The Boston Business Journal reported that a proposal to permit six-story residential buildings throughout Cambridge, MA could result in the creation of 4,880 new housing units over the next fifteen years. This is nearly fourteen times more than what is expected under current zoning regulations. The city’s housing committee voted last week to recommend that the Community Development Department draft new zoning language based on this proposal.
If implemented, this measure would establish some of the most progressive pro-housing zoning laws in the nation, according to reports from The Business Journal. Councilor Burhan Azeem, co-chair of the housing committee stated that while their proposed solution may not be perfect and they are open to suggestions for improvement, it is still a significant improvement compared to maintaining current policies.
However,some councilors expressed concerns about potential unintended consequences on affordable housing as a result of rezoning efforts across Cambridge.
