operations.
  Make no mistake about it Mr. Speaker, this project is a win/win 
proposition for all parties involved. The federal government reconveys 
unused and underutilized land, while maintaining the integrity of the 
Volpe Center and its operations. The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority 
and the residents of Cambridge, in turn, receive much-needed land to 
address the urgent need for open space and affordable housing. This 
bill will go a long way toward meeting this need and I look forward to 
having the House consider this legislation.

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