Core Areas | City of Cambridge

Explore Cambridge’s Core Areas

Where community, culture, and commerce connect.

Whether you're strolling a pedestrian-only street, enjoying an open-air patio, or discovering a local business gem, Cambridge’s three core areas, Downtown Cambridge, Hespeler Village, and Preston Towne Centre offer something unique for everyone. Backed by dynamic Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), seasonal road closures, special events, and ongoing investments, these areas are thriving hubs of activity, creativity, and connection.

Business Improvement Areas (BIA)

Powered by local business. Inspired by community

Our BIAs are the heartbeat of each core area, bringing together local businesses and property owners to enhance, promote, and energize their districts. Through beautification projects, events, and marketing campaigns, BIAs make our downtowns more vibrant, welcoming, and walkable.

Road Closures and Patios

Pull up a chair. The street is your dining room.

Each summer, sections of Main Street (Downtown Cambridge) and Queen Street East (Hespeler Village) are closed to vehicle traffic, and the community takes centre stage. Stroll freely, enjoy outdoor events, and soak up the atmosphere. It’s a weekend vibe you don’t want to miss!

In addition, Downtown Cambridge and Hespeler are also open-air experiences. With extended patios, pop-up markets, and weekend road closures, downtown dining takes on a whole new flavour. Whether you're sipping coffee, enjoying brunch, or catching live music, our patios bring the community together, one table at a time.

Celebrating Our Core Areas Transformation

Stories of reinvestment that strengthen our main streets

The Core Areas Community Improvement Plan played a key role in strengthening Cambridge’s historic main streets by supporting reinvestment, celebrating local character, and improving the City's core areas. Working with property owners and businesses, the program renewed building façades, supported new businesses and reinforced the unique identities of Hespler, Preston Towne Centre, and Downtown Cambridge. The videos and project photos featured below showcase these improvements and tell the story of how strategic investment, collaboration, and community pride contributed to vibrant, resilient core areas.