We’re looking to grow our communities and there’s real opportunity here. It’s a smart investment with meaningful returns.

Envisioning a New Community

With the housing crisis being a major issue in the country right now and in Massachusetts, it was incredible news to hear of the history-making new multi-unit zoning law for the City of Cambridge.

What is the New Cambridge Zoning?

The new Inclusionary Zoning eliminates the former zoning law that only allowed for single-family homes to be built on lots in Cambridge neighborhoods.

Now, with this reform in place any lot in Cambridge can be developed into a 4-story apartment building without special approval, and with the caveat that a developer can build an additional two stories if 20% of the units are affordable. This change removes the many barriers for developers to build housing in Cambridge and increases the much-needed housing supply for those who want to live there.

How Do I Explore these New Developments?

There are many development opportunities with several key property sites available as prime locations for multi-unit housing. Identifying sites and developing yield plans on these residential sites is the first step to exploring these opportunities. This is how we engage with an interested developer looking to contribute to the community:

Step 1: Laying the Groundwork: Visioning Session 

We start by bringing your ideas to life with a Visioning Session to define Programming Goals, Site Design & Placemaking, Identity & Branding and Target Audience.

Next, we need to know and understand the sites you have identified through Research & Analyses, Zoning Reviews and Resiliency Checks.

Step 2: Crafting the Master Plan: Concept Development

With this step and taking the information and materials we’ve gathered in Step 1, we create hand sketches to explore various site layouts refining them together before moving into computer-generated plans.

This leads us into Master Planning and Massing bringing it all together with a Detailed Site Plan, a Polished Presentation Package and in most cases Landscape Design Integration and a Financial Check.

Step 3: Engaging with the City

 Finally, armed with well-prepared materials, the PCA team will join you and your land use attorney for early discussions with the City’s Planning & Zoning Department. These conversations help set the stage for a smooth Entitlement Process with refinement of the plan based on the City’s feedback.

If you’d like to discuss the new multi-unit housing zoning laws for the City of Cambridge in detail and craft a plan to help meet its development needs, reach out: David Chilinski.

 

Published in Design, Practice