11 mins read

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, […]

7 mins read

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 […]

7 mins read

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 […]

2 mins read

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 […]

5 mins read

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 […]

10 mins read

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 […]