Cambridge council approves $20 million appropriation to demolish 221 Mount Auburn St.

The Cambridge City Council on July 23 approved a $20,000,000 appropriation to fund the demolition of 221 Mount Auburn Street after engineers and city inspectors concluded the 9‑story, 65‑unit building posed an imminent risk to public health and safety.

City officials said the funds will come temporarily from the general fund employee benefits salary and wages account and will be replenished with a future free‑cash appropriation once the state certifies Cambridge’s FY2025 free cash. City Solicitor Megan Bear said the city will use authority in Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 143 to abate the dangerous building and may recover demolition costs by recording a lien on the property if owners do not pay.

The appropriation is intended to let the city hire contractors and consultants to carry out a complex demolition that city staff say cannot follow a standard demolition sequence because of structural failures and widespread asbestos. Deputy City Manager Kathy Watkins described a multi‑departmental effort and said contractors must treat removed material “as hazardous material and disposed of such,” which staff said could raise disposal costs five to ten times typical rates.

The city manager’s report, city inspections and consultant SGH found two major construction defects across the building: reinforcing steel (rebar) placed consistently about two inches lower than specified and concrete strength averaging about 2,000 psi versus the expected 3,000 psi. Those findings, combined with extensive cracking, led SGH and the city’s board of survey to conclude the building cannot be safely repaired.

Residents and condo association leaders told the council the building’s failure has left many owners — a number of them elderly — suddenly homeless and without the means to fund demolition. Anne Saada, identified as president of the Riverview condominium trust, said Riverview was “a vibrant place” and that owners evacuated the building in December 2024. “When we evacuated the 9 story 65 unit building in December 2024, we still hoped it could be repaired,” Saada said. Harriet Griesinger, who said she is 85 and evacuated from the building, told the council she and many neighbors “put their last cent into their condo” and welcomed the city’s action to protect public safety.

Neighboring residents raised traffic and safety concerns tied to detours and construction activity. Shane Rowerdink, who said he lives on Fort Longfellow Road, asked the city to include detour routes in the demolition safety plan and to consider temporary speeding cameras and weekly updates for neighbors.

Council discussion focused on the public‑safety rationale, the appropriation’s funding source and the city’s plan to recover costs. Chief Financial Officer Claire Spinner told the council that the $20 million will ultimately be funded from certified free cash but, because the city is awaiting state certification of its free cash this summer, staff recommended a temporary transfer from the employee benefits account now and a replenishment in October. Councilor J. Nolan moved the appropriation; the motion passed with eight members voting in favor and one member absent. The council also placed the matter on file.

City Solicitor Megan Bear said the city plans to file a court case in the coming days to confirm authority for the work; she described the statutory recovery mechanism under Chapter 143 that would allow the city to record a statement of debt at the registry of deeds and, if unpaid, treat the debt with lien priority similar to a tax lien. Deputy City Manager Watkins and staff said the city is coordinating with state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection, and that detailed planning and permitting work will begin immediately so major demolition work can proceed before winter snow loads.

The council also directed staff to provide additional written information and to hold community briefings; Watkins and the city manager referenced a virtual community meeting scheduled for July 24 and a FAQ document posted to the city website. No substantive litigation strategy was discussed in open session; the solicitor said questions about litigation would be handled in executive session.

Votes at a glance

- Motion to appropriate $20,000,000 from the general fund employee benefits salary and wages account to the general fund reserve extraordinary expenditures account for demolition of 221 Mount Auburn Street. Mover: Councilor Nolan. Outcome: approved (8 yes, 0 no, 0 abstain, 1 absent). The matter was placed on file.

- City Manager’s agenda item number 2 (communication); placed on file (9 yes).