Public should defend residents at 5 Temple Place from boutique hotel that will crowd, cast shadow
The Planning Board will once again examine and take public testimony Tuesday on a proposal by European investors to build a “boutique hotel” on top of and in back of perhaps the most historically significant building in Central Square, the so-called Gas-Light Building, at 711-727 Massachusetts Ave. at Temple Street.
This proposed expansion includes plans to fill in the loading and parking alley behind the building with an entrance to the hotel, with hotel rooms above, crowding the apartments behind it by building right up to the property line.
Those apartments are at 5 Temple Place, a 100 percent affordable housing building owned and managed by the Cambridge Housing Authority, many of whose residents are elderly and some of whom are disabled. In this period of rising awareness and concern about acts of Anti-Asian violence in America, it should be noted that several of the families living on the side of 5 Temple Place where the hotel addition would tower over them are elderly Chinese-Americans. Some are as old as 95. Some can no longer go out of their apartments due to serious health challenges. Their apartments would literally be overshadowed were this unnecessary boutique hotel allowed to be built in the manner proposed. They will lose privacy, light, air and of course reasonable views – in addition to essential sunlight – possibly for the rest of their lives.
All for a “boutique hotel.”
People who live in affordable housing in Cambridge deserve better. Our forgotten and overlooked neighbors who struggle with modern technologies and language and other cultural challenges to participate and be heard deserve to be respected and protected. I invite my fellow citizens to show up online and support our beleaguered neighbors at 5 Temple Place at the Planning Board’s public hearing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.
Materials submitted by the investor-proponents, including a recent shadow study that illustrates the damage that would be done if allowed can be found at cambridgema.gov/specialpermits/pb361.
Please attend.
James Williamson, Jefferson Park
I think it rather insulting to have a luxury hotel on the doorsteps of affordable housing. That sliver of open strip between the buildings is important for air circulation and elbow space for those fortunate enough to live there. What do you imagine when guests arrive late after hours outside resident widows? “Hey Billy, get that bag out of the back!”. And frankly, when the rooms on the fourth floor with the open decks are occupied around graduation time, I would absolutely stay away from staying on the 5th and 6th floors. I also would not like to live in Temple St next to the mechanicals outside my window.
While the added floors are intriguing, why do we have to look at big cove-framed glass windows yet again into private spaces, the ultimate reality TV show? I recognize the work that has gone into this to shave details here and there but builders, who are beholding only to their investors don’t care about quality of life and are looking to park money. Please vote no.
The same issue is happening to CHA low-income affordable housing tenants in North Cambridge! The elderly and the disabled residents at Russell Apartments are being threatened with loss of air, light and privacy. A developer is building new affordable housing to the property line. Because it is much-needed additional housing, the fact that low-income tenants are going to lose their air, sun and privacy doesn’t seem to matter to the city officials. The one outdoor area will be in full shadow by three o’clock most every day of the year. There will be windows a few feet from current windows and a complete loss of peace due to proximity. All of our building guidelines ask for thoughtful consideration of close neighbors. The fact that we are a community of very low-income and many people of color seems not to matter to our officials. Why can’t we build housing that does not ask our most vulnerable tenants to carry yet another burden on their backs? Please come speak at the Planning Board May 4 and at the BZA May 29. The 5 Temple Place and 2050 Mass. Ave. tenants ask for your support.
Cry me a river. You want to live in one of the most dense cities in America you have to deal with the density. We all talk about equity and inclusion. Well here is your chance to be equal and included in the encroachment and shadowing which many of us have been bemoaning for years.
Congrats…..you are now all NIMBYs ….
And don’t worry the zoned out board is sure to ignore you the same way they’ve ignored issues about high and density and pot shops in the past….all in the name of tax dollars…..the system works for all!