SnooMaps7887 t1_j8njq68 wrote on February 15, 2023 at 4:55 PM

Reply to comment by IntelligentCicada363 in Most towns are going along with the state’s new multifamily housing law. Not Middleborough. by TouchDownBurrito

In fairness to Cambridge, they have the second highest density in the state behind Somerville (and 26th highest in the entire country!). Room for improvement, but I think they are doing their fair share compared to just about every other city.

IntelligentCicada363 t1_j8nk7xe wrote on February 15, 2023 at 4:58 PM

Yes, but grading the greater Boston area on a curve like that is a poor idea.

There is so much low hanging fruit in Cambridge for completely inoffensive upzoning (3-5 stories by right) that would maintain the city's character and provide thousands upon thousands more homes.

SnooMaps7887 t1_j8nn7ly wrote on February 15, 2023 at 5:17 PM

Sure, I agree in principal and fortunately there has been a lot of talk in the city about upzoning.

I just don't think that many of the cities north of the Charles are "particularly egregious"; to me that title should be pointed toward the cities and neighborhoods to the west and south that have always resisted upzoning.

Also, those 6000 sq. ft minimum lots make up .7% of the Cambridge's dwelling units.

IntelligentCicada363 t1_j8nr1wh wrote on February 15, 2023 at 5:42 PM

They make up .7% of the dwelling units because there are so few of them, because of the zoning laws. Cambridge is only ~6.4 square miles. That area is not trivial in the slightest.

SnooMaps7887 t1_j8o4c3h wrote on February 15, 2023 at 7:08 PM

Ok, they still only make up 3% of the city's land mass. Compare to Newton where a Globe article noted that 80% of residential lots (almost 10,000 of them) within a half mile of the MBTA Express Bus service are zoned for single-family use.

Again, I think we agree, I just feel like the biggest impact can come from the communities that have not done their part to date.