SUPPORT LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR THE HARVARD SQUARE KIOSK
SUPPORT LANDMARK DESIGNATION FOR THE HARVARD SQUARE KIOSK
Why this petition matters
For generations, the Harvard Square Kiosk has been the symbol of Harvard Square and one of Cambridge’s most iconic structures. Completed in 1928 as the entry for square’s new subway, the Kiosk has served as a vital Harvard Square landmark for area residents, students, and legions of visitors from around the world. Most recently, the Kiosk has been home to the Out-of-Town News.
Our beloved Kiosk is now under threat from Harvard Square Infrastructure Improvements planned with $4.6 million of City of Cambridge public money. The design makeover proposes major changes, including stripping the historic "Kane-Gonic" brickwork wall structure, replacement of window panels with LED-illuminated glass, and the loss of historic iron detailing, woodwork and pendant lighting. In short: we risk losing the Kiosk's most salient characteristics, and thus our shared heritage.
The Kiosk was placed on National Register of Historic Places in 1978. However current protections are not enough to save key elements of the building’s historic form and architectural integrity. Granting official Landmark designation now will protect this historic landmark for future generations.