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...

 

[stick n move]

“CAMBRIDGE, MA–BioMed Realty is pursuing a zoning amendment that would allow the development of a taller, modern life sciences building at 320 Charles Street in Cambridge, adjacent to Ahern Field. As first reported by Boston Business Journal reporter Hannah Green, the proposed redevelopment would replace a now-vacant 105,000-square-foot building formerly leased to the Broad Institute.

According to BBJ, BioMed has filed a petition to create a new zoning area called the “East Cambridge Community Enhancement Overlay District.” The requested changes would enable the company to expand the site’s footprint to 295,000 square feet and build up to 65 feet high — the equivalent of four stories — through a special permit process…..”

BioMed Realty Seeks Zoning Change to Redevelop Former Broad Institute Site in Cambridge - Boston Real Estate Times

CAMBRIDGE, MA–BioMed Realty is pursuing a zoning amendment that would allow the development of a taller, modern life sciences building at 320 Charles Street in Cambridge, adjacent to Ahern Field. […]

bostonrealestatetimes.com

 

[bigpicture7]

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

Even more interesting, IMO, when we expand the story even further back in time:
The Human Genome Project came to fruition in the space that was once a Budweiser plant, lol. (Per below article).

Also per below, apparently the project got a strong reception at the meeting:

East Cambridge lab building draws enthusiasm with $20M to help East End House handle crisis - Cambridge Day

A lab project in East Cambridge was embraced Tuesday by the City Council in an Ordnance Committee meeting, and with it the future of the neighborhood organization called East End House.

www.cambridgeday.com

As a separate note, I am not sure how BioMed is pursuing multiple lab projects amid so much ostensible vacancy, but who knows

 

[stick n move]

Some renders

https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2025/05/16/biomed-zoning-change-east-cambridge.html

https://www.cambridgeday.com/2025/0...ith-20m-to-help-east-end-house-handle-crisis/
https://www.cambridgeday.com/2025/0...rofit-renewing-a-debate-over-contract-zoning/

 

[RandomWalk]

Taking its inspiration from the Merative/Watson Health building on Rogers across from Toomey Park.

 

[Longfellow]

Kinda tells you how profitable development is that they can write off 30 million for community benefits.