Cambridge Infill and Small Developments

[RandomWalk]

Wait long enough and the new shiny becomes a reuse opportunity. I remember going upstairs to browse CompUSA back in the day.

Some interesting choices:

• Moving the transformer vault to the current corner, which makes both the Blanche and Green frontages back of house. Currently, it’s just Blanche.
• Given the bike cage location on Sidney, it feels like it will only have an activated frontage along Mass Ave.
• The retail square footage is drastically smaller. I guess they don’t want any sit down restaurants as tenants.

 

[#bancars]

Central Square 4/19/25:

 

[RandomWalk]

The Friends Service Committee building is now floating on a fully excavated site.

 

[Charlie_mta]

View attachment 62792
The Friends Service Committee building is now floating on a fully excavated site.

Where is that located?

 

[RandomWalk]

The corner of Mass Ave and Milton St, near the intersection with Rindge Ave.

 

[RandomWalk]

Wendell St, near Lesley University. I think this will be affordable housing.

 

[stick n move]

-Lol

Upon news that zoning for homes ended limits, religious group’s plan more than doubled in size​

A rendering of Lubavitch of Cambridge’s new proposed center on Banks Street in Riverside.

“Lubavitch of Cambridge, the Orthodox Jewish sect that was denied permission last year to expand its center on Banks Street in Riverside, has already sued the city in federal court and proposed a zoning ordinance that would eliminate many land use restrictions for religious organizations – both responses that would achieve the group’s expansion goal if successful. Now, while awaiting decisions on both efforts, Lubavitch wants permission for a much larger project that would quadruple its current space and create a 70-foot-high, five-story complex along the narrow street.

Lubavitch cited its need for more space in its previous application to expand, which would have almost doubled its indoor space but wouldn’t have increased the three-story building height of 38 feet. This time the religious group justifies its expansion almost completely by citing a federal law that bars local “land use regulations that ‘substantially burden’ religious exercise.” Lubavitch says it’s entitled to approval based on the law….”

Upon news that zoning for homes ended limits, religious group's plan more than doubled in size - Cambridge Day

Lubavitch of Cambridge, denied permission last year to expand in Riverside, now wants permission for a much larger project that would quadruple its current space and create a 70-foot-high, five-story complex along a narrow street.

www.cambridgeday.com

Previous proposal

 

[FK4]

-Lol

Upon news that zoning for homes ended limits, religious group’s plan more than doubled in size​

A rendering of Lubavitch of Cambridge’s new proposed center on Banks Street in Riverside.

“Lubavitch of Cambridge, the Orthodox Jewish sect that was denied permission last year to expand its center on Banks Street in Riverside, has already sued the city in federal court and proposed a zoning ordinance that would eliminate many land use restrictions for religious organizations – both responses that would achieve the group’s expansion goal if successful. Now, while awaiting decisions on both efforts, Lubavitch wants permission for a much larger project that would quadruple its current space and create a 70-foot-high, five-story complex along the narrow street.

Lubavitch cited its need for more space in its previous application to expand, which would have almost doubled its indoor space but wouldn’t have increased the three-story building height of 38 feet. This time the religious group justifies its expansion almost completely by citing a federal law that bars local “land use regulations that ‘substantially burden’ religious exercise.” Lubavitch says it’s entitled to approval based on the law….”

Upon news that zoning for homes ended limits, religious group's plan more than doubled in size - Cambridge Day

Lubavitch of Cambridge, denied permission last year to expand in Riverside, now wants permission for a much larger project that would quadruple its current space and create a 70-foot-high, five-story complex along a narrow street.

www.cambridgeday.com

Previous proposal
View attachment 63684

To those who are unfamiliar, this is one of the most extreme religious groups in the United States today. Scary stuff. Messianic radicalism.

 

[Charlie_mta]

To those who are unfamiliar, this is one of the most extreme religious groups in the United States today. Scary stuff. Messianic radicalism.

I looked at their info, and they don't appear to be extreme. It's just a Jewish organization for Harvard students, apparently.

 

[curcuas]

I looked at their info, and they don't appear to be extreme. It's just a Jewish organization for Harvard students, apparently.

This is correct. They're somewhere between traditional chasidic and orthodox, depending on where and how. The Messianism, well, I don't want to pry into men's souls, and leave it there. They're a great service for the Jewish community no matter of background.

 

[FK4]

I looked at their info, and they don't appear to be extreme. It's just a Jewish organization for Harvard students, apparently.

It is true that “Chabads” “on campus” tend to be warmer and milder within this greater organization. However, like many religious sects, they have grown more extreme in recent years, and also like many religious orgs, the public facing, amiable and pro-community side has long had more extreme agendas underlying it if you peel away the onion layers. So, while there is indeed a spectrum, the org itself is connected to some very concerning turns in recent years and mirrors a general turn toward more hardline religious fervor across many religions. At any rate, there’s far more to it than that website reveals, here’s a podcast that goes deep if you’re curious. For the record, Jewish holidays are celebrated in my house but I oppose extremism on all sides and I’m very much opposed to the rise of extreme beliefs sweeping the world, and the USA. And that’s all I will say on this matter since I know it’s sensitive, but facts are facts.

Chabad’s Extremist Turn

Jewish studies scholars Shaul Magid and Hadas Binyamini discuss the cultural shifts that have led to the Hasidic movement’s recent embrace of far-right…

jewishcurrents.org

 

[Charlie_mta]

It is true that “Chabads” “on campus” tend to be warmer and milder within this greater organization. However, like many religious sects, they have grown more extreme in recent years, and also like many religious orgs, the public facing, amiable and pro-community side has long had more extreme agendas underlying it if you peel away the onion layers. So, while there is indeed a spectrum, the org itself is connected to some very concerning turns in recent years and mirrors a general turn toward more hardline religious fervor across many religions. At any rate, there’s far more to it than that website reveals, here’s a podcast that goes deep if you’re curious. For the record, Jewish holidays are celebrated in my house but I oppose extremism on all sides and I’m very much opposed to the rise of extreme beliefs sweeping the world, and the USA. And that’s all I will say on this matter since I know it’s sensitive, but facts are facts.

Chabad’s Extremist Turn

Jewish studies scholars Shaul Magid and Hadas Binyamini discuss the cultural shifts that have led to the Hasidic movement’s recent embrace of far-right…

jewishcurrents.org

I hear what you're saying about extremism. Me personally, I'm not Jewish, but went to a public high school in Cambridge where about 20% of the kids were Jewish, and I had, and have, Jewish friends, so I tend to be pro Israel. But that's just me. I don't want to get into politics or religion on an architectural forum, or derail this thread, but I am concerned about rising anti-Semitism in this country.

 

[stick n move]

-Still in a housing crisis…

Six-story development in historic neighborhood raises concerns for residents along Ellery Street​

“The first project following Cambridge’s landmark multifamily zoning reform in February gives a hint at conflicts to come, as a Mid-Cambridge neighborhood comes to grips with construction of four- to six-story multifamily homes as of right.

The proposed development at 60 Ellery St. is a 29-unit, approximately 24,000-square-foot building of five studios, 17 one-bedroom homes and seven two-bedroom homes. Twenty percent of the building’s square footage will be allotted as affordable housing, likely four or five units, said owner Mike Tokatlyan of Contempo Builders.

Tokatlyan, architect Evan Stellman of Khalsa Design, and another developer met with residents June 6 to discuss neighborhood concerns. In the nearly two-hour discussion, almost 15 residents had complaints about the building’s size, design and street access.

Many expressed concerned about development affecting the historic nature of the neighborhood. The development would replace a four-unit brick building with a building nearly six times its size, with a much more modern design.

Mary Beth Lawton, the owner of a neighboring condo, said she bought her property with the belief she would be in a historic area. “I realize that 60 Ellery is not an historic building, but ours is,” she said. “I don’t think this building is appropriate for this neighborhood.”……..”

Six-story development in historic neighborhood raises concerns for residents along Ellery Street - Cambridge Day

The first project following Cambridge’s landmark multifamily zoning reform in February gives a hint at conflicts to come, as a Mid-Cambridge neighborhood comes to grips with construction of a six-story building.

www.cambridgeday.com

 

[DAVE]

Mary Beth Lawton, the owner of a neighboring condo, said she bought her property with the belief she would be in a historic area. “I realize that 60 Ellery is not an historic building, but ours is,” she said. “I don’t think this building is appropriate for this neighborhood.”……..”

this line particular gets me. Like you admit that its not a historic building that its replacing and you're still mad. you're neighborhood will be fine be so serious.

 

[RandomWalk]

Cambridge leans heavily into the BANANA.

 

[obvious_bicycle]

For context, this is one of the neighboring building adjacent to the property.

 

[Longfellow]

Project would be a great candidate for single staircase reform.

 

[Equilibria]

this line particular gets me. Like you admit that its not a historic building that its replacing and you're still mad. you're neighborhood will be fine be so serious.

I used to live on Ellery, across the street from a 6-story apartment building and next to a 7-story office building. This lot is also less than 500 linear feet from these beauties...

This is not a single-family housing neighborhood. I'm more annoyed the parking lot next door isn't part of the site.

 

[bigpicture7]

The whole exchange in that Cambridge Day article is hilarious:

Six-story development in historic neighborhood raises concerns for residents along Ellery Street - Cambridge Day

The first project following Cambridge’s landmark multifamily zoning reform in February gives a hint at conflicts to come, as a Mid-Cambridge neighborhood comes to grips with construction of a six-story building.

www.cambridgeday.com

“Where is the context, where is the imagination?” Mary Lee Boyd said. “You are developing to the zoning. You’re maxing out the zoning instead of looking at context.”

...

Tokatlyan emphasized that the city as responsible for the decision. “If you have an issue with the building being built to that size, you can relay that to the city of Cambridge,” he said.

 

[Justbuildit]

I just can't believe these people keep putting their god-given names to these quotes. Just totally clueless and it makes them look like complete clowns. I hope this gets approved immediately.