Housing
Allston Residents, Elected Officials Ask for More Benefits from Harvard’s 10-Year Plan
As Harvard finalizes its Institutional Master Plan in Allston, residents and elected officials called on the University to fulfill its previous promises and increase contributions to the Boston neighborhood.
Cambridge To Halt Funding for Transition Wellness Center Shelter as American Rescue Plan Funds Run Out
The City of Cambridge plans to halt funding to the Transition Wellness Center Shelter in June — removing the shelter’s 58 beds as the city struggles to accommodate its unhoused population. The temporary shelter was originally intended to close in 2023.
In ‘Landmark’ Vote, Cambridge Ends Single-Family Zoning
The Cambridge City Council voted 8-1 to approve a proposal eliminating single family zoning city-wide in a meeting Monday night, capping off over a year of laborious dealmaking between activist residents, experts, and councilors.
State, City Officials Emphasize Importance of Design in Addressing Housing Issues at GSD Talk
Officials from across the country said that their experience working in local government underscored the importance of design in improving and innovating cities at a talk hosted by the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Residents, Former Staff Allege Hostility and Unsanitary Conditions at Bay Cove Shelters
Residents and former staff of three shelters operated by Bay Cove Human Services in Cambridge alleged — in a public meeting, interviews, and more than 500 pages of public records obtained by The Crimson — that staff berated residents and shelters harbored unsanitary conditions.
Here’s How Cambridge Residents Would Solve the Affordable Housing Crisis
The affordable housing crisis has plagued Cambridge for more than a decade. As councilors have failed to reach a consensus on how to address the issue, upzoning proposals consistently occupy Cambridge City council meetings week after week.
Harvard Nears Construction Milestones in Allston Amid Development Boom
Harvard is soon to bring hundreds of new housing units online in Allston as the University approaches several major construction milestones in its long-running expansion across the river.
Harvard Housing Raises Rent, Drawing Concerns Among Some Graduate Students
Harvard University Housing announced last week that it will impose up to 6.5 percent rent increases for renewing tenants in nearly 30 of its buildings for the upcoming leasing season.
City Council Moves Forward with Multifamily Zoning Proposal, Despite Attempt to Amend
After dozens of Cambridge residents spoke in favor of preserving the city’s current multifamily zoning proposal, the Cambridge City Council voted to reject an amendment that would allow developers to build fewer stories without affordable housing units.
Ordinance Committee Advances Upzoning Proposal to Full City Council
The Cambridge City Council’s Ordinance Committee voted Thursday to advance a proposal to eliminate single-family zoning across the city, leaving the measure just two votes of the full City Council away from passing.
Harvard and MIT Urban Planning Experts Weigh In on Proposed Zoning Overhaul
A panel of Harvard and MIT Urban planning experts said Cambridge city leadership must include resident input when deliberating on upzoning legislation — but disagreed on the timeline.
Cambridge City Council Asks for Report on Amended Upzoning Proposal
The Cambridge City Council requested on Monday that City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 prepare a report on amendments that pare back the scope of Cambridge’s multifamily zoning proposal.
Committee Reduces Proposed Height Limit in Contentious Upzoning Proposal
Following months of contentious debate, the Cambridge City Council’s Ordinance Committee presented a set of amendments to the proposal to allow multifamily housing citywide — significantly reducing the proposed maximum height and density requirements.
Cambridge Planning Board Punts on Proposal to End Single-Family Housing in Final Vote
After hours of back-and-forth, the Cambridge Planning Board voted on Tuesday not to take a stance on a hotly contested proposal to allow six-story apartment buildings, instead passing a general statement of support for multifamily housing to the Cambridge City Council.
‘I Am Really Sorry’: Khurana Apologizes for International Student Winter Housing Denials
Harvard College Dean Rakesh Khurana apologized for the confusion and outrage sparked after many international students on financial aid were initially denied winter housing but clarified the reasoning behind the decision in a Monday interview with The Crimson.
GSAS Student Council Criticizes Harvard Housing Affordability
Members of the Harvard Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Student Council criticized the Harvard administration for the high off-campus housing prices at a meeting Thursday night.
Na comunidade brasileira de Allston-Brighton, recém-chegados sofrem em apartamentos superlotados
Dezenas de pessoas, incluindo 10 imigrantes brasileiros que vivem ou viveram em apartamentos superlotados em Allston-Brighton, descreveram condições físicas perigosas e um imenso impacto mental como resultado da sua condição habitacional. Eles veem poucas opções para sua situação.
Cambridge Is Nearing a Massive Zoning Overhaul. Here’s What That Means.
Cambridge officials are considering a dramatic change to the city’s zoning code in an effort to spur housing development and address what local politicians and advocates have described as a severe and far-reaching housing shortage.
In Allston’s Brazilian Community, New Arrivals Suffer in Overcrowded Apartments
Dozens of people, including 10 Brazilian immigrants who live or lived in overcrowded apartments in Allston-Brighton, described dangerous physical conditions and an overwhelming mental toll that came with their housing situation. They see few other options.
In Reversal, Harvard Offers International Students Winter Housing
The Harvard College Housing Office offered campus winter recess housing in emails to dozens of international students on Monday afternoon, reversing its initial decision to reject the housing applications and subsequent appeals.
Denied Winter Campus Housing, International Students Scramble to Find Alternative Options
Many international students on financial aid at Harvard are scrambling to find lodging over winter break after the College Housing Office unexpectedly denied their housing applications, sparking outrage among undergraduates.
Cambridge City Council Takes First Step Toward Eliminating Broker Fees
The Cambridge City Council took the first step in forcing landlords rather than tenants to pay broker fees, unanimously voting at a Monday meeting to hold a future hearing to discuss its feasibility.
Cambridge City Councilors Float Proposal to Force Landlords to Pay Broker Fees
The Cambridge City Council will discuss a proposal to force landlords, rather than tenants, to pay broker fees at its next meeting on Monday, according to the Council’s meeting agenda.
Harvard Files 10-Year Master Plan for Allston, Kicking Off Next Phase of Negotiations
Harvard filed its 2025-2035 Institutional Master Plan for its Allston campus on Tuesday, officially marking the next phase of negotiations with Boston officials over the University’s planned decade of development.
The Fight to Preserve Harriet Jacobs’ Legacy in Cambridge
A historical preservation committee wants to maintain the home of a formerly enslaved woman as a memorial and museum. The owner wants to build a boutique hotel. It’s a tenuous marriage.