The Cambridge City Council passed a Multifamily Housing Ordinance allowing developers to construct four-story buildings “by right” on any size parcel and six-story buildings on lots 5,000 square feet or larger if 20 percent of units are affordable. The idea was to increase affordable housing and lower overall housing costs, but it’s having the opposite effect as developers convert older multifamily units into luxury condos selling for $2 million and more. We’ve seen this firsthand in our neighborhood.

Since the ordinance passed, more than 100 demolition permit inquiries have been made. Many of these homes are structurally sound and attractive. Tearing them down undermines the city’s climate and sustainability goals by generating significant waste and pollution through unnecessary demoliti

See Full Page