Years of planning and community input are finally going to see action! The North Mass Ave and Cambridge Street zoning petitions will come before the City Council for a second reading and final passage on Monday, December 22. These petitions are one of the most important planning decisions the city will make for growing our housing capacity.
What you can do now:
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Email the City Council at [email protected] (you can also cc [email protected] and bcc [email protected])
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Sign up to speak at Monday's City Council meeting: Public Comment Sign-Up Form. Public comment starts at 5:30 and will likely continue until 6:30 or 7.
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Share your housing experience and urge Councillors to support the petitions
- Join us in-person on Monday. After public comment is done, we'll go across the street to 730 Tavern -- RSVP here on Partiful to stay in the loop
These reforms are essential because Cambridge is falling behind on its housing production goals, even as housing affordability remains residents’ top concern: only 10 new inclusionary units, and just 200 new units overall, were completed in the last two years. Without zoning that allows new apartment buildings on our major corridors, we simply cannot produce enough housing to meet current and future needs.
The proposed zoning focuses the greatest density near transit, jobs, and local businesses. Denser housing reduces car dependence, supports more commercial activity, and replaces inefficient land use with vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods.
Unfortunately, opponents of this process are spreading misinformation, falsely implying the zoning would allow 18-story buildings everywhere. In reality, buildings of that height are only possible right next to Porter Square, require Planning Board approval, and must deliver substantial community benefits. Recently, opponents have said that 8-story buildings would turn Inman Square into Manhattan and flood Cambridge St. by clogging sewers.
Actively combating these outrageous arguments and centering the experiences of renters is critical. False claims about these changes distract from the real impacts of the housing shortage—rising rents, displacement, and the loss of community members. Renters, who make up a majority of Cambridge residents, are disproportionately harmed by inaction. Sharing renters’ perspectives helps ground this reform in reality and reminds City Councillors that failing to pass these petitions has real consequences.
These zoning changes reflect a lot of hard work among advocates, city staff, and neighbors. What's more, they are essential to meeting Cambridge’s climate goals, supporting local businesses, and addressing our housing shortage.
With the final vote set for Monday, December 22, your voice truly matters. Please speak up and urge the Council to pass these zoning reforms.
Thank you for your advocacy!
