52 New Street | Alewife | Cambridge

stick n move

stick n move

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Both BLDUP and the Cambridge city website say this is u/c. I wasnt even aware that the old building was demo’d yet, but I guess it has started construction.

52 New Street​

52 New Street Entrance - Rendering


“Just A Start (JAS) began construction of 52 New Street in January 2024. This new project, located in North Cambridge immediately adjacent to Danehy Park, will result in the creation of 106 units of affordable rental housing. The site is well located for housing, in close proximity to many amenities in the neighborhood including the Fresh Pond reservoir, Fresh Pond shopping areas, public transit, and Danehy Park.

JAS is developing the site as 100% affordable housing under provisions of the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO).

JAS completed the AHO process in January 2022 and closed on construction financing in December 2023. Construction on the project is underway.”


Existing Site:

An industrial site on a deep asphalt lot adjacent to Danehy Park near the Fresh Pond reservoir, Fresh Pond shopping areas, and public transit.


New Construction:

  • 106 affordable units
  • Approximately 3,000 square feet of new retail/commercial space
  • Improved site connectivity to Danehy park
  • Transformation of the site to residential use

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https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Housing/52newstreet

https://www.bldup.com/projects/52-new-street-e7bfa1dc-44d2-4c4f-90fb-7e5be7661b60

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https://www.cambridgeday.com/2022/0...-for-citys-affordable-housing-overlay-zoning/
 
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Personally, I don't think any of these 5-over-1's should get their own threads. I hate sifting through the junk. They all belong in their respective neighborhood infill threads and that's it.
 
Charlie_mta said:
A worse problem would be people NOT posting at all. At least aB is lively.
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This project belongs here:

West Cambridge / Alewife Area Infill & Small Developments

The Alewife area is so frustrating to me because it has plenty of housing and office space being built, is near a rapid transit station, is maybe the biggest hub for bike trails in the whole state, has multiple grocery stores right there, and has plenty of easy access to nature, but then there’s...
archboston.com
 
DZH22 said:
Personally, I don't think any of these 5-over-1's should get their own threads. I hate sifting through the junk. They all belong in their respective neighborhood infill threads and that's it.
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.....and some of us value 106 badly needed units (not some 18 unit "infill") being added to the housing supply as not "junk". Arguably it helps Boston's URBANITY more than another anonymous fortress lab or cookie cutter blue glass tower with no street level urban dynamic interaction/activity. But, hey, to each his own. You prefer one type, others value another. Vive la difference!
 
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DZH22 said:
This project belongs here:

West Cambridge / Alewife Area Infill & Small Developments

The Alewife area is so frustrating to me because it has plenty of housing and office space being built, is near a rapid transit station, is maybe the biggest hub for bike trails in the whole state, has multiple grocery stores right there, and has plenty of easy access to nature, but then there’s...
archboston.com
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I get where you're coming from, but in the spirit of organizing the forum for many/most people browsing it, I disagree. Something with over 100 units is not "infill." Construction material preferences aside, this is one is certainly not infill, it is a substantial building. Moreover, while I 100% agree that many/most 5-on-1s are architectural garbage, some are not - and a few have even been architectural gems. I just would prefer it not be automatic that an attractive, substantial building need be buried in an infill thread just because of its construction material. A 30-unit bland box, sure. Something like 52 New St.? It should get its own thread, and you can feel free to ignore it.
 
that rendering of the kids playing soccer in front of the most boring building imaginable is depressing. At least theres a healthy ratio of soccer balls to kids!
 
Ruairi said:
that rendering of the kids playing soccer in front of the most boring building imaginable is depressing. At least theres a healthy ratio of soccer balls to kids!
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The kids (and adults) are lucky they will have all the amenities of Danehy Park right next door. Cambridge has always had a robust system of neighborhood parks, which is really important for high density developments housing lots of kids.
 
Charlie_mta said:
The kids (and adults) are lucky they will have all the amenities of Danehy Park right next door. Cambridge has always had a robust system of neighborhood parks, which is really important for high density developments housing lots of kids.
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I dont doubt that for a second. the image just looks grim.
 
Just A Start and Project Partners Break Ground for 52 New Street in Cambridge


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“CAMBRIDGE – May 28, 2024 – Just A Start and project partners celebrated the start of construction today on 52 New Street, which will create 106 new rental homes for residents with various incomes on the site of a vacant building and parking lot in North Cambridge.

Just A Start is developing the new housing in a six-story building that will also include 3,500 square feet of commercial space on the first floor….”

https://www.masshousing.com/en/press/2024-05-28_52-new-cambridge
 
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Glad the area is getting developed. For 150 years it was a light industry backwater (brick yards, toxic chemical plants, and the Cambridge city dump). The next step should be redeveloping the Fresh Pond shopping center into a mixed-use, walkable development with an actual street grid.
 
The city council would stall it because that street grid would deprive someone of a parking spot.

In all seriousness, I think there is a zoning study scheduled for the next year.
 
“Construction is progressing at 52 New Street in Cambridge with the project approaching 50% completion. Structural steel and decking are in place and wood framing is underway for amenity spaces and 40% of the units. The development will create 106 new rental homes for residents with various incomes on the site of a vacant building and parking lot in North Cambridge…….”

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https://www.bldup.com/posts/framing-rising-for-affordable-housing-in-cambridge

 
stick n move said:
“Construction is progressing at 52 New Street in Cambridge with the project approaching 50% completion. Structural steel and decking are in place and wood framing is underway for amenity spaces and 40% of the units. The development will create 106 new rental homes for residents with various incomes on the site of a vacant building and parking lot in North Cambridge…….”

View attachment 57742
https://www.bldup.com/posts/framing-rising-for-affordable-housing-in-cambridge

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Nice! I didn't even realize this one had actually broken ground. Great to see some solid infill in this area--it really needs to densify to have less of a suburban office park / mall vibe.
 
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