Housing
‘Neighborhood Representatives’ Urge Cambridge City Council to Hit Brakes on Upzoning
For months, Cambridge officials and politicians have worked to advance a proposal to eliminate single-family zoning citywide. But pushback from neighborhood leaders suggest that the policy may be headed for rockier waters.
Cambridge Officials Present Proposal for City-Funded Housing Vouchers
Cambridge’s Community Development Department proposed a new model for city-funded housing vouchers that would aid cost-burdened tenants, particularly those ineligible for federal assistance, during a City Council committee meeting Tuesday.
With ‘Soul-Sucking’ Housing Costs, Young Cambridge Residents Wonder if They Can Stay
In interviews, young Cambridge residents said they have watched as their home city has grown costlier and more gentrified, and they said there needs to be more housing — and affordable housing — to make the city a place where young people can forge a life of their own.
City Planners Propose Allowing 18-Story Housing Developments in Central Square
The Cambridge Community Development Department presented their recommendations to upzone Central Square up to 18 stories to the City Council on Thursday.
Residents Weighs in as Developers Propose Affordable Housing Development at Maximum Height
Capstone Communities and Hope Real Estate Enterprises — the firms behind two existing 100 percent affordable developments in Cambridge — offered residents preliminary details of their first project, 2072 Massachusetts Ave., developed under Cambridge’s Affordable Housing Overlay on Wednesday.
Cambridge Shelters Struggle With Tightening Budgets
More than 1,000 people are homeless in Cambridge, many of whom have not been able to secure a bed in a shelter. But staff at shelters in Cambridge and Boston said that the limiting factor isn’t space — it’s funding.
40 Thorndike Brings 20 Stories of Housing, Office, and Retail Space to Kendall
After more than a decade of renovation, private developers unveiled 40 Thorndike last Wednesday — introducing 20 stories of housing, office, and retail space that replaces the former Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse and jail in East Cambridge.
HUD Acting Secretary Breaks Ground on Cambridge Affordable Housing Project
U.S. Acting Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Adrianne Todman broke ground alongside state and local officials on a Jefferson Park housing revitalization project in a Wednesday ceremony.
Cambridge City Manager Hopeful PILOT Negotiations With Harvard Will End Early
Cambridge City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 said in a Friday interview he was optimistic that Cambridge’s ongoing negotiations with Harvard for a new PILOT agreement will conclude by the end of the calendar year.
Families in Cambridge Shelter Begin to Find Housing, Easing Bottleneck
The monthslong bottleneck in Massachussetts’ emergency shelter system is finally beginning to dissipate after state officials imposed a five-day limit on families’ stays in temporary respite centers.
Harvard Chabad Accuses City Zoning Board of Religious Discrimination in Lawsuit
Harvard Chabad accused the Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal of religious discrimination in a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on Friday morning after the board denied the group’s application to significantly expand its headquarters.
Cathie Zusy To Fill Vacancy on Cambridge City Council
The Cambridge Election Commission confirmed Catherine “Cathie” Zusy will fill the vacancy on the Cambridge City Council Thursday following the sudden death of Councilor Joan F. Pickett on Aug. 30.
Cambridge Redevelopment Authority Launches $10 Million Affordable Housing Capital Fund
The Cambridge Redevelopment Authority has reserved up to ten million dollars for its Housing Capital Fund to provide financial assistance for ongoing housing projects in Cambridge.
Harvard Yard Ops Doubles Down on Pest Control, Students Report Mice and Cockroaches
Yard Operations implemented a series of pest management and prevention strategies in freshman dorms over the summer — but students continue to report pest sightings.
Alan Garber Will Not Move Into the Official Residence of Harvard’s President
Harvard President Alan M. Garber ’76 will not move into Elmwood, becoming the first University leader in more than 50 years to pass up the opportunity to live at the official residence of the president of Harvard.
City Council Cautiously Moves Toward Ending Single-Family Zoning
The Cambridge City Council asked City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 to draft zoning language to eliminate single-family zoning and allow six-story residential developments citywide.
Harvard Chabad Appeals Zoning Board Decision to Reject Expansion
Harvard Chabad, after twice failing to secure city approval for a large-scale expansion, appealed the decision Monday afternoon — just hours before their deadline to do so.
Sky-High Demand for Affordable Apartments in Allston Highlights Housing Crunch
As a small fraction of affordable apartments open their lotteries to prospective residents, they are inundated with applications, creating waitlists that could stretch for years.
With Proposal to End Single-Family Zoning, Cambridge Positions Itself as National Leader
The Cambridge City Council is nearing a decision that could once again catapult Cambridge into the national spotlight: eliminating single-family zoning across the entire city.
Historic Heat Wave Reignites Debate About Lack of AC in Harvard Housing
As a heat wave descended on Cambridge, students living on campus sought relief from the scorching temperatures — just not in their dorm rooms.
City Council Approves Nearly $1 Billion City Budget, but Cautions Against Further Growth
The Cambridge City Council unanimously passed a nearly $1 billion operating budget and $74 million capital budget for the 2025 fiscal year without major modifications during a meeting Monday evening.
Dilapidated Dorms: How Harvard Undergrads Cope with Run-Down Housing
Some students say they’ve grown accustomed to living with rodents and the occasional maintenance problem in dilapidated houses. But for others, housing problems raise broader concerns about how run-down living spaces may detract from quality of life at Harvard.
Proposed Harvard Chabad Expansion Faces Opposition From Cambridge Zoning Board, Neighbors
A proposal to dramatically expand Harvard Chabad’s Banks Street headquarters failed to win approval from the Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeals during a contentious Thursday public hearing.
Proposal to Abolish Single-Family Zoning in Cambridge Moves Forward
The proposal to abolish single-family zoning in Cambridge is moving forward through the City Council, heralding a radical shift in the city’s housing policy.
Harvard Square Homeless Shelter Debuts Renovations To Adapt To 6-Month Stays
The Harvard Square Homeless Shelter unveiled the renovation of their space on Friday — and with it, a dramatic shift in their model to allow shelter guests to stay for the entirety of the 6-month operational season.