Parking lots near Cambridge’s Porter Square are expected to become affordable housing built by the nonprofit developer Just A Start. (Image: Google)

A packed meeting of the Porter Square Neighbors Association heard Thursday about concepts for two apartment buildings that would include as many as 100 affordable units.

The apartment buildings will replace two little-used parking lots at 1826 and 1840 Massachusetts Ave.

“Our goal is to add a significant amount of housing. We’re trying to get around 100 units for families to live here,” said Madeline Lee, a project manager with nonprofit developer Just A Start, which bought the lots in November 2024 from Lesley University. Lee noted average rent across Cambridge is now $3,274 a month, requiring a $130,000 household salary to avoid bein

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