CAMBRIDGE — A development proposal for 1,046 apartment units has seen a significant increase in units at 777 Laurel Street.
The proposal is currently undergoing staff review, with major revisions to the plan.
The existing site, currently designated for industrial use, is the focus of E Squared Developments Corp.’s proposal to convert it into a residential area.
The newest proposal includes an increase in the height of all six towers. The tallest tower is now proposed at 19 storeys, a significant change from the original proposal of 14 storeys.
Recognizing the impact of these changes on the surrounding community, Councillor Devine has suggested that residents in the vicinity, particularly those around the site, should have a say in the matter.
Councillor Devine advocates for a neighbourhood meeting to solicit public input during the interim period, proposing a deferment of the decision until June 25, 2024.
The revisions outlined in the newest report indicate a substantial difference in tower heights from the initial proposal in September 2023 to the latest version presented to the council in March 2024.
Notably, the two towers situated along Laurel Street have seen an increase from seven to eight storeys.
In contrast, deeper within the development, two towers initially planned for 12 storeys are now slated to rise to 14 storeys.
Moreover, two towers originally proposed to be between 12 to 14 storeys are now projected to reach heights of between 16 to 19 storeys.
The rationale behind these height adjustments, as per the developer’s report, stems from feedback received during a public meeting on September 5, 2023.
Both the council and planning staff expressed a desire for additional parking provisions on a per-unit basis for the development.
To accommodate the change, the developer has put forth a new proposal, increasing the parking supply by adding another level of structured parking within the podium of the building.
The developer also integrated additional residential units into the plan to balance the rise in development costs.
The updated proposal includes a total of 1,401 parking spaces for the now 1,215 units—a notable increase from the former plan, which featured 1,047 parking spaces for 1,046 residential units.
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