Housing
In Wake of Multifamily Zoning Ordinance, Developer Postcards Urge Residents to Sell Their Homes
A local developer’s decision to mail 1500 postcards to residents across Cambridge urging them to consider selling their homes, so a taller, higher-value one can be built seems to have given the policy’s vocal group of critics — who warned that the ordinance would be a bonanza for private developers — a small “I-told-you-so” moment.
Harvard Chabad Petitions to Change City Zoning Laws
Harvard Chabad is petitioning the city of Cambridge to change its zoning laws to exempt religious buildings from certain restrictions in an apparent effort to move forward with plans to expand its headquarters, currently blocked by the Board of Zoning Appeals.
As Commercial Development Grows in Cambridge, City Looks to Increase Linkage Fee on Commercial Projects
The Cambridge City Council kickstarted a process to potentially raise linkage fees on commercial development on Monday, voting unanimously to plan a study that will recommend how much to raise the Nexus Zoning Fee.
Boston Launches Anti-Displacement Plan for Residents, Small Businesses
The City of Boston released a 41-part Anti-Displacement Action Plan last week after Mayor Michelle Wu ’07 first announced the plan at her State of the City address.
Developers Announce Proposed Affordable Development Size Will Not Be Reduced Despite Backlash
Non-profit developers in charge of a proposed eight-story affordable housing project in the Baldwin neighborhood announced Thursday that they will not be reducing the size of the building any further despite backlash from residents who believe the complex will be too large.
‘What’s the Hold Up?’: Cambridge City Councilors Disagree on Whether Central Square is Ready for Rezoning
Cambridge City Councilors voted to prioritize the rezoning of northern Massachusetts Avenue and of Cambridge Street over that of Central in a committee meeting on Tuesday amid disagreement on whether Central Square is ready for rezoning.
With an Increase in Voucher Discrimination, Cambridge Looks to Train Housing Professionals in Prevention
Cambridge human rights officials urged professionals in the real estate industry to avoid disadvantaging rental applicants with government vouchers in a webinar Tuesday, telling The Crimson in interviews after the event that the city is seeing “a rise in complaints” of voucher discrimination.
City Council Takes Next Steps in Bid To Combat Affordable Housing Crisis
The Cambridge City Council spent more than a year debating an upzoning proposal before passing the legislation last month — marking a new phase in the fight against the housing crisis in Cambridge.
‘My Heart’s Broken’: Freshmen Fear Renovations, the Quad As Housing Day Approaches
Ahead of Housing Day on March 13, when first-year students are randomly assigned to one of the College’s 12 undergraduate houses, some students hope they do not get Eliot — which will be renovated over the next two years. Others expressed perennial worries about walks to Mather and the Quad.
Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust Makes $3 Million Increase to City Homeownership Resale Fund
The Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust voted unanimously to provide $800,000 in funding to help the construction of 95 affordable rental units on land formerly held by Lesley University, and added $3 million to a fund for repurchasing and rehabilitating affordable housing in a meeting on Thursday.
Cambridge City Council Considers Home Rule Petition To End Broker Fees
Cambridge city councilors will consider formal action to encourage the state-level elimination of broker fees, after hearing from city staff and Greater Boston Legal Services that the city is constrained in its ability to do so in a meeting on Tuesday.
Allston Residents, Elected Officials Ask for More Benefits from Harvard’s 10-Year Plan
As Harvard finalizes its Institutional Master Plan in Allston, residents and elected officials called on the University to fulfill its previous promises and increase contributions to the Boston neighborhood.
Cambridge To Halt Funding for Transition Wellness Center Shelter as American Rescue Plan Funds Run Out
The City of Cambridge plans to halt funding to the Transition Wellness Center Shelter in June — removing the shelter’s 58 beds as the city struggles to accommodate its unhoused population. The temporary shelter was originally intended to close in 2023.
In ‘Landmark’ Vote, Cambridge Ends Single-Family Zoning
The Cambridge City Council voted 8-1 to approve a proposal eliminating single family zoning city-wide in a meeting Monday night, capping off over a year of laborious dealmaking between activist residents, experts, and councilors.
State, City Officials Emphasize Importance of Design in Addressing Housing Issues at GSD Talk
Officials from across the country said that their experience working in local government underscored the importance of design in improving and innovating cities at a talk hosted by the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Residents, Former Staff Allege Hostility and Unsanitary Conditions at Bay Cove Shelters
Residents and former staff of three shelters operated by Bay Cove Human Services in Cambridge alleged — in a public meeting, interviews, and more than 500 pages of public records obtained by The Crimson — that staff berated residents and shelters harbored unsanitary conditions.
Here’s How Cambridge Residents Would Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis
The affordable housing crisis has plagued Cambridge for more than a decade. As councilors have failed to reach a consensus on how to address the issue, upzoning proposals consistently occupy Cambridge City council meetings week after week.
Harvard Nears Construction Milestones in Allston Amid Development Boom
Harvard is soon to bring hundreds of new housing units online in Allston as the University approaches several major construction milestones in its long-running expansion across the river.
Harvard Housing Raises Rent, Drawing Concerns Among Some Graduate Students
Harvard University Housing announced last week that it will impose up to 6.5 percent rent increases for renewing tenants in nearly 30 of its buildings for the upcoming leasing season.
City Council Moves Forward with Multifamily Zoning Proposal, Despite Attempt to Amend
After dozens of Cambridge residents spoke in favor of preserving the city’s current multifamily zoning proposal, the Cambridge City Council voted to reject an amendment that would allow developers to build fewer stories without affordable housing units.
Ordinance Committee Advances Upzoning Proposal to Full City Council
The Cambridge City Council’s Ordinance Committee voted Thursday to advance a proposal to eliminate single-family zoning across the city, leaving the measure just two votes of the full City Council away from passing.
Harvard and MIT Urban Planning Experts Weigh In on Proposed Zoning Overhaul
A panel of Harvard and MIT Urban planning experts said Cambridge city leadership must include resident input when deliberating on upzoning legislation — but disagreed on the timeline.
Cambridge City Council Asks for Report on Amended Upzoning Proposal
The Cambridge City Council requested on Monday that City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 prepare a report on amendments that pare back the scope of Cambridge’s multifamily zoning proposal.
Committee Reduces Proposed Height Limit in Contentious Upzoning Proposal
Following months of contentious debate, the Cambridge City Council’s Ordinance Committee presented a set of amendments to the proposal to allow multifamily housing citywide — significantly reducing the proposed maximum height and density requirements.
Cambridge Planning Board Punts on Proposal to End Single-Family Housing in Final Vote
After hours of back-and-forth, the Cambridge Planning Board voted on Tuesday not to take a stance on a hotly contested proposal to allow six-story apartment buildings, instead passing a general statement of support for multifamily housing to the Cambridge City Council.