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

  • As part of our rezoning petition, we submitted a Commitment Letter to the City that outlines how specific community benefit dollars from the project could be used. We 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 were looking to learn more about the most pressing needs of the East Neighborhood community so we could 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.

    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 and East End House (EEH) have shared a strong public-private partnership for nearly two decades. Throughout this time, BioMed has seen firsthand the critical educational, social, and enrichment services EEH provides to residents of all ages—from infants to teens to seniors. As a longstanding member of the Cambridge community, BioMed believes that supporting EEH is an investment in the well-being and future of the neighborhood.

    BioMed has also been assisting EEH in identifying possible alternative sites for a larger, modern facility to serve the evolving needs of residents from both the neighborhood and across the city. These services include early education and out-of-school time programming, youth and workforce development, community food distribution, public recreational facilities including a gym, senior services, public events, and more. The cost to develop a new facility in East Cambridge is substantial—estimated between $30 million and $40 million.

    East End House is also at a pivotal moment. Its primary facility at 105 Spring Street is more than a century old and in need of a comprehensive rebuild within the next five years. Recognizing this urgent need, BioMed has proposed that approximately $21 million in Community Benefits from the 320 Charles Street development be allocated toward the creation of a new, modern home for East End House in East Cambridge.

    This proposal also includes additional Community Benefits to meet broader neighborhood needs—such as upgrades to Ahern Field and the nearby playground, pedestrian improvements, funding for the East Cambridge Scholarship Fund, and other community priorities.

    BioMed believes Community Benefits should stay rooted in the neighborhood where development occurs. With its deep local ties, proven impact, and urgent infrastructure needs, East End House is uniquely positioned to make the most of this opportunity. Ensuring its future in East Cambridge is not just a good investment—it’s a necessary one.

    Together, our goal is to provide East End House with a permanent, purpose-built space that will allow it to continue serving—and growing with—the diverse, vibrant community it has supported for over 150 years.

  • 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.

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