Two historic six-story apartment buildings on Massachusetts Avenue are getting a new chapter, as the Cambridge Housing Authority has bought the properties with plans to turn all of their homes into deeply affordable units for low- and moderate-income residents in one of the city’s most transit-rich corridors.
Together, the buildings hold 79 one- and two-bedroom apartments plus two street-level commercial spaces. In a press release from Cambridge Housing Authority, the agency said it has closed on 1648 and 1654 Massachusetts Avenue, a pair of six-story apartment buildings on a 17,658-square-foot parcel, with financial backing from the City of Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust. CHA said it plans to transition all 79 residential units over time into deeply affordable homes serving low- and moderate-income households.
"This acquisition transforms signature historic buildings in the heart of Cambridge into affordable homes for families," said Clara Fraden, CHA's chief executive officer. "We are deeply grateful to the City and the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust for their partnership," she added. Cambridge Housing Director Chris Cotter called the deal "a crucial step in promoting long-term affordability in Cambridge," according to Cambridge Housing Authority.
Preserving a Historic Mass. Ave. Housing Stock
The two buildings, historically known as the Montrose and the Dunvegan, are documented in the Cambridge Historical Commission’s landmark report and date to the turn of the 20th century, according to the commission's files. According to the Cambridge Historical Commission, Massachusetts Avenue evolved from a corridor of grand residences to the apartment-and-retail stretch that shapes the neighborhood today.
What Residents and Neighbors Can Expect
CHA said it will work with current residents and neighborhood stakeholders to phase in the transition and minimize disruption. As reported by Boston Real Estate Times, the authority expects to preserve the buildings’ retail frontage while converting the residential units to long-term affordable housing.
The purchase follows other recent CHA land moves and fits into a broader city strategy of using the Affordable Housing Trust to preserve and expand affordability. Meeting materials from the City of Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust outline funding commitments aimed at acquisition and preservation projects, a flow of resources that city staff say is needed to keep units affordable in high-pressure neighborhoods.
