320 Charles Street | Cambridge

[stick n move]

Lab project would give $20M to nonprofit, renewing a debate over ‘contract zoning’ (corrected)​

“A two-story lab building at 320 Charles St. in East Cambridge is proposed to be redeveloped into four stories, the developer said Tuesday at the project’s third neighborhood meeting. In a process called “contract zoning,” East End House, a struggling community center, stands to gain $20 million in community benefits if Cambridge approves the project.

BioMed Realty, one of America’s largest life science real estate developers and owned by asset manager Blackstone, wants to build a bigger lab building than what zoning allows on the lot. According to East Cambridge Housing Overlay zoning, the building can be 35 to 45 feet, with a gradient meant to ease the transition between residential East Cambridge and high-rise-filled Kendall Square. BioMed Realty’s plan adds 15 to 20 feet, resulting in a 50- to 65-foot building……”

BioMed RealtyThe current two-story building at 320 Charles St., leased to Broad Clinical Labs and former home to the first Human Genome Project.

https://www.cambridgeday.com/2025/0...rofit-renewing-a-debate-over-contract-zoning/

 

[#bancars]

Lab project would give $20M to nonprofit, renewing a debate over ‘contract zoning’ (corrected)​

“A two-story lab building at 320 Charles St. in East Cambridge is proposed to be redeveloped into four stories, the developer said Tuesday at the project’s third neighborhood meeting. In a process called “contract zoning,” East End House, a struggling community center, stands to gain $20 million in community benefits if Cambridge approves the project.

BioMed Realty, one of America’s largest life science real estate developers and owned by asset manager Blackstone, wants to build a bigger lab building than what zoning allows on the lot. According to East Cambridge Housing Overlay zoning, the building can be 35 to 45 feet, with a gradient meant to ease the transition between residential East Cambridge and high-rise-filled Kendall Square. BioMed Realty’s plan adds 15 to 20 feet, resulting in a 50- to 65-foot building……”

BioMed RealtyThe current two-story building at 320 Charles St., leased to Broad Clinical Labs and former home to the first Human Genome Project.

https://www.cambridgeday.com/2025/0...rofit-renewing-a-debate-over-contract-zoning/

"....former home to the first Human Genome Project." Pretty amazing easter egg for such a nondescript building!

 

[Arenacale]

"....former home to the first Human Genome Project." Pretty amazing easter egg for such a nondescript building!

I bet there's more buildings like that around the area. Maybe time for a new thread...

 

[curcuas]

Ah yes, the truly terrible East Cambridge zoning...