"Housing for All?" 3 Public Symposiums Planned by Cam​bridge Historical Society

CAMBRIDGE, MA – Starting next week, the Cambridge Historical Society is holding a series of three symposiums on housing access, affordability, and the ways that housing shapes the city and the lives of current and would-be city residents.

The member-supported, nonprofit Cambridge Historical Society's impetus for the program comes from its mission "to understand the City’s rich history and to apply it to today."

"CHS is committed to inspiring curiosity in citizens and helping everyone explore history’s enduring implications. CHS believes in putting history to work to inform debate of contemporary issues," the Society said in its announcement of the events.

A bench of experts slated to speak include local university professors, planners, elected representatives and more. Panel discussions will be followed by breakout sessions.

Each symposium is free and open to the public.

The events are as follows:

Symposium I: “How did we get here? What are today’s challenges? Who are ‘we’?”

Thurs., Oct. 13, 6-8 p.m., Cambridge Public Library Main Branch, 449 Broadway

• Moderator: Marjorie Decker, Mass. State Representative
• Speakers: Prof. Barry Bluestone, housing economist, Northeastern University
• Corinne Espinoza, Board Member, Cambridge Community Center
• Charles Sullivan, Executive Director, Cambridge Historical Commission

This panel will examine history’s role in the city’s present housing situation and the challenges of providing housing across changes in Cambridge's economy. It will also explore who is a resident, and how are demographics and business changing, affecting available housing stock?

Symposium II: “What are the successes and failures of affordable housing planning/activism?”

Thurs., Oct. 27, 6-8 p.m., Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St.

• Moderator: Chris Arnold, Reporter, National Public Radio
• Speakers: Cheryl-Ann Pizza-Zeoli, Co-Chair, Alliance of Cambridge Tenants
• Greg Russ, Executive Director, Cambridge Housing Authority
• Jim Stockard, affordable housing expert, Harvard Graduate School of Design

These panelists will discuss Cambridge’s attempts to provide sufficient affordable housing, and the role of residents in deciding housing choices and policies.

Symposium III: “How do we achieve the affordable city?”

Thurs., Nov. 17, 6-8 p.m., Cambridge Public Library Central Square Branch, 45 Pearl St.

• Speakers: Prof. Japonica Brown-Saracino, urban sociologist, Boston University
• Prof. Caroline Cheong, public historian, University of Central Florida
• Adam Tanaka, urban planning PhD candidate, Harvard Graduate School of Design

The panelists will use their expertise in studying gentrification, historic preservation, affordable housing, and real estate development to examine possible paths forward for Cambridge.

Image via Shutterstock