34 affordable-housing rental units are now available for income-eligible households -- including MIT employees -- at 285 Third Street, which is part of a two-building complex envisioned as a university residential area by MIT President Emeritus Paul Gray and colleagues.
The City of Cambridge is helping to identify qualified applicants for these affordable units, which are affordable under the requirements of the city's inclusionary housing program. Cambridge's Community Development Department is now accepting applications from households who meet income and asset requirements. Applicants must earn less than 80 percent of area median income adjusted by family size:
One-person household: $46,300
Two-person household: $52,950
Three-person household: $59,550
Four-person household: $66,150
Five-person household: $71,450
Six-person household: $76,750
Residents in affordable rental units will pay 30 percent of their monthly income for rent and utilities. Preference will be given to Cambridge residents and families with children, with secondary preference given to applicants who work in Cambridge. MIT employees and their families are encouraged to apply, Cambridge Housing Director Christopher Cotter said.
MIT Human Resources Vice President Alison Alden also noted the unique option available to those MIT employees who qualify.
"This is a wonderful opportunity to have more of the MIT community living within walking distance of their jobs at the Institute," Alden said.
The city will hold two information sessions where staff will review how to complete an application for these units and the review and selection process. They will be Saturday, Dec. 13, at 10 a.m., and Monday, Dec. 22, at 6 p.m. Both sessions --Â at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, and at 6 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22 --Â will be held at the City Hall Annex, 344 Broadway.
At 285 Third Street, the 34 available units include four studios, 16 one-bedroom units, 11 two-bedroom units, one three-bedroom unit, one accessible studio and one accessible two-bedroom unit. The rental units are in the same development as the 303 Third Street building, where several MIT faculty and staff members have already purchased condominiums; several MIT-affiliated families also live at 285 Third Street.
The application deadline for these units is at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5.
For more information or to obtain an application, visit www.cambridgema.gov/cdd/hsg/available/hsg_available.html or call the City of Cambridge Housing Division at 617-349-4622.
A version of this article appeared in MIT Tech Talk on December 10, 2008 (download PDF).
