Cambridge Planning Board unanimously approves Porter Square lab conversion permit

CAMBRIDGE — February 27, 2024 — Cambridge Planning Board approves adaptive reuse of vacant Porter Square office building as lab space. The board voted 6-0 at its February 27 meeting to grant a special permit to KS Partners LLC for the conversion of 815 Somerville Avenue, a 27,824-square-foot building formerly occupied by Lesley University, into incubator-style laboratory space targeting up to three life science tenants. Acting Chair Tom Sinevich, filling in as vice chair, noted five of six present members were required to approve. Legal counsel Johanna Schneider confirmed the applicant wished to proceed. The permit under Section 19.51.2 was required because rooftop mechanical screening and ground-floor transparency standards could not be fully met in the existing structure; on-site parking will drop from 18 spaces to five given the site's proximity to Porter Square MBTA station. Board members pressed the applicant on the building's existing black roof membrane, a transformer vault enclosure visible to commuters exiting Porter Square station, and the feasibility of street trees above congested underground utilities — all items flagged for continuing staff design review before construction permits are issued.