zoning
Community, developers have mixed response to new inclusionary options
Housing advocates and developers raised concerns about a memo from the Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD) in which city officials suggested multiple options for adjusting the city’s inclusionary zoning requirements in order to boost development. Read more Suspected Teele Square electrical fire displaces residents, businesses close Under rules adopted in 2017, new residential developments of […]
City proposes reducing inclusionary zoning rules – for now
In a memo released Thursday by the Cambridge Community Development Department (CDD), city officials recommended adjusting Cambridge’s inclusionary zoning requirement, which mandates that new residential developments of a certain size set aside 20 percent of their gross floor area for affordable housing units. The recommendations include temporarily lowering that percentage, providing tax abatements or allowing […]
City council recap: Policy orders on bike lanes, sex work return next week; MFHO amendments take baby step
In addition to passing a tax rate increase and declining to intercede in school-related contract negotiations, Cambridge City Council on Monday also saw policy orders recommending the decriminalization of sex work and a pause on Huron Street bike lanes charter righted, delaying a vote for a week. City staff also got the go-ahead to begin […]
Zoning update may see major changes
After protest and some drama, Cambridge councillors advanced the first set of proposed revisions to the citywide multifamily housing zoning passed last year. The changes aim to preserve more open space, protect trees and discourage projects that use the new zoning to build much larger homes without adding many units. Read more CRLS Sports: Girls’ […]
For Cambridge Historical Commission, zoning ordinance has ‘changed the calculus’
The Cambridge Historical Commission has become a de facto arbiter of the city’s landscape since the Multifamily Housing Ordinance (MFHO) passed in February 2025. Charles Sullivan, the commission’s long-time executive director, said he is trying to take things in stride, even as requests for historical review increased five-fold last year. Read more Everybody Gotta Eat, […]
Planning Board, Ordinance Committee pan Brown petition
A controversial zoning petition proposed by Cambridge resident Doug Brown looks unlikely to stand after meetings of Planning Board and Ordinance Committees. On July 14, the Planning Board’s five members voted unanimously to submit a negative recommendation for the petition back to the city council. A week later, the Ordinance Committee, which includes all city […]
Is Beacon Hill thinking about nixing single-family zoning?
If the Senate has its way, single-family zoning in Massachusetts may soon find its days numbered. Read more Campaign 2026: Mbah, Oates and Ruseau vie to replace Barber Two years after a sweeping housing bond bill declared small accessory dwelling units could be built in any single-family district, the state Senate wants to double down […]
Are we losing the character of Cambridge?
It was noteworthy that in their presentations on the Multifamily Housing Zoning Update City Council on June 25, the senior city administrators said “… be more honest … ” several times. Read more West Division Sweeps City Baseball Championship Throughout their presentation, there was clear concern expressed about the tree canopy, environmental issues, open space […]
The multifamily zoning ordinance is failing our city. Here’s how to fix it
Cambridge Day does not endorse candidates or positions. Views expressed in this column are those of the writer. Read more City Council tries to ground AirBNB, rental algorithms Cambridge’s recent radical change to its zoning ordinance has been framed as a bold step toward addressing the city’s housing shortage by expanding the construction of multifamily […]
Will new Cambridge buildings get cut down to size?
It took five months, but the biggest issue of last year’s city council race landed on the council’s agenda for the first time this term, as councillors defended or decried proposed changes to last year’s residential upzoning measures. Read more Cambridge robotics team makes the podium in Greece The most immediate impact will come from […]