New Affordable Housing Developments and Milestones in Cambridge

In early October, the City of Cambridge was proud to have been involved in a number of exciting housing-related milestones that have long been in the works.

Due to Cambridge adopting and being in full compliance with the MBTA Communities law, the City is one of 33 approved communities that are now eligible to apply for $15 million in MBTA Communities Catalyst Funding. The capital grant program recognizes that promoting housing growth in communities requires additional resources and makes available funding to support activities related to housing creation, infrastructure projects associated with housing and acquisition of property to promote housing.

The City was pleased to join the Cambridge Housing Authority, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, and MassHousing for a groundbreaking ceremony on the revitilzation of Jefferson Park Federal. This project marks a significant redevelopment milestone for a 278-unit, deeply affordable, housing community for families in North Cambridge. The redevelopment of Jefferson Park is being completed in two phases. Phase 1 consists of 195 units, while phase 2, consists of 83 units. The City of Cambridge, through its Affordable Housing Trust, is contributing $43 million over the project’s two phases. Funding is allowing the CHA to develop some of the first new public housing units in Cambridge since 1997. It will replace the development’s original 175 obsolete public housing units and also add 103 family-sized units. ensuring the 278 total units remain deeply affordable and available to applicants.

Lastly, city officials, partners and local community members received a preview of the newly redeveloped space at 40 Thorndike. The former Edward J. Sullivan Courthouse and jail in East Cambridge has been converted into a mixed-use office, residential, and retail development. In total, 40 Thorndike will include 48 fully affordable residential apartments, 422,000 rentable square feet of office space on the upper floors, 15,000 square feet of ground floor amenity and retail space, and a total of 362 parking spaces.

These exciting new developments and milestones reflect the ongoing commitment Cambridge is dedicated to continuing around housing and best supporting our community.