Frequently Asked Questions

 Project Details

  • Though not yet final, all our upzoned redevelopment plans currently include two floors of underground parking beneath the site. It's important to us that any expansion of this building not impinge on the ability of nearby residents to find street parking.

  • If a rezoning for this site is successful, we will then complete a comprehensive Traffic Impact Study (TIS) and Parking and Transportation Demand Management (PTDM) plan that will be filed with and reviewed by the City. However, the proximity of this project to MBTA and BlueBike transit hubs in Kendall Square will bolster our own efforts to minimize the traffic impact to surrounding residents.

  • Yes, all potential options for this project assume all-electric power with no reliance on fossil fuels outside of short-term emergency use. These upgrades will result in a quieter building for the neighborhood.

  • We are still in the very early stages of this redevelopment effort and therefore, have not begun any conversations with prospective tenants. However, if this project is approved, our intent is to lease the space to a respectful, safe, and trusted life science tenant. Across Cambridge, we rent to dozens of such tenants and take seriously their and our obligation to be a good neighbor.

  • If you have questions or comments please reach out here. You are welcome to send feedback or schedule a 1:1 with a member of the project team. You can learn more about the project and see previous presentations here.

    Let us know if we haven’t reached you yet, we are taking recommendations for further outreach.

  • Housing is not being considered for the site, but development of a lab building on the site will yield a significant contribution to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund via the City’s Incentive Zoning Ordinance. For every square foot of gross floor area of lab space developed on the site, the project will contribute $33.34. It’s also worth noting that a residential project would not deliver any community benefit dollars to support offsite improvements.

  • Developing a building with more density than is currently permitted "as of right" (AOR) is the only way to achieve a financially viable project that would cover the costs of redevelopment and is consistent with the current planning objectives of the City. At the same time, a larger building would provide significant additional benefits to Cambridge: increased tax revenues, significant contributions to the city's affordable housing fund, contributions to important community organizations, and more customers for East Cambridge businesses especially along the nearby Cambridge Street commercial corridor.

  • We understand that shadow impact is an important concern and have carefully studied this issue. Based on our analysis to date, the proposed building will create minimal new shadows. For details, please refer to the preliminary shadow studies in the March 4, 2025, Presentation. Please note that these studies focus on the proposed building and do not account for shadows already cast by existing homes and structures.

  • No. The building will comply with all City of Cambridge, MA, light ordinances. Additionally, sustainable design features, such as motion-activated lighting, will help minimize unnecessary illumination.

  • The proposed building massing at 320 Charles Street has been carefully designed to transition into the surrounding neighborhood.  The building has been scaled down to 4 stories (approximately 65 feet), with some sections at 3 stories (50 feet) to better align with nearby residential structures. The tallest portions of the building are positioned away from residential homes, while lower sections help create a more gradual height transition. The design incorporates setbacks along Charles Street to create a softer edge facing the residential neighborhood. Upper floors are pushed back from the street frontage, reducing the perceived height and minimizing shadows on nearby properties. The look and feel has also been an important consideration, the building will use traditional materials like brick and warm-toned facades to reflect the character of East Cambridge’s residential streets. The design avoids the cold, soul-less feel of glass-and-metal buildings, responding to community feedback for a more inviting aesthetic.

 Community Benefits

  • Though we have no final proposal yet as we continue to work with the East Cambridge community, transforming 320 Charles Street into a four story laboratory building could generate approximately $20 million in community benefits.

  • Without the value provided by additional density, an "as-of-right" project would not provide any community benefit dollars.

  • As part of our rezoning petition, we would submit a proposed “Commitment Letter” to the City that outlines how specific community benefit dollars from the project could be used. For example, we have heard from many in the community that the East End House, a critical East Cambridge institution, should be a primary recipient of the community benefits dollars to support their relocation and expansion in the neighborhood. We have also heard desire for some funds to be allocated to renovations of Ahern Field. Through our outreach efforts, we are looking to learn more about the most pressing needs of the East Neighborhood community so we can effectively advocate for those causes through our entitlements process. Our Commitment Letter proposing these allocations must then be reviewed and approved by the Cambridge City Council.

    EEH has provided critical social services in Cambridge for over 149 years, but increasing demand and the deteriorated condition of its current facility necessitate a larger, modern building. The estimated minimum cost of $40 million for a new facility and endowment requires significant funding. The redevelopment of 320 Charles Street presents a unique opportunity to help meet this need.

    BMR’s long-standing partnership with EEH and its commitment to supporting East Cambridge’s diverse community make this redevelopment a chance to maximize positive impact while aligning with community goals.

  • BioMed Realty supports the East End House’s mission and its goal to remain a vital part of the East Cambridge community, as well as the challenges they face in identifying alternative locations.

    Accommodating EEH in a new construction project at 320 Charles Street would require substantial fundraising efforts and create a significant financial feasibility gap. Relocating EEH to an existing building, rather than constructing a new one, is a more economical and practical solution.

    BMR recognizes EEH’s commitment to East Cambridge and its ongoing efforts to identify suitable alternative locations. The organization cannot make definitive plans until there is greater clarity around the Community Benefits associated with this project, as this will directly influence its budget and purchasing power.