100 Percent Affordable Housing Overlay

100% Affordable Housing Overlay Infographic

Adopted by the City Council in October 2020, the 100%-Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO) is designed to help affordable housing developers create new, permanently affordable homes more quickly, more cost effectively, and in areas of the city where there are currently fewer affordable housing opportunities. The AHO allows the creation of new, permanently affordable housing that is denser than what might be allowed under base zoning, and creates a new review process through which new affordable housing can be approved more efficiently.

Affordable housing developers often cannot compete with market-rate developers who can afford to pay more for land and buildings. There are also areas of the city where current zoning makes the creation of new affordable housing infeasible. Allowing affordable housing providers to build more densely than market-rate developers through the AHO will create new opportunities to create new, permanently affordable housing. Streamlining the approval process for new 100%-affordable housing will help reduce development costs and allow affordable housing providers to create new affordable units more quickly while using public funding more effectively.

Overlay Zoning Update in 2023

In October 2023, the City Council voted to amend the AHO, allowing taller heights for affordable housing developments in higher-density zoning districts, major squares, and mixed-use corridors, as well as reducing required setbacks citywide.

Affordable Housing Zoning Ordinance, as amended:

Affordable Housing Overlay Zoning Ordinance – see Article 11.207

Design Guidelines for Affordable Housing Overlay Developments:

AHO design guidelines

Proposed Affordable Housing Overlay Projects in the Pipeline:

Development Name/Sponsor Description/# of Units Sponsor Website Status
52 New Street

Just A Start Corp. (JAS)

New Construction

106 Rental Units

https://justastart.org/52-new-street/ AHO Process Complete - Under Construction
Jefferson Park Federal (Jackson Place / Jackson Circle / Rindge Ave)

Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA)

Preservation/New Construction

 

278 Rental Units
https://cambridge-housing.org/departments/planning/planning-projects/jefferson-park-federal-modernization/ AHO Process Complete - Under Construction

Walden Square II (21 Walden Square Road)

Winn Development

New Construction

 

95 Rental Units
www.waldensquare2.com/ AHO Process Complete

49 6th Street

Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH)

New Construction

46 Rental Units

https://sacredheartredev.org/ AHO Process Complete

116 Norfolk Street

Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA)

Historic preservation/ New Construction

62 Rental Units

https://courbanize.com/116norfolk AHO Process Complete - Under Construction

4 Mellen St / 1627 Massachusetts Ave

Homeowner's Rehab, Inc. (HRI)

Historic preservation/New Construction

29 Rental Units


AHO Process Complete

87-101 Blanchard Road

B'nai B'rith Housing (BBH)

New Construction

110 Rental Units

https://www.87-101blanchard.com/home AHO Process Complete

28-30 Wendell Street 

Homeowner's Rehab Inc. (HRI)

New Construction

TBD Rental Units

https://www.30wendellstreet.com/updates AHO Process in Progress

35 Cherry Street

Just A Start Corp. (JAS)

New Construction

TBD Homeownership Units

https://justastart.org/35-cherry-street/ AHO Process in Progress

37 Brookline Street

Just a Start Corp. (JAS)

New Construction

TBD Rental Units

https://justastart.org/37-brookline-street/ AHO Process in Progress

Corcoran Park

Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA)

Preservation/New Construction

TBD Rental Units

https://cambridge-housing.org/departments/planning/planning-projects/corcoran-park-modernization/ AHO Process To Begin Soon

2072 Massachusetts Avenue

Capstone Communities, Hope Real Estate Enterprises LLC, and MPZ Development (Capstone/Hope/MPZ)

New Construction

TBD Rental Units

https://www.aptsat2072massave.com/home AHO Process in Progress

Upcoming AHO Public Meetings:

Development Name/Sponsor Date/Time More Information
28-30 Wendell Street / HRI AHO Process in Progress 28-30 Wendell Street - Previous Meetings
35 Cherry Street / JAS AHO Process in Progress 35 Cherry Street - Previous Meetings
37 Brookline Street / JAS AHO Process in Progress
37 Brookline Street - Previous Meetings
Corcoran Park / CHA AHO Process To Begin Soon Corcoran Park - Previous Meetings
2072 Massachusetts Avenue (Capstone/Hope/MPZ) AHO Community Meeting on October 9 at 6 p.m. Click here for more information.
2072 Massachusetts 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.