On May 8, The Cambridge Housing Authority sent a letter to the residences of 1648 and 1654 Massachusetts Avenue notifying them that they had acquired the building as part of a plan to create more affordable housing in the city.
Despite the letter, several current tenants told Cambridge Day that they have heard little in the weeks since receiving the notice and are worried about losing their apartments. “I won’t have anywhere to go if I’m not able to stay,” one said. Tenants asked not to be named over concerns about protecting their homes.
Several recent CHA acquisitions have been vacant buildings, but both Mass Ave properties still have tenants. Clara Fraden, CHA’s CEO, said current residents will be allowed to stay and renew leases, explaining that the conversion to affordable housing will take place over time.
“We sent a letter to all of the tenants the day we closed on the property that was intended to put people at ease and assure people that there would be no change to them there,” Fraden said. “Our plan is that when an apartment becomes available, as in when somebody ends the lease or moves out, we will then market the unit to those who meet income thresholds.”
According to Fraden and CHA, the affordable housing income threshold includes families and households who earn 80 percent or less of the area median income (AMI). The CHA refers to the two buildings, which share a basement, as the marathon sports building. Its plans for the project will be to market 80 percent of marathon sports building’s combined 79 units for those falling within the affordable housing income threshold. The remaining 20 percent of the units will continue to be available, even for those who earn 100 percent of AMI. The CHA expects to see this shift occur over five to 10 years.
Residents encouraged to reach out
Fraden noted that in addition to the letter that told residents there would be no changes to their pre-existing contracts, the CHA also provided tenants with the contact information for Charlesgate Management, the property manager, and Ray Morales, the CHA’s district property manager. In an additional message to Cambridge Day, Fraden encouraged residents to reach out with questions about the switch and if necessary, CHA will send more information.
Moving forward, Fraden explained that the range of pricing for these units in the future is intended to fit the different definitions of what affordable housing is. She said, “We’ve structured it so that affordable housing has many different definitions, depending on who you speak to.”
The CHA paid $40 million for the two buildings, $18.5 million from the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust. Cambridge Housing Director Chris Cotter said the city and the trust found it important that the turnover to affordable housing will happen over time. “One of the things that they’re looking at is working with existing residents and not displacing folks,” Cotter said. Because the CHA plans to transition over time and not every unit will strictly become affordable, every person currently living in the buildings is considered income eligible. “If folks are income eligible, they’re there. There’s no reason for them to move.”
If CHA wants to renovate an apartment with an existing tenant, Fraden and Cotter both mentioned the possibility of moving them into other units during renovation, and then allowing them to return when the project has finished.
“A range of incomes … now and forever”
Although the tenants will be given the right to return, some building residents have raised concerns about older people who may not be able to adjust to moving all of their belongings. Fraden said that current tenants should not worry about these renovations and their implications in the immediate future.
The building’s commercial tenants, which include Marathon Sports and Huron Cleaners, also will not be asked to leave, Fraden said. “We intend to maintain the commercial tenants, but let’s just say if somebody moves out and we are a month away from starting the big rehab, we’re not going to put in a new commercial tenant,” Fraden said. If a commercial tenant leaves, the space would be converted to residential.
CHA also will have Charlesgate Management continue to manage the property.
Ultimately, CHA’s takeover will ensure some affordable apartments remain available in the neighborhood, Cotter said. “We’ll continue to serve the community … in a way that is more intentionally serving folks that are shut out of market opportunities, particularly in this neighborhood,” he said, adding it would guarantee “a diverse range of residents with a range of incomes in the building, going forward, now and forever.”
If residents continue to have questions, they’re encouraged to reach out to Fraden, Morales, or Katelynn Sanon, the property manager.
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