100 Percent Affordable Housing Overlay

100% Affordable Housing Overlay Infographic

Adopted by the City Council in October 2020 and amended in 2023 and 2025, the 100%-Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) is designed to help affordable housing developers create new, permanently affordable homes more quickly, predictably and efficiently. The AHO allows the creation of new, permanently affordable housing that is denser than what might be allowed under base zoning, and offers a review process through which new affordable housing can be approved more efficiently.

To review the Affordable Housing Overlay zoning provisions: see Article 11.207

Design Guidelines for Affordable Housing Overlay Developments have been expanded to apply to all Multi-Family Housing: see here.

Proposed Affordable Housing Projects in the Pipeline:

AHO-#	Development Name/Sponsor	Description/# of Units	Status	Sponsor Website
AHO-1	52 New Street Just A Start Corp. (JAS)	New Construction 106 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete - Construction Complete Applications due May 20, 2026 at 3 p.m. - see here for more information	https://justastart.org/52-new-street/
AHO-2	Jefferson Park Federal (Jackson Place / Jackson Circle / Rindge Ave) Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA)	Preservation/New Construction 278 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete - Under Construction	https://cambridge-housing.org/departments/planning/planning-projects/jefferson-park-federal-modernization/
AHO-3	Walden Square II (21 Walden Square Road) Winn Development	New Construction 95 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete	https://www.waldensquare2.com/
AHO-4	49 Sixth Street Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)	New Construction 46 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete - Under Construction	https://sacredheartredev.org/
AHO-5	116 Norfolk Street Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA)	Historic Preservation/ New Construction 62 Rental Units	Construction Completed	https://courbanize.com/116norfolk
AHO-6	4 Mellen St / 1627 Massachusetts Ave Homeowner's Rehab, Inc. (HRI)	Historic Preservation/New Construction 29 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete - Under Construction
AHO-7	87-101 Blanchard Road B'nai B'rith Housing (BBH)	New Construction 110 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete	https://bbhousing.org/listings/87-101-blanchard-road/
AHO-8	28-30 Wendell Street Homeowner's Rehab Inc. (HRI)	New Construction 95 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete	https://www.30wendellstreet.com/updates
N/A	35 Cherry Street Just a Start Corp. (JAS)	New Construction 10 Homeownership Units	AHO Process Complete	https://justastart.org/35-cherry-street/
N/A	37 Brookline Street Just a Start Corp. (JAS)	New Construction 14 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete	https://justastart.org/37-brookline-street/
AHO-9	2072 Massachusetts Avenue Capstone Communities and Hope Real Estate Enterprises LLC (Capstone/Hope)	New Construction 74 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete	https://www.2072massaveapts.com/
AHO-10	Corcoran Park Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA)	Preservation/New Construction 67 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete	https://cambridge-housing.org/departments/planning/planning-projects/corcoran-park-modernization/
TBD	71 Cherry Street Cambridge Redevelopment Authority (CRA)	New Construction TBD Units	AHO Process in Progress	https://www.cambridgeredevelopment.org/mfnh
AHO-11	240 Broadway (Broadway Park) Just a Start Corp. (JAS)	New Construction 16 Rental Units	AHO Process Complete	https://justastart.org/240-broadway/
TBD	12-14 Laurel Street Just a Start Corp. (JAS)	New Construction 4 Homeownership Units	AHO Process in Progress	https://www.justastart.org/12-14-laurel-street/
TBD	1826 & 1840 Massachusetts Avenue Just a Start Corp. (JAS)	New Construction TBD Units	AHO Process to Begin Soon	https://www.justastart.org/1826-1840-massachusetts-avenue/
TBD	350 Rindge Avenue Boston Communities and Affordable Housing & Services Collaborative (AHSC)	New Construction ~92 Rental Units	AHO Process in Progress	https://www.bostoncommunities.com/350-rindge

Upcoming AHO Public Meetings:

AHO-#	Development Name/Sponsor	Date/Time	More Information
TBD	71 Cherry Street / CRA	AHO Process in Progress	71 Cherry Street - Previous Meetings
TBD	1826 & 1840 Massachusetts Avenue / JAS	AHO Process to Begin Soon	1826 & 1840 Massachusetts Avenue - Previous Meetings
TBD	350 Rindge Avenue	AHO Community Meeting on June 3 at 6 p.m. Click here to attend the online meeting.	350 Rindge Avenue - Previous Meetings

More Information:

For updates and information, subscribe to the 100%-Affordable Housing Overlay email list.

Learn more about how the idea for the 100%-Affordable Housing Overlay was generated, including materials related to the adoption of the ordinance.

For general questions about the AHO or to discuss potential AHO projects, please contact Cassie Arnaud, Senior Manager for Housing Development at carnaud@cambridgema.gov or 617-349-4617.