October 29, 2024
Dear fellow Cantabrigians,
Current issues:
MULTIFAMILY HOUSING PROPOSAL.
As Co-Chair of the Neighborhood & Long term Planning Committee I organized a meeting to discuss ideas for improving the Multifamily Housing (MFH) Proposal with neighborhood leaders. Drafted by the Community Development Dept. (CDD) the proposed zoning amendment would permit 75’ (6-7 story) buildings as of right throughout Cambridge neighborhoods without side or back setbacks and a reduced green open space requirement. The ostensible goal is to increase housing supply by removing regulations. I think this could have a disastrous effect.
It’s helpful to hear from longtime neighborhood voices who have intimate knowledge of their communities (often, in addition to professional expertise). The video recording of the NLTP meeting is here. [link to https://cambridgema.granicus.com/player/clip/870?view_id=1&redirect=true
About the MHP, see here. [link to: https://www.cambridgema.gov/CDD/Projects/Zoning/multifamilyhousing#:~:text=The%20Cambridge%20City%20Council%20is,all%20neighborhoods%20of%20the%20city]
Here are my top takeaways:
Questions:
*What do we want? If the goal is to create more housing units, how many do we want built and for whom and by when? The answer cannot be to meet demand since that is something that can never be met.
* What will be the impact on infrastructure, transportation, climate and green space?
Concerns:
*The unintended consequences: escalation of property values, taxes, rents, displacement and traffic, gentrification, tree loss, embodied emissions from tear downs; the cost of infrastructure, private equity firms aggregating properties, competition with affordable housing, less real neighborhoods, loss of diversity, disastrous impacts on poorer residents; and that this will drive people out, and allow frats, hospitals, performing arts studios, outdoor retail, fast-food restaurants and other entities within neighborhoods
Re Process: lack of community engagement, informed and not consulted
Insights:
*We should be planning better for housing our 72,000 biotech workers and 10,500 university students (not provided with housing), including engaging businesses and universities with a stake in solutions to this problem.
*The 2023 American Community Survey estimates that we have about 6,300 vacant housing units. We need to look into this!
*75’ high triggers13-story AHO everywhere.
*So far building housing in Cambridge hasn’t lowered rents. Look at impact of Mass & Main.
*Cambridge already has more multifamily units than most cities. Only 6.5% of our total housing stock is single family.
Suggested alternatives:
*4 stories with 6 stories along major corridors—e.g., Mass. Ave.
*6 stories only if it includes inclusionary units
*5’ rear and side setbacks
*the open space must be permeable
*protect trees
Consensus:
*As Envision Cambridge recommended, keep most growth along corridors and squares, especially on Mass. Ave., and in transitional districts.
*The City should encourage responsible growth and be accountable for it.
*This is moving way too fast.
I was grateful that all of my fellow Councilors attended the meeting along with many neighbors who shared ideas to refine the current proposal.
CENTRAL SQUARE.
At a meeting about the proposed upzoning of Central Square, community members were upset about plans to allow 18-25 story buildings there. Residents voiced concerns on the loss of diversity and culture caused by rising property values, taxes and rents.
SAFE MOBILITY.
The Council voted unanimously for the City to move forward with the process to change the zoning and Parking and Transportation Demand Management (PTDM) Ordinances to allow for better utilization of existing parking lots along streets where parking has been or will be removed for the installation of bike and bus lanes. 800-900on-street parking places will be lost citywide to bike lanes. This ordinance change could create as many as 3,400 new off-street parking spaces. City staff indicated that this could take 3-6 months. Soon thereafter property owners could create the new public parking.
The Council voted 7-2 to give the City another year to roll out the bike lanes. I had gone into this meeting thinking that a two year extension—through November of 2027 was appropriate, but was persuaded by testimony and letters; crash statistics; my recent scary bike ride on Cambridge Street; and City staff declaring that they could roll out these lanes well, with robust community process, considering the needs of businesses and residents, in 20 months.
We must hold the City accountable for this. We need to be able to ride safely. The City needs to improve intersections and fix existing quick-build bike lanes. The premise of “tactical urbanism” is trying things out and then using feedback to improve them. It’s essential that this second step happens.
ART, NATURE & COMMUNITY.
As I engage in this work, I am very aware of the importance of the arts, alongside nature and community to our daily lives. My regular walks and bike rides through neighborhoods and parks, experiencing art, and making human connections, refresh and inspire me.
I am excited that Masary Studios has been hired to do a temporary music, light and image installation in Central Square. Tonight, Tuesday, October 29, between 6 & 10pm, they will pilot Your Light at Central on three rooftops on Mass. Ave. between Pearl and Temple Streets. Over the next two months they will be rolling out 14 installations around the Square!
And so much is going on at Magazine Beach, our second largest park. DCR just planted 13 trees. Mass Audubon is hosting an End of the Season Celebration tonight, with Bachata dance; and safety improvements are in progress on the shared bike/pedestrian path crossing the BU rotary between the park and the BU boathouse. See: https://magazinebeach.org/. As we found at Magazine Beach, the way to get things done is to partner!
I am grateful for your partnership in improving our wonderful City.
Wishing you a happy and safe Halloween!
Cathie Zusy
Cambridge City Councillor