Finch Cambridge – completed Summer 2020
Largest new construction affordable housing development in Cambridge in 40 years

August 14, 2020 - Finch Cambridge opened its doors for the first time in late July – new residents are moving in through early August. Construction started on the one-acre parcel of land in mid-2018; two years later, it is the largest new construction, 100% affordable housing development in the City of Cambridge in over forty years. HRI, a local, non-profit affordable housing developer in Cambridge, is the project sponsor and owner. Finch Cambridge meets the highest energy efficiency and sustainability standards and is the largest Passive House building in Massachusetts to date. HRI is also pursuing Enterprise Green Communities and Fitwel Standard certifications, health and wellness building standards through Enterprise Community Partners and the Center for Active Design.

Our team is proud of the building and excited to welcome new residents. New resident Maura Mendoza describes her journey to Finch Cambridge: “We have spent the last decade in Cambridge and once we wanted to start a family, it felt like we would get displaced since we needed more than a one bedroom and Cambridge rents are so expensive. We have been loving [Finch Cambridge] since we’ve arrived. Our neighbors are amazing. We all come from somewhere, very common ground and I’m so looking forward to building community.”

Finch Cambridge includes ninety-eight, 100% affordable 1, 2, and 3-bedroom apartments including five accessible and two-sensory impaired apartments. The majority of apartments are for households earning less than 60% Area Median Income (AMI) and the remaining apartments for households earning up to 100% AMI. Finch Cambridge includes community spaces on the first and sixth floors as well as a patio garden in the front, a pocket-park in the back, and a roof deck. A full-time Community Engagement Coordinator is on site facilitating programs that emphasize outdoor activities, connections to nature, as well as healthy food through local farmer’s markets and community gardening.

Crucial financing was provided by the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency (MassHousing), the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD), TD Bank, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC), and the Cambridge Housing Authority (CHA) with grant funding from the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center Passive House Design Challenge and MassSave Multifamily Passive House (administered by ICF on behalf of MassSave program administrator Eversource).

“We are so grateful to our funders as well as our design and technical team for truly going the extra mile to develop this much needed housing in these difficult times. You have helped us create hope in a time where this is hard to come by,” said Peter Daly, Executive Director of HRI. The project team includes NEI General Contracting, ICON Architecture, New Ecology, Inc. (sustainability consultant), and many other talented builders, engineers, and designers. Finch Cambridge will be professionally managed by WinnResidential. All 98 apartments will remain affordable in perpetuity.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony will be scheduled sometime in the future when gatherings are safe and allowed under state and local guidelines.

808-812 Memorial drive

HRI is beginning a multi-year construction campaign to upgrade 808-812 Memorial Drive. In addition to refurbished common areas and lobbies, HRI is upgrading major building systems and apartment units. Chiefly, the rehabilitation will include a new building envelope overcladding the existing envelope, improving the building’s thermal performance, addressing persistent water penetrations, and providing a better aesthetic for a prominent Cambridge landmark.

For more information, please visit www.808-812rehab.com.

cascap

Effective April 1, 2020, HRI, in collaboration with CASCAP, Inc. and Wingate Management, will oversee management of CASCAP’s 250+ unit real estate portfolio and operations. The staff and boards of both HRI and CASCAP have been planning for this transition for approximately two years, working together on a comprehensive approach to stabilizing and reinvesting in CASCAP properties. Wingate Management will be taking over property management responsibilities for the portfolio.

The motivation for HRI’s role in management oversight is the retirement of Michael Haran, the long-term Executive Director of CASCAP. Mr. Haran has led CASCAP’s efforts since its inception in 1973, working tirelessly to improve the quality of life for individuals who have struggled to find stable housing due to disability, poverty, or age. We all deeply appreciate Michael’s commitment to CASCAP’s mission, residents, portfolio, and staff; we recognize his invaluable impact on the CASCAP community and the affordable and supportive housing field, and pledge to sustain the CASCAP portfolio and uphold his legacy.

While the vast majority of HRI’s portfolio is in Cambridge, HRI is looking forward to expanding its mission to new cities and towns in the Commonwealth and help address our regional affordable housing crisis. In partnership with Wingate, HRI will expand its geographic footprint to Watertown, Newtown, Somerville, and Lowell.