New Affordable Housing Development Processes Applications, Nears Occupancy

By the end of August, Wingate Properties, property manager of the new all-affordable residential building at 52 New Street, had received about 2,400 applications from prospective tenants. On September 16, they conducted a lottery to determine the order in which eligible applicants will be offered one of the 106 newly built apartment homes in Cambridge Highlands.

Built by nonprofit housing developer Just A Start, 52 New Street occupies an approximately 145,000 square foot lot in Neighborhood Nine, close to Danehy Park, Fresh Pond, and the Alewife MBTA station. The newly built residential structure complies with Passive House standards, a set of performance-based requirements around energy efficiency, thermal comfort, and air quality. Residents will enjoy amenities such as upper-level exterior decks, a large community room, fitness center, and an outdoor play area. Of its 106 apartments, most are family-sized, with 22 one-bedroom, 62 two-bedroom, and 22 three-bedroom units.

52 New Street was the first affordable housing project approved under the provisions of the Affordable Housing Overlay (AHO), which was adopted in 2020. After breaking ground in 2024, it now approaches its final milestones and will become home to 106 families in early 2026.