Cambridge & Somerville Real Estate Blog

If you are considering buying or selling a home near Harvard University, I would be delighted to be of assistance. I am a Harvard graduate, Cambridge resident and a top broker in Cambridge since 1999. I can be reached at ccherney@hammondre.com or at 617-733-8937. Over the last ten years I have greatly enjoyed assisting Harvard professors, Harvard students and fellow Harvard alums with buying and selling in Cambridge. I have enjoyed working with Harvardians… more

The majority of residential streets in Cambridge and Somerville are marked Parking by Permit Only, thereby limiting parking to residents of each town. Please note that these parking restrictions are not in effect on Sundays. This makes it much easier for open house visitors from out of town to park near properties they are visiting. Many of my buyer clients over the years have preferred to meet me at Hammond Real Estate in Harvard Square so… more

Cambridge Local First is an organization of 250+ locally-owned independent businesses in the city of Cambridge which have banded together to promote and support Cambridge. To browse through the Cambridge Local First market directory is to be reminded of the many wonderful independent businesses to be found in Cambridge. For example, the Seven Stars Bookstore on Massachusetts Avenue in Central Square is the kind of place that makes Cambridge special. Usually you will find Phillip… more

Hammond Real Estate is located directly behind the Brattle Movie Theatre in Harvard Square. Since my Freshman year at Harvard, I have enjoyed seeing movies at the Brattle Movie Theatre. I can still remember the first film I saw there – I Know Where I’m Going. It remains one of my favorite films to this day. I feel fortunate to have met this movie and so many others on Brattle’s screen rather than on… more

The other great place to see a movie in Cambridge is at the Harvard Film Archive, located in the Carpenter Center. “This, Le Corbusier’s only major building in the United States—designed to house classes in architecture, film, and other arts—” (Sylvia Hart Wright). No popcorn at these screenings. Truly, a temple to great cinema. I have so many great memories seeing films here over the years. “Blow-Up” stands out in my mind as… more

Did you know that census data indicates that over 11,000 children age 14 and younger live in Cambridge? You will see a few more Cambridge kids these days playing at the newly renovated playground on the Cambridge Common, adjacent to Waterhouse Street and just outside of Harvard Square. The playground is one of fifty playgrounds in Cambridge built for the enjoyment of younger children. The Cambridge Common playground – known as the Alexander Kemp Playground – features… more

The Cambridge Chronicle reports in a full-page article this week on CitySprouts, a garden program for all twelve Cambridge K-8 schools. The nonprofit organization has established gardens at every school. Nothing like growing your own vegetables to make them more interesting. At the Amigos School, watermelons are still ripening in their patch! If you are considering buying or selling in Cambridge, I am here to help. I can be reached at ccherney@hammondre.com or 617-733-8937.  I am… more

There is a new coffee table book out on Harvard Square entitled Harvard Square, An Illustrated History Since 1950. This is author Mo Lotman’s first book and it’s a keeper. I picked up a copy on Friday afternoon and I found I just couldn’t put it down. My own Harvard Square experience dates back over 25 years to 1983. I had come to Cambridge to visit my brother, a freshman at Harvard. I would return in… more

The Boston Globe reports this week that Polaris Venture Partners has launched a new venture in Kendall Square, Cambridge – Dogpatch Labs Cambridge – which will offer a select group of start-ups “space, connectivity, coffee, and food in a fun, open environment” – FOR FREE!!! Dogpatch Labs Cambridge will be modeled on Dogpatch Labs San Francisco. The Cambridge outpost will begin by hosting 10 entrepreneurs working in various fields, including information technology and life sciences. If… more

The Wednesday, September 16, 2009 edition of the Boston Globe featured a front page article on Kendall Square, Cambridge, entitled “A Square Comes Around – Kendall starting to work as a home.” Since 2006, more than 1,700 residential units have been built in the Kendall Square area. Kendall Square is in East Cambridge, close to Boston. Among the new restaurants to recently open are The Friendly Toast, especially popular for breakfast on weekends. Kendall Square also has… more