The Planning and Development (P&D) Department secures capital funding from a variety of state, federal, local and private sources for both the revitalization of our housing portfolio (approximately 3,000 hard units in the City of Cambridge) and the development of new affordable housing. Since 2010, CHA has completed or has started construction on over $640 million of work in order to protect and preserve over 2,300 units of affordable housing. As part of that work, CHA has constructed over 200 new housing units.
The CHA has been working to convert its federally assisted public housing portfolio to the Section 8 program since HUD’s approval of CHA’s portfolio conversion application under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) Program in December 2013. In addition to utilizing RAD, the CHA has also received tenant protection vouchers through the Section 18 Disposition process. As of 2024, CHA has converted 2,338 units (or 96%) of its 2,427 federally assisted public housing units.
In addition to major renovation and redevelopment projects, P&D is responsible for on-going capital improvements within CHA’s portfolio, with an emphasis on long-term durability, livability, energy efficiency and high-quality construction.
Development Consulting and Collaboration
P&D operates a robust consulting operation, providing local housing authorities and municipal partners with services related to development of affordable housing, modernization/repositioning of federal and state public housing, leveraging of public land, resident relocation, and construction administration, among other services. CHA is currently actively engaged in 12 communities in Massachusetts and Maine,
CHA has also established itself as a co-developer of affordable housing projects in Greater Boston. In Medford, CHA is partnering with the Medford Housing Authority on the modernization of Saltonstall Apartments and Walkling Court. In Belmont, CHA is collaborating with the Belmont Housing Authority on the redevelopment of its Sherman Gardens property.
Please direct inquiries regarding CHA’s development consulting services to Margaret Donnelly Moran, Deputy Executive Director, at mmoran@cambridge-housing.org.
Recent News
- Financing is set for first phase of Jefferson Park, public housing project 10 years in the planning
- MassDevelopment issues $151.7 million in tax-exempt bonds on behalf of affiliates of public housing authorities
Planning & Development Staff
Bryan Mah - Deputy Director of Planning and Development for Construction
Planning & Development
The Planning & Development Department (P&D) secures capital funding from a variety of different state, federal, local, and private sources for both the revitalization of our housing portfolio (approximately 3.000 hard units in the City of Cambridge), as well as for the development of new affordable housing opportunities. P&D acts as a developer of affordable housing outside of Cambridge in Greater Boston and offers development consulting services to other housing authorities, nonprofits, and emerging developers.
There are approximately 20 staff working in CHA’s Planning and Development Department
Completed Construction
- · Truman Apartments
- · Millers River
- · Roosevelt Towers Low-Rise
- · Porter Road
- · Burns Apartments
- Construction “In Progress”
- · Jefferson Park Federal
- · Saltonstall Apartments (Medford)
- · 116 Norfolk Street
The scope of work of these projects varies but includes interior renovation, building system and envelope upgrades, accessibility and site improvements. All of the projects listed above have required some level of relocation for resident safety and to expedite the completion of the work at each site.
Resident information and participation is at the forefront of all of the work going on at CHA. If the building where you live is currently or will be under construction soon, Project Managers are always available to answer questions you may have about renovation work going on at your building. P&D staff provide updates on design and construction activities through newsletters and resident meetings. Even during this unprecedented time P&D staff will continue to facilitate resident participation and ensure that is part of design and construction activities at your building.
The following projects are currently in the Design Phase
· Corcoran Park
· Weaver Apartments
· Roosevelt Towers Mid-Rise
· Walkling Court (Medford)
· Sherman Gardens (Belmont)
The following “longer term projects” are presently in the planning stages:
· Modernization of 8-10 Columbus
· Redevelopment of UDIC properties
· 155 Willow Street (New Construction)
· Potential new construction at Millers River
· Modernization of Linnaean Street