Structure with affordable housing could blend more with its neighborhood, developer hears
A proposed six-story addition to a Massachusetts Avenue mansion that would hold affordable housing drew critiques for not fitting in well with the neighborhood, but the project was mainly welcomed by residents and Cambridge’s Planning Board.
Somerville doubles its linkage fees to developers, affirming that a slowing in projects is unrelated
Although there were reservations from officials on Somerville’s Planning Board and developers, the Somerville City Council was confident the time had come to hike developer “linkage” fees to benefit the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
‘Social housing’ with occupants of all incomes can help move state out of crisis, Connolly says
If an additional 200,000 homes are needed in Massachusetts by 2030, “I, frankly, wonder if there’s any way we could ever get to that goal” without adding social housing to the mix, state Rep. Mike Connolly said.
Cambridge takes a step for easier pot openings; Somerville officials want to pause linkage hikes
Cambridge moves toward ending special permits for adult-use cannabis and enacting Alewife Quad zoning, while Somerville looks at more density for affordable housing and delaying an increasing on developer linkage fees.
Cambridge’s Housing Authority goes regional, offering support and expertise as far as Maine
The Cambridge Housing Authority has expanded its reach far beyond city limits, from an unusual program in neighboring Somerville to consulting with other housing authorities not only in Massachusetts but in Maine.
Somerville Planning Board asks who’s the boss; Cambridge project plans turn 3 and need a change
Tensions over Somerville Planning Board powers emerge in two projects, and two plans get continued near Cambridge’s Porter and Central squares.
Somerville residents demand transparency of city about negotiations on a rapidly changing skyline
Representatives of organizations near big development wondered at a City Council meeting if the city has negotiated benefits as hard as they have.
Just A Start tops off a project in Alewife area, where zoning guidelines pend and art arrives
The Economic Mobility Hub at Rindge Commons reaches a milestone; planning boards hear of patches of nature in East Cambridge and a hotel in Somerville’s Inner Belt, where a building has sold for a tidy $9 million; and Alewife zoning is headed for committee.
Housing Authority celebrates fraction of funds needed for Jefferson Park Federal public project
The huge and costly project to replace the dilapidated 175-unit Jefferson Park Federal public housing development and add 103 more low-income units has won its first funding approval, a tiny amount compared with what’s needed.
An attempt to delay change in affordable housing is accused as city councillors tweak a policy order
Waiting a week didn’t change much about an order meant to bring more affordable housing to Cambridge, though Community Development is involved now.
