Corcoran Park
The Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) is preparing to begin a comprehensive modernization of their existing Corcoran Park development in Strawberry Hill. The redevelopment of Corcoran Park is expected to involve the demolition and replacement of the existing outdated buildings, built in the early 1950s, with new, deeply affordable rental units that will be built to Passive House standards.
The CHA anticipates creating the revitalized Corcoran Park development under provisions of the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO).
Leverage City’s Free Housing Programs
The City of Cambridge offers a range of free housing programs to help residents with housing stability and homeownership. Services include move-in and eviction prevention assistance, down payment and closing cost support for first-time homebuyers, and a comprehensive four-week First-Time Homebuyer Workshop open to anyone interested in learning about the homebuying process. Whether you’re seeking financial support or looking to purchase your first home, the City is here to help.
78-80 Porter Road
In 2009, the Cambridge Housing authority (CHA) through its Cambridge Affordable Housing Corporation (CAHC) purchased a 26-unit rental property in Porter Square, also known as 78-80 Porter Road, with the financial assistance from the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust. Additional financing was used to significantly renovate the property and convert the mostly market-rate housing units into affordable housing rented out to income-eligible residents. In the process of updating and replacing old systems, the CHA was able to maintain and restore historically significant elements of the building.
37 Brookline Street
37 Brookline Street is a 6,582 square foot property in Cambridgeport, located a couple of blocks south of Massachusetts Avenue and the amenities of Central Square, including shops, restaurants and the Central Square MBTA station. The property contains an existing vacant three-family building, which was most recently owned by the late artist Peter Valentine, a well-known member of the Cambridge arts community. Just A Start (JAS) purchased the property in July 2023 and intends to replace the existing triple-decker with a new affordable multi-family rental development under the provisions of the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO).
Rindge Commons North
Just a Start (JAS) will be building two new buildings at 430-432 Rindge Avenue in North Cambridge. This two-phased project, called Rindge Commons, will create 101 affordable apartments. All units will be affordable to households earning under 80% AMI, with some being more deeply affordable. Additionally, JAS's development will provide community-wide benefits by addressing climate change mitigation and sustainability goals and enhancing the experience of pedestrians and cyclists along Alewife Brook Parkway and Rindge Avenue.
The first phase, Rindge Commons North, will include 24 affordable one- and two-bedroom rental units, as well several floors of non-residential where JAS will be consolidating its training and education programs into a centralized location. The City will also be leasing space to create three Pre-Kindergarten classrooms for children between ages three and five years old, providing much needed affordable early education for Cambridge’s working families. Rindge Commons North is located just steps away from the Alewife T-Station, and shares a site with JAS’s Rindge Tower Apartments.
The second phase of Rindge Commons will begin once Rindge Commons North is complete and will contain 77 affordable family-sized units.