CCC was the first Cambridge citizens group to submit a zoning petition to allow multi-family housing in every neighborhood: the 2021 Advancing Housing Affordability (AHA) Petition - also called the Donovan Petition but City Council declined to pass it.
In 2025 pro-developer majority of our City Council passed their own version, the Multi-Family Housing (MFH) Ordinance that has gone too far, that is causing an outside land grab with renters' leases being terminated, so outside investors and developers can abolish existing homes to build new more expensive ones, profiting in the millions with each example.
Upzoned (MFH) Cambridge - Impacts Citywide
Lack of Affordability & Economic Uncertainty Continue to Challenge Housing Market
A new (June 19, 2026) housing report released from Cambridge by Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies warns that affordability pressures and economic uncertainty are worsening for renters and homeowners nationwide. The study highlights slowing household formation, shrinking low-rent stock, rising property taxes and insurance, and record-high renter cost burdens, underscoring challenges that echo in Cambridge's own tight, expensive housing market.
A new (June 19, 2026) housing report released from Cambridge by Harvard's Joint Center for Housing Studies warns that affordability pressures and economic uncertainty are worsening for renters and homeowners nationwide. The study highlights slowing household formation, shrinking low-rent stock, rising property taxes and insurance, and record-high renter cost burdens, underscoring challenges that echo in Cambridge's own tight, expensive housing market.
SIGN THE PETITION!
Citywide Upzoning (MFH) Petition: The petition asks to temporarily pause the permitting of these oversized projects in neighborhoods and move quickly to enact moderating amendments.
Citywide Upzoning (MFH) Petition: The petition asks to temporarily pause the permitting of these oversized projects in neighborhoods and move quickly to enact moderating amendments.
|
https://bit.ly/mfho-petition
PAUSE the MFH Petition: HERE
Read CCC Research-Based Housing Blogposts: HERE
City of Cambridge Housing Information
Total Cambridge Population in 2026 is 118,403
Boston Area Housing Information
MAPC Boston Area 2030 projections for Cambridge: HERE
A Home for Everyone: 2025 Mass Gov Regional Progress Report: HERE
A Home for Everyone: 2025 Mass Gov Regional Progress Report: HERE
Other Housing Data Sources
Housing Data: https://www.zillow.com/research/data/
Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (Industry funded) https://www.jchs.harvard.edu/
Civic Mapper (comparative) https://www.civicmapper.org/cities.html
Civic Mapper (comparative) https://www.civicmapper.org/cities.html
Happening Now in Housing
Cambridge affordable triple deckers are being demolished to make way for far more expensive luxury condos.
CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY!
“City Recommends Changes to Multi-Family Ordinance”
Cambridge Day 6.29.26. HERE
“City Recommends Changes to Multi-Family Ordinance”
Cambridge Day 6.29.26. HERE
Facts on Housing
This interactive map is not entirely accurate but worth a look.
NEW LARGE SCALE HOUSING PROJECTS
1826 & 1840 Mass Ave. Large Duo JAS Public Housing Projects at Porter Square
ADDRESSING CHANGES TO THE 2025 CITYWIDE UPZONING FOR LARGER MARKET RATE ("LUXURY") HOMES
An April 7 2026 meeting Chaired by Cathie Zusy of the Neighborhood and Long Term Planning Committee brought together an array of specialists to address some of the problems with the Multi-Family Housing Upzoning Ordinance (which has brought many more demolitions to the city).
Video Link: https://cambridgema.v3.swagit.com/videos/381382
Realtor Ed Abrams addresses what this upzoning is actually doing from the Real Estate Market perspective - bringing more expensive housing.
Video Link: https://cambridgema.v3.swagit.com/videos/381382
Realtor Ed Abrams addresses what this upzoning is actually doing from the Real Estate Market perspective - bringing more expensive housing.
WHAT THE OPPOSITION IS SAYING:
They maintain that building more luxury ("market rate") housing will bring more affordable housing, in short, trickle down theory: HERE However, this does not work in Cambridge because we cannot build enough to meet demand and have no vacant space to build more without demolishing existing homes.
However, in truth, Cambridge is already one of the densest cities in the country and have superseded state mandates. Is 12,500 new units by 2030 really the number we should strive for in an uncertain economy with the array of federal-funding and employment cuts in Cambridge and the Boston area? We need a viable analysis of real Cambridge residential needs, not the arbitrary 12,500 new units proposed in Envision.
They maintain that building more luxury ("market rate") housing will bring more affordable housing, in short, trickle down theory: HERE However, this does not work in Cambridge because we cannot build enough to meet demand and have no vacant space to build more without demolishing existing homes.
However, in truth, Cambridge is already one of the densest cities in the country and have superseded state mandates. Is 12,500 new units by 2030 really the number we should strive for in an uncertain economy with the array of federal-funding and employment cuts in Cambridge and the Boston area? We need a viable analysis of real Cambridge residential needs, not the arbitrary 12,500 new units proposed in Envision.
TODAY's YIMBY ($9 FIGURE ABUNDANCE MOVEMENT)
FUNDED BY SILICON VALLEY GROUP (American Prospect 2026): HERE
|
DEMOLITIONS HAVE IMPACTS
Cambridge's CDD's Development Log for July 2025 tracks 67 projects totaling 12.9 million square feet and over $3 billion in construction. Projects cover development of more than 5,000 housing units, including over 1,000 affordable housing units. On top of this we have potentially 2000 new units proposed for Alewife quad. And this appears not to include demolitions of existing single and two-family vintage homes for larger luxury ones.
UPZONING IMPACTS: 2026 Map of Demolitions of Existing Housing in Mid-Cambridge (by Elena Saporta)
Cambridge is not big enough to provide properties for all who want to invest here - or live here. Much of this new development is focused on profiting investors and developers.
CCC SUPPORTS HOUSING PLANS THAT WORK:
Cambridge is about 6.8 square miles (far smaller than Boston – which has a smaller list) and we are a very dense (city top 4-5 in the country with a population over 100K). We already have exceeded state goals on housing because we are an exceedingly generous community (a good thing) and way surpass most other area and state municipalities. We need far more thoughtful housing policies that are practical and sustainable. We need an actual city plan (block by block) that includes affordable and mixed income housing, as well as more green spaces and parks (particularly in our denser neighborhoods). And, we need to preserve and increase our city and residential trees that keep down devastating heat island impacts (adding to both environmental and health inequities). In short we need to focus on smart city policies that get proven results, and help people build equity, rather than an array of ideologically driven policies.
1. Build housing for city teachers and essential workers specifically. See Berkeley, Ca: HERE. 2. Purchase existing Apartment buildings and Multi-Family Units and use them to Provide Housing to Residents in Need. 3. Build District Live-Work Apartments above commercial: Los Angeles, Ca. Read More: HERE 4. Guarantee down payment loans for Cambridge residents who wish to purchase their first homes. 5. year tax rebates and design plans to owners converting garages into ADUs if they are willing to rent at below market for 5 years (give 10-year rebates if willing to make affordable).
Cambridge is about 6.8 square miles (far smaller than Boston – which has a smaller list) and we are a very dense (city top 4-5 in the country with a population over 100K). We already have exceeded state goals on housing because we are an exceedingly generous community (a good thing) and way surpass most other area and state municipalities. We need far more thoughtful housing policies that are practical and sustainable. We need an actual city plan (block by block) that includes affordable and mixed income housing, as well as more green spaces and parks (particularly in our denser neighborhoods). And, we need to preserve and increase our city and residential trees that keep down devastating heat island impacts (adding to both environmental and health inequities). In short we need to focus on smart city policies that get proven results, and help people build equity, rather than an array of ideologically driven policies.
1. Build housing for city teachers and essential workers specifically. See Berkeley, Ca: HERE. 2. Purchase existing Apartment buildings and Multi-Family Units and use them to Provide Housing to Residents in Need. 3. Build District Live-Work Apartments above commercial: Los Angeles, Ca. Read More: HERE 4. Guarantee down payment loans for Cambridge residents who wish to purchase their first homes. 5. year tax rebates and design plans to owners converting garages into ADUs if they are willing to rent at below market for 5 years (give 10-year rebates if willing to make affordable).
We Welcome Positive Housing Change!
A 79 unit apartment building between Porter and Harvard Squares will be transferred into affordable units. It was purchased by the Cambridge Housing Authority. We applaud this. Read more here: HERE. We need more examples like this of reuse. We need far fewer demolitions of existing housing as is happening since the MHF upzoning petition was ordained.
|
2025 Changes to our Affordable Housing Preference Point System
In 2025, the City of Cambridge substantially revised the preference point system used to rank applicants for Inclusionary Housing rental units. The most significant change was a dramatic increase in the value assigned to Cambridge residency, which rose from 4 points to 12 points--making residency by far the dominant factor in the application process. The City also created a new 5-point preference for Cambridge-based workers, increased the Emergency Need preference from 1 point to 3 points, added a new 1-point preference for U.S. military veterans, and simplified the family preference by assigning 2 points to households with children under 18, replacing the previous system that awarded separate points for children under 18 and additional points for children under 6. There is no separate preference for applicants with disabilities, although applicants with disabilities remain eligible for accessible units and reasonable accommodations under state and federal fair housing laws.
The practical effect of these changes was to make Cambridge residency alone worth more than all other preference categories combined. Under the previous system, a nonresident household with several other preferences could compete more effectively with a Cambridge resident. Under the revised system, the 12-point residency preference reflects the City's policy goal of reducing displacement and helping current Cambridge residents remain in the community.
HOUSING PRESERVATION
Neighborhood Conservation Districts (NCDs) Play a Key Role by bringing neighbors, professionals and developers to the table to help make the best decisions possible on new building design and facade changes to older buildings.
Existing Neighborhood Conservation Districts and Historic Districts in Cambridge are in areas of the city that have increased in value and investments less radically, meaning that housing here is more stable, and gentrification is less impactful.
Kim et al Report on Gentrification and Upzoning in NYC (2024)
Philadelphia report on the interdependence (and compatibility) of housing preservation and affordable housing: HERE
NEW UPZONING PLANS for the CORRIDORS AND SQUARES
Planned Heights of 8-18 stories (possibly higher for new AHO projects) on Mass Ave. (from Cambridge Common to Arlington Border) . Image based on MAPC rendering.
Low Income Resident Views on Affordable Housing Priorities (1.9.2025)
There are currently circa 1700 Cambridge city residents on the affordable housing list. We can find housing for this group through thoughtful planning and building. We could help a number of these residents build equity by providing down payments (or working with local banks to do so). Building towering out of scale buildings for what in essence becomes segregated housing is a model that failed when the federal government did it in the fifties. Many have limited green spaces, trees, and parking so people can get to work and back, to say nothing of the needed infrastructure to make this work.
Why City-Owned Properties Matter for Housing
Vancouver Urban Planner, Patrick Condon, argues that the very best way to address housing needs is to build on city-owned land because then you are not increasing property values, housing costs, and taxes often on those who cannot afford them. See his recent analysis on “Why More Housing Supply Won’t Solve Affordability” here: https://vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/douglas-todd-why-more-housing-supply-wont-solve-unaffordability. He offers 5 key reasons. One is that outside investors are buying up housing stock. Another is that Vancouver is hemmed in geographically and has no way to grow outward. Both apply to Cambridge
The other positive aspect of using city owned properties and city funds is that we can target housing opportunities to Cambridge residents we need to help advance our city - teachers, social workers, police officers, fire fighters and others
READ our Blogpost "Cambridge Corridor & Square Upzoning: Let's Do this One Right (3.1.25): HERE
Housing Property Evaluations Change with Upzoning and other Factors
Much of the newer city wealth is n East Cambridge, North Cambridge, and Mid-Cambridge based on home purchases and conversions bringing more gentrification.
READ our April 5, 2025 Op Ed in the Boston Globe
*The principal upzoning beneficiaries are investors and developers ; People with solar will lose financially; Neighbors have no say in new housing – nor do professional boards . This upzoning actually increases the cost of housing by allowing the demolition of existing lower cost homes to create larger more expensive ones . Upzoning drives speculations of home purchases, making prices even higher, and forcing out lower income people. Trees are being cut down and green spaces removed. We should be using city owned vacant lots and target specific occupants such as teachers and firefighters.
Housing Price increase is a national and international problem. In Cambridge trickle down housing DOES NOT work and DOES NOT bring lower housing prices.
Research on Housing
