Supporting Community Conversation in Cambridge

In early 2025, Homeowner’s Rehab, Inc. (HRI) invited the JM Goldson team to design and facilitate an additional community meeting for the proposed affordable housing development at 28–30 Wendell Street. While the project qualified under Cambridge’s Affordable Housing Overlay zoning provisions, which allow for greater height and flexibility to encourage affordable housing production, HRI chose to go beyond the regulatory requirements. They wanted to ensure that the project was not only feasible but also reflective of neighborhood priorities.

Led by Jenn Goldson, our team created an interactive open house–style forum that encouraged residents to engage directly with the project team, including the developer, architects, landscape architects, and management company. This format gave community members the chance to ask questions, share feedback, and help shape the final plan in a collaborative environment.

The result was a constructive conversation that built trust and strengthened the project by weaving community input into the design process.