A communication transmitted from Louis A. DePasquale, City Manager, relative to a request to approve the disposition of property located at 35 Cherry Street (the “Property”) to the Affordable Housing Trust to facilitate the development of affordable housing

City of Cambridge Agenda Item Number 14 IN CITY COUNCIL March 7, 2022 WHEREAS: WHEREAS: WHEREAS: WHEREAS: WHEREAS: WHEREAS: There continues to be a severe shortage of decent housing affordable to low- and moderate-income residents in the city; and The City Council desires to increase the supply of affordable housing, now and in the future, for low- and moderate-income Cambridge residents to reside in decent, affordable housing; and In its Letter of Commitment dated April 8, 2013 in connection with the City Council’s adoption of amendments to Section 13.80 of the Zoning Ordinance, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”) committed to convey property located at 35 Cherry Street, Assessor’s Lot 75-118 (the “Property”) to the City or third party designated by the City for uses to benefit the community as determined through a public process conducted by the Community Development Department; and MIT has agreed to convey the Property to the City and to record a deed evidencing said conveyance of the Property to the City shortly; and On November 9, 2020, the City Council adopted an order requesting that the City Manager direct the Community Development Department to commence the public process with the Port neighborhood and surrounding communities to determine the future use of the Property for affordable housing, and in conjunction with the community, determine the type of housing that would meet the most pressing needs in the area; and The Community Development Department conducted a public process which included two community meetings which were open to anyone, and six focus groups with Spanish-speaking, Haitian, and American-born Black Cambridge residents to discuss ideas and options for how the Property could be developed as affordable housing; and

WHEREAS: WHEREAS: WHEREAS: ORDERED: ORDERED: ORDERED: The Community Development Department has provided a report to the City Council on this community process which includes recommendations for developing the Property as affordable housing, including: Use of 100% of units on-site for affordable housing; On-site housing units should provide affordable homeownership opportunities; Include maximum number of family-sized (3-4 bedroom) units as financially viable; Provide high quality private open space for children to play and residents to gather and build community; Prioritize current Cambridge residents when identifying residents for the new affordable units to the extent allowable under fair housing law; Provide access to on-site parking based on anticipated demand; and The City Manager has further recommended that the City Council approve the disposition of the Property to the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust to initiate the process to develop the Property as affordable housing pursuant to the recommendations from the community process; and Pursuant to Section 15A of Chapter 40 of the General Laws, as amended and accepted by the City Council on November 26, 1990, the City Council may, by a majority vote, transfer municipal land to another board or officer of the City for the purpose of constructing affordable housing; now therefore be it That upon receipt of the deed conveying the property from MIT to the City, the City Manager is authorized to transfer the Property to the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust for the development of affordable homeownership housing for low- and moderate- residents as described above; and be it further That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute and deliver to the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust, in the name of and on behalf of the City of Cambridge in such form as the City Manager shall approve (such approval to be evidenced by such execution and delivery) such documents, instruments, agreements, deeds, licenses, warranties, indemnifications, releases or certificates, or amendments thereto, required by the Cambridge Affordable Housing Trust to develop the Property as affordable housing; and be it further That the City Manager is hereby authorized to execute, accept, and deliver such supplemental or ancillary documents as are reasonable necessary to implement the intent of this Order and to execute, accept and deliver amendments thereto. In City Council March 7, 2022. Adopted by a yea and nay vote:- Yeas 9; Nays 0; Absent 0. Attest:- Anthony I. Wilson, City Clerk A true copy; ATTEST:- Anthony I. Wilson City Clerk