That the City Manager is requested to work with the MBTA to prioritize addressing housing affordability in the redevelopment of the Alewife garage

O-1 FIRST IN COUNCIL September 23, 2024 City of Cambridge COUNCILLOR SOBRINHO-WHEELER VICE MAYOR MCGOVERN COUNCILLOR WILSON COUNCILLOR SIDDIQUI WHEREAS: This City Council recently learned about the MBTA’s plans to redevelop the Alewife garage and passed POR 2024 #110 asking for the City Manager to keep the City Council apprised of any updates; and WHEREAS: In resident surveys conducted by the City, housing affordability is consistently ranked by most Cambridge residents as their top concern; and WHEREAS: The Alewife redevelopment presents a unique opportunity to help address Cambridge’s affordable housing challenges by providing significant additional transit-oriented housing as part of a mixed-use space in proximity to a major public transit hub; and WHEREAS: If redevelopment plans at the Alewife garage were to prioritize parking and commercial space over addressing the region’s housing affordability challenges, Cambridge could see traffic and housing prices exacerbated in the city; and WHEREAS: The City has long recognized Alewife as a potential site for significant additional housing in Cambridge, including the largest affordable housing development in Cambridge—the Rindge towers—and in the recent Alewife Quad rezoning; now therefore be it ORDERED: That, building on POR 2024 #110, the City Manager be and hereby is requested to work with the MBTA to prioritize addressing housing affordability in the redevelopment of the Alewife garage.