CARE Housing
Citizens for Affordable, Responsible, and Equal Housing
Mission Statement
CARE Housing is a grassroots organization in Cambridge, MA. Our goal is to support programming and legislation for affordable, responsible, and equal housing while protecting the environment and Cambridge's unique and diverse neighborhoods.
We are currently focused on ensuring the city passes zoning to protect buildings with solar panels and/or hot water solar heating, as the new zoning (Feb 2025) does not include any protections for solar.
Review analysis of the impact on development if solar is protected via zoning
Sign the petition to protect solar.
Cambridge has the opportunity to be a national leader in solar protection and housing, but we aren’t there yet.
The new zoning law allows for 4 stories throughout all of Cambridge, 6 stories if 20% is affordable housing, and 9 stories for 100% affordable housing (lot size must be 5,000 square feet or more - 25% of the lots in Cambridge are larger than 5,000 square feet). New buildings only need to have 5-foot side and rear setbacks. All buildings are "as of right" meaning abutters cannot dispute.
There are currently no protections for solar owners if new construction casts shadows on your panels or solar hot water heating system.
CAREHousing is working with the city to get solar zoning protections, but WE NEED YOUR VOICE.
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ACT NOW- email city council with your thoughts and or attend public comment.
Please consider signing up for updates and find out how to have your concerns heard.
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