CAMBRIDGE — The City of Cambridge received revised proposals for a significant development project at 201 Water Street South and 66 Highman Avenue, which were approved on May 28, 2024, at a Council meeting.
The applicant, SG Real Estate Developments LP II, in collaboration with planning consultants NPG Planning Solutions Inc., aims to construct a residential apartment complex comprising two towers atop a unified podium.
The updated proposal involves two towers, each increased to 15 storeys from the initially proposed 13 storeys, while eliminating the nine-storey middle tower originally proposed.
The development will maintain a total of 330 dwelling units. The unit breakdown is as follows: 107 two-bedrooms, 152 one-bedrooms, and 71 one-bedrooms plus den condominium suites.
The six-storey podium will span the building, with the first three storeys dedicated to parking and the next three to residential units.
To facilitate the project, the applicant sought Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendments, both of which were approved with the revised proposal.
The Official Plan Amendment proposed redesignating the subject lands from “Low/Medium Density Residential” and “Natural Open Space System” to “Medium-High Density Residential.”
The Zoning By-law Amendment has rezoned the lands from “Open Space – OS1” and “Residential – R4” to “Multiple-Residential – RM2,” allowing for an increased density of 219 units per hectare, compared to the previous maximum of 150 units per hectare.
The development will provide the same number of parking spaces: 416 vehicle parking spaces and 117 bicycle parking spaces for residents and visitors.
The revised plans have also increased the parking spaces allocated specifically for residents to 330, with an additional 86 spaces for visitors.
Access to the site will be via two points on Water Street South, with emergency access through 66 Highman Avenue, which will now function as a one-way exit for pedestrians in emergencies only.
The property at 66 Highman Avenue will only have regular access to the building for emergency vehicles.
A notable inclusion in the revised proposal is the incorporation of 20 affordable housing units.
The duration of the affordability of these units will be negotiated separately. Additionally, the existing home at 201 Water Street South will be incorporated into the new development.
The design includes road widening along Water Street South, reducing the total area of the subject lands to 1.51 hectares (3.74 acres).
The approved development represents a significant addition to Cambridge’s housing stock, contributing to the city’s growth and urban development efforts.
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