A parking lot with capacity for 1000 cars may be constructed under the Cambridge Common, according to an order passed last week by the Cambridge City Council.
The proposal, sponsored by Council-man A1 Vellucci, requests that the Cambridge City Manager confer with local, state, and University officials on the feasibility of the resolution. Vellucci hoped that even federal funds might be available for the project, since the under ground garage could also serve as an air raid shelter.
Vellucci said last night that although the projected lot "would be a help, something has got to be done now." To this end, Vellucci will make two more proposals at today's Council meeting, requiring the registration of all cars and bicycles in the Cambridge area with the City Hall.
Cars Would Be Towed
If the resolutions pass, all cars parked overnight in Cambridge will be towed unless they belong to a resident of the City and have been registered with the City. Theoretically, this would mean that any student desiring to park overnight on local streets would have to establish legal residence in Cambridge.
Vellucci's second proposal would order the immediate confiscation of all bicycles not bearing the registration certificates already required by City ordinance. The certificates, costing 25 cents, are missing from over 500 bicycles in the Harvard Radcliffe area, according to an estimate by Vellucci.
On the other side, Councilor Charles A. Watson said "The whole problem has been overemphasized. Harvard parking is not an inconvenience to Cambridge citizens. The trouble arises from short narrow streets where parking is a hazard in bad weather, and Harvard has done an effective job on keeping those streets clear."
Read more in News
Beacon Hill Ends Session Tonight