The Cambridge Kiosk Advisory Committee convened its first public meeting on Tuesday to deliberate on the future of the Harvard Square Kiosk, which is slated to reopen next month.
The Kiosk has remained vacant since the closure of newsstand Out of Town News in 2019, marking the end of a 36-year era.
Before that, for 56 years, the Kiosk served as the entrance to the Harvard stop on the Red Line.
Leading the advisory committee, Daniel Wolf, a senior planner in Cambridge’s Community Development Department, is joined by nine local leaders and residents charged with making recommendations to City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 on the Kiosk’s operation and programming.
During the meeting, committee members were introduced to the physical design and layout of the newly renovated Kiosk.
Upon opening, the Kiosk will only allow pedestrian access through the front entrance, which faces popular local spots like the Harvard Coop and Joe’s Pizza.
Construction on the surrounding plaza area is ongoing and will prevent access to many parts of the back side of the Kiosk until the expected completion in the fall of 2026.
The renovation is set to preserve many original features of the Kiosk, while also introducing new elements like a flatter plaza with steps and bleacher-style seating.
The Kiosk will now feature large, opening windows, inviting students, residents, and tourists to see the various programming happening within.
The city began preliminary meetings in 2017 to gather public input for a new Kiosk in anticipation of Out of Town News’ closure.
Initial renovations were delayed by the Covid-19 pandemic, but construction has been underway since 2021.
In a shift in role, CultureHouse, a Somerville-based organization known for revitalizing unused spaces, will oversee day-to-day programming during the initial months following the Kiosk’s reopening, as they approach the end of a two-year contract with the City of Cambridge.
During the meeting, committee members shared various visions for the Kiosk’s future, many aligning with previously outlined goals and themes by the working group.
Members expressed their aspirations for the Kiosk to evolve into a welcoming and engaging community space for all.
“The vision was for the Kiosk and Plaza to be flexible, dynamic, and welcoming community assets that enhance the everyday life of Harvard Square, act as platforms for community gatherings — including civic, artistic, and social activities — and attract and serve a broad range of people,” Wolf stated.
Committee members proposed ideas for the space, such as converting the Kiosk into a venue for art galleries, stand-up comedy shows, voter registration, newsstands, and services for unhoused residents.
Additionally, the Cambridge Visitor Information Center, which is operated by the Cambridge Office of Tourism, will also return to the Kiosk.
Several committee members voiced their concern about preserving the Kiosk’s historical significance in the Square.
“If you’re a Harvard undergrad right now, there is nothing that will tell you that that was ever a newsstand,” remarked committee member Ed Rodley, a longtime Cambridge resident and co-founder and principal of The Experience Alchemists.
“Its sense of place has been decontextualized in its current form — it’s just a big, empty room,” Rodley added.
Rodley and other members stressed the importance of avoiding over-programming the space, which would allow it to serve as an open gathering space for everyone.
“When we thought about things that give you an opportunity to just hang out and you don’t have to actually consume anything, there are not a lot of those kinds of opportunities,” Rodley said.
The committee’s hope is that “the Kiosk remains a vibrant cultural and community space” for years to come, concluded Wolf.
—Staff writer Jaya N. Karamcheti can be reached at [email protected].
image source from：https://www.thecrimson.com/article/2025/4/17/Cambridge-Kiosk-Committee/
