Cambridge Planning Board closes advisory review for HRIs 2830 Wendell project after design discussion and public comment

Tom Sinovich, vice chair and acting chair of the Cambridge Planning Board, presided over an advisory design consultation Nov. 18 on HRIs 2830 Wendell Street proposal, an 8-story building that would contain 95 permanently affordable rental units (including 40 age-restricted one-bedroom units), 110,803 gross square feet, five parking spaces and 77 long-term plus eight short-term bicycle spaces.

The meeting focused on design updates presented by HRI and ICON Architecture and extensive public comment. Lehi McCrackas of HRI and architect Gabby Acheson described changes made since the boards August review: a two-foot reveal at the central mast to break up façade massing and emphasize a six-story datum, larger window lintels and adjusted cornice profiles, a reconfigured ground floor that consolidates distinct zones and a reworked Wendell streetscape with a small "little library," community hub seating and additional bike parking. "We've continued to improve the design and look forward to sharing the changes," the project team said during their presentation.

Neighbors who spoke at the meeting voiced divided views. Eugene Kim (29 Wendell Street) said while he supports affordable housing, the proposed buildings scale "far exceeds" what Wendell Street can reasonably support and raised infrastructure concerns, citing what he said were project figures that increase sewage output from about 3,000 to roughly 19,900 gallons per day and describing the local water supply as an 8-inch cast-iron main. "The project raises major concerns regarding excessive scale and quality-of-life impacts, unsustainable infrastructure burdens and worsening traffic near a school and university corridors," Kim said. Several other residents likewise criticized the project for its length along the sidewalk, parking shortfalls (five spaces for 95 units) and potential construction impacts.

Supporters at the hearing, including Deborah Fox, a homeowner and HRI board member, and Valerie Bonds, president of the Mass Senior Action Council and an HRI resident, said the project will deliver badly needed family and senior housing and praised HRIs track record. "It will be an important asset in the community, not only for the housing," Fox said.

Board members used the Q&A and discussion to press the design team on particulars. Questions covered the reveal/notch and whether it should continue to the roof, the width of Wendell Street (the team said curb-to-curb is a little over 30 feet), side setbacks (about just over 7 feet east and just over 5 feet west), the garage location and how deliveries or ride-hail drop-offs would be handled, replacement plantings for removed mature trees and soil volumes for the proposed courtyard canopy tree. The project team said civil- and utility-sizing has been reviewed by the Department of Public Works and that they do not expect inadequate infrastructure, and that they will follow up with more landscape and stormwater details.

Board members also questioned programmatic trade-offs tied to height and unit yield. Staff and the developer said they had reduced the height from a previously reviewed nine stories to eight in response to community concerns and to maintain financial and operational viability for deep affordability, noting that going significantly lower would reduce unit yield and threaten on-site services like property management and an engagement coordinator. The team said they are at approximately 70% construction documents and expect to apply for state financing this fall; the earliest construction start would be mid-2027 if financing proceeds on a fast schedule. Preliminary project budget materials cited by the board put the project around $94 million.

After extended discussion and public comment, the board voted unanimously to conclude the advisory design consultation and submit a final report with its comments to the superintendent of buildings. Diego Macias moved the motion; H. Theodore Cohen seconded. Jeff Roberts (CDD) recorded the roll call: Ted Cohen, Mary Lidecker, Diego Macias, Ashley Tan, Carolyn Zurn and Thompson Avish all voted yes. Sinovich said staff would prepare a draft memo capturing the boards comments for the record.

The meeting closed with the planning board thanking participants and petitioners; the board emphasized staff and the project team will continue to refine design elements, respond to landscape and stormwater questions, and coordinate any curb-parking or operational changes with the city transportation department during permitting.

The planning board's action was advisory; no permit was granted or denied at the meeting. The project's next formal milestones include submission for state financing and continued design refinement ahead of building-permit level review.