FAQ: Is Multifamily Zoning Working?
September 2, 2025
Together, we made a historic leap in February: Cambridge undid its exclusionary apartment ban and legalized mid-sized apartment buildings in all neighborhoods.
Now a lot of people are asking, is it working? Just six months in, the answer is an unequivocal yes!
Larger projects moving forward will add accessible, attainable homes to neighborhoods around the city. We are doubly excited about the addition of income-restricted affordable housing within these projects.
After decades of serving the community, the Spears family will replace their funeral home on transit-rich Western Ave. with 74 new homes, including 14+ affordable homes. The benefit just from the income-restricted units was estimated at $16 million. The Cambridge Historical Commission process has slowed the project, and subjected the family to undeserved attacks, but the last meeting made clear that this new housing will go forward.
At 60 Ellery Street in mid-Cambridge, steps from the library and minutes via bus or bike from Harvard and MIT, 30 new homes (with 20% affordable) will replace a 4-unit building. The Mid-Cambridge Neighborhood Conversation District (NCD) approved after being reminded of their legal obligations under February's zoning change and earlier reforms to NCDs.
Besides adding 100 new units in just two projects, by legalizing apartment buildings, February's law supports smaller additions all around the city. Instead of down-conversions that leave neighborhoods with less (and more expensive) housing, property owners are choosing to add great homes in Cambridge's wonderful neighborhoods. For just a few examples:
A third-generation Cambridge family will replace their single-family on Kirkland Street with four units. They will live in one unit and rent out the other three, adding much-needed housing supply near Harvard.
On Jay Street in Riverside, an inaccessible two-family will be replaced by a three-family home. The new building will have an elevator, and the development will reduce local flooding.
A renovation on Camp Street in North Cambridge will add one new floor to a triple decker – meaning one new home and more wonderful neighbors.
This incremental growth can now happen "by-right," without contentious public meetings, so we don't know of everything going on.
To be sure, there are still too many roadblocks to proposed housing getting permitted and built. The Mid-Cambridge NCD denied a second project on Ellery Street, based on Commissioners' subjective aesthetic judgements and because a notable architect was born there. Instead of a new 81-unit building, with 16 affordable homes, the 14 existing units are now likely to be remodeled and sold at even higher prices.
We need your help to share this success with Cambridge voters, and make the case for further improvements. Please consider sending this info to three friends, signing up to volunteer, or making a donation of any size.