Jefferson Park - Federal

Site rendering

The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) is preparing to begin a comprehensive modernization of the federal side of their existing Jefferson Park development on Rindge Avenue.  Built in the early 1950s, the housing is in need of significant upgrades, with 57 units having had to be brought off-line due to deteriorated conditions. The CHA determined that it is not feasible to repair and preserve the existing buildings.

The redevelopment of Jefferson Park Federal will involve the complete rebuilding of the 175 existing affordable units, including the 57 units which have been off-line, and a redesigned site layout to better integrate the housing into the surrounding neighborhood. In addition to the 175 replacement units, the CHA plans to add more than 100 new affordable units to Jefferson Park Federal.  

The CHA will be creating the revitalized Jefferson Park Federal under provisions of the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO).


The CHA completed the AHO process in March 2022 and is now assembling financing in order to begin construction. 

Click here to learn more about the Jefferson Park Federal revitalization, including the final advisory design review report issued by the Planning Board.

Existing Site:

In 2021, there were 118 occupied apartments at JP and 57 unoccupied apartments that were taken offline in 2018 and 2019 due to poor conditions.

Proposed Redevelopment: 

  • New construction of 278 affordable rental units including 175 affordable replacement units and 103 additional affordable units

  • Site redesign to integrate housing into surrounding neighborhood and create new green spaces 

  • Maximize livability of new housing through thoughtful design of living spaces and interior and exterior common areas 

  • Jefferson Park Federal will continue to serve a range of household sizes, with 47% of the units being 3-bedroom or larger

  • Street view of existing site

    Street view of existing site

  • Site rendering

    Site rendering

  • Street view rendering of one of the site courtyards

  • Rendering of courtyard with splashpad

  • Street view  rendering of Jefferson Park Federal

  • Birds eye view site plan

Jefferson Park - Federal Public Meetings:

Meeting        Date/Time  More Information
Planning Board Tuesday, February 15, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. View the meeting materials.
Planning Board Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 6:30 p.m. View the meeting materials.
CHA Community Meeting  Tuesday, October 19, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. View the meeting flyer. 
CHA Community Meeting Thursday, April 1, 2021 at 6:00 p.m.

View the meeting flyer. 

CHA Community Meeting Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. View the meeting flyer.

Planning Board Final Report - March 9, 2022

Planning Board Presentation – February 15, 2022

Planning Board Meeting Notice – February 15, 2022

Responses to Planning Board Comments – Part 1

Responses to Planning Board Comments – Part 2

Responses to Planning Board Comments – Part 3-updated 

Responses to Planning Board Comments – Part 4-updated 

Responses to Planning Board Comments – Part 5-updated 

Community Development Department Memo - February 8, 2022

Initial Report of Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) Design Consultation - November 23, 2021

Planning Board PresentationNovember 9, 2021

Planning Board Meeting Notice - November 9, 2021

AHO Submission Volume 1

AHO Submission Volume 2 - Part 1

AHO Submission Volume 2 - Part 2

AHO Submission Volume 2 - Part 3

AHO Submission Volume 2 - Part 4

AHO Submission Volume 2 - Part 5

AHO Submission Volume 3

Department of Public Works Memo - November 4, 2021

Community Development Department Memo - November 2, 2021