Cambridge Officials Announce Affordable Housing Milestone

CAMBRIDGE, MA - This month, with several pending projects in Cambridge, officials are expecting to approach 1,100 total units of inclusionary housing in the city.

Last April, the Cambridge City Council passed an amendment to the city’s 1998 Inclusionary Housing Zoning Ordinance requiring developments of ten or more units allocate 20% of residential floor area for low- and moderate-income tenants or moderate and middle-income homebuyers. The ordinance went into effect in July 2017.

According to Community Development Department spokesperson Bridget Martin, there are several new developments nearing completion and for which resident selection has or will soon begin.

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Those projects include the Hanover/Alewife development in North Cambridge, which now offers 25 affordable rental units and the second Avalon North Point building in East Cambridge, which is nearing completion and will offer 31 affordable units.

Martin said homebuyer selection will soon begin for 6 affordable condominiums under construction on Monsignor O’Brien Highway.

"There are more than 200 inclusionary units expected to be approved over the coming year," she said.

Assistant City Manager for Community Development Iram Farooq said the city’s inclusionary housing program has enabled individuals and families with a wide range of incomes to live in neighborhoods throughout Cambridge.

“In 2015 the City Council significantly expanded the Incentive Zoning provisions which require developers of new non-residential development to make contributions to offset their impact on housing needs. This change will soon bear fruit, as several new developments now under construction will make sizable contributions to the Affordable Housing Trust,” he said.

In addition to the inclusionary housing zoning changes, the City has provided $12.85 million in the coming fiscal year to preserve affordable housing and develop new affordable housing in mixed-income buildings, Farooq said.

Farooq said the City Council and the Mayor are discussing other policy actions that can be taken to address housing needs in the community.

"Housing is a focus area of the Envision Cambridge citywide plan, which is currently collecting public feedback on draft goals related to housing growth and affordability,” he said.

Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons said inclusionary housing has been a key component in the adminstration's efforts to preserve and champion diversity.

“With the approval of its 1000th inclusionary unit, Cambridge is demonstrating our unwavering commitment to creating quality, affordable housing that will enable more families and individuals from all socio-economic backgrounds to remain a vibrant part of our City,” Simmons said in a statement.

The City’s Community Development Department (CDD) oversees inclusionary rental and homeownership programs through the Homeownership Resale Pool, the Inclusionary Housing Rental Program, and the Middle-Income Rental Program, each of which accepts applications on a rolling basis. For more information about the application process for each program, visit: cambridgma.gov/housing.