In a bold move for housing reform, the Cambridge City Council has voted to eliminate single-family zoning. This decision opens the door for the construction of up to six-story residential buildings across the city. According to WHDH, the council's move intends to increase the housing stock by permitting four-story buildings by right, whereas buildings up to six stories come with certain conditions, including affordable housing quotas.
Councilors Burhan Azeem and Sumbul Siddiqui spearheaded the progressive rezoning initiative, which Boston.com reports is one of the most ambitious overhauls of urban zoning seen in decades. The elimination of single-family zoning is anticipated to create more than 4,800 units, a significant increase from the 350 units projected under previous zoning regulations. Despite reducing barriers for developers, the reform has drawn criticism from opponents worried about an uptick in luxury developments.
Opposition to the reform coalesced around concerns that it may primarily benefit high-end construction. Councilor Catherine Zusy, casting the reform's solitary dissenting vote, stated to The Boston Globe, "I believe this proposal will produce mostly luxury units, raise real estate values, taxes, and rents, displace residents, and raise both physical and psychological havoc in our neighborhoods." Her sentiment mirrors worries that the rezoning may accelerate gentrification and displacement.
However, advocates like Jesse Kanson-Benanav, executive director of Abundant Housing Massachusetts, argue that while the rezoning might lead to market rate units, it is a necessary step towards alleviating Cambridge's dire housing crunch. While discussing the potential impact of the housing stock increase, Kanson-Benanav told Boston.com, "We’re adding more housing, even if not all of it is subsidized, and even if it is market rate housing, it does help reduce the cost of housing for everyone, even the lowest income folks." Notably, Cambridge's median rent for a one-bedroom apartment currently stands as the state's highest at $2,900.
With 85 percent of Cambridge neighborhoods currently not aligning with the city’s stringent zoning regulations, according to a public Google document by Councilor Azeem, this rezoning effort appears poised to reshape the city’s housing landscape. The introduction of new housing units, affordable components for larger developments, and acknowledgment of the city’s affordability crisis suggest a shift in municipal strategy—one that embraces urban densification as a solution for communities facing similar challenges.
