52 New Street
52 New Street is an approximately 145,000 square feet lot located in Neighborhood Nine and is in close proximity to Danehy Park, Fresh Pond, the Alewife MBTA station, and retail amenities. It previously served as a commercial gym with a large parking lot. Just A Start (JAS) acquired the site in January 2020 with funding from the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust. JAS was the first to be able to take advantage of the increased density and as-of-right permitting path available under the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) for fully affordable projects when it was passed in October 2020.
JAS constructed a new building on the site that contains 106 affordable rental units. The building complies with Passive House standards and includes features to ensure maximum energy efficiency such as a robust thermal envelope, efficient HVAC systems, and eco‐friendly materials. It also contains a range of amenities, including two exterior upper-level decks, a large community room, a fitness center and a business center, as well as the possibility of a future connection to Danehy Park.