Cambridge lays out masterplan to help address housing needs

CAMBRIDGE, Md – The city of Cambridge is highlighting efforts they’re taking to help combat the lack of affordable housing in the area, as well as renovating units that have fallen behind on code.

“We have a lot of housing that is not meeting communities standards, we have a lot of distressed and abandoned homes in Cambridge, this is not uncommon in a city that’s gone through deindustrialization as we have. And so we’re trying to address that housing stock so we can increase affordable housing for everybody,” said City Manager Tom Carroll.

Caroll tells us the city is taking a multi-stage approach. At the most basic level, the town is making an effort to possess and demolish derelict homes, looking to turn the blighted areas into future affordable housing.

But at a larger scale, the town is seeking to create an entire subdivision in what is currently a vacant lot in the Pine Street neighborhood. That lot would see seven to eight affordable houses build in tandem with the city, and state dollars through the Home Ownership Work program.

The program would see those houses in the lot constructed at a price of around $250,000 but listed at nearly $100,000 dollars off to help attract middle-class families to the community.

“It is going to allow more people to have the American dream of a single-family homeownership and to build financial equity in the Pine Street neighborhood, which is a historically distressed, underserved community,” Caroll said.

A vacant lot in front of that area, once the site of a Caribbean restaurant is also being considered for conversion into housing or mixed-use development with an interest period for the property being launched and running into August.

But for houses that do have occupants, but are falling behind on code and safety, the city is offering the HomeOwner Helper program, aimed at helping senior citizens on a fixed income receive home upgrades they are unable to afford or make work, at no charge.

“When they get a code enforcement order Will help them paint their house or whatever they need doing,” Caroll said.

Cambridge Mayor Steve Rideout tells 47ABC the City has also reached out to the Federal HUD office and received a 4 million dollar grant to help with the removal of lead paint, lead pipes, and asbestos in older homes, especially those with young children present. He tells us they are also relaunching a long-dormant sidewalk fixup program aimed at making the town more walkable and easier on the eyes.

He tells us rental unit center downtown, at the former Hearn Building, will also help young professionals find housing within City limits.

“It’s for working-class people, i”s for our social workers, our teachers, our police officers, and nurses who may be coming out of nursing school and are young and need a one-bedroom apartment to get themselves started,” he said.

Rideout tells us the projects are at least a year out, but is confident they will have a major impact on the city upon competition.