Cambridge Multi-Family Zoning Reform

[thepianoperson]

If Cambridge were to do its proportional share it would need to build 1,050 new housing units. Unfortunately the Cambridge Community Development Department projects that the city is on track to build only 120 new housing units by 2030.

-This doesnt seem right, do they mean only 120 new houses as opposed to apartments?

I think that number is the number of net new developable units in specific zones of the city as calculated by this slide times 0.25% (as it says on slide 10), which yeah seems to be a very narrow estimate of how much is getting built since there’s definitely over 120 net new units currently under construction in the city? They certainly need to be more clear about what they’re trying to say here.

 

[Banker & Tradesman]

A small update we published yesterday: A new proposal substituting by-right approval for 4-story buildings (instead of the 6 stories by right) is gaining support.

Cambridge Weighs 4-Story Compromise on Upzoning

Backers of elimination of Cambridge’s remaining single-family zoning may have to compromise on building heights to realize their historic zoning reform.

bankerandtradesman.com

“You’ll see more 4-story buildings being built, which will make some folks happy who are concerned about six stories,” Vice Mayor Marc McGovern said. “That seems like a compromise to me.”

We also published a much bigger dive into the affordable housing overlay:

Despite Green Light, Cambridge Housing Proceeds with Caution

Affordable developers have been treading carefully despite theoretical zoning permission to build tall, including shrinking buildings to placate neighbors.

bankerandtradesman.com

TL;DR -- the AHO looks powerful on paper, but in practice there are a number of things (least of all, access to funding from the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust) that are keeping affordable developers focused on making sure they have neighborhood buy-in, to the point of shrinking designs.

 

[nortor]

There are various alternatives being discussed. The 4 story plus 2 if inclusionary proposal is the least bad of those alternatives, because IZ kicks in at 10 units and not too many buildings will be 5+ stories and have fewer than 10 units.
On the other hand there is also an alternative to limit the upzoning to only buildings subject to IZ, which would preclude develoment of any buildings under 10 units.

In addition to creating affordable housing, which hopefully it can do more of in the future, the AHO is somewhat useful as a political tool to demonstrate that NIMBY concerns about affordability are disingenuous.