These residents said that, after their landlord of more than 10 years died last year, the new owners served them all with 30-day eviction notices.

Tenants said many of the evicted are disabled or on fixed income, leaving them without meaningful recourse should they lose their home.

"I'll be out on the sidewalk," said Tawney A. Wray. "Even though I've been approved for a Section 8 disabilities voucher, [the Cambridge Housing Authority] will not move me up on the list. I'm not eligible for emergency housing, but I need affordable housing because I'm on a fixed income."

The tenants petitioned for the council to purchase the building and give it to a non-profit organization so that the apartments would still be available to low-income tenants.

Council members came down hard on Beth Rubenstein, assistant city manager for community development, for her report on finding a new grocer to replace the recently closed Barsamian's on Mass. Ave.

Many local grocers like Barsamian's, Stop and Shop, Purity Supreme and Sage's have gone under in recent years due, among other things, to a lack of parking space that limited their business, council members said.

"The local grocery stores are disappearing," Sullivan said. "You can't live here and not be able to eat. This is particularly hard-hitting for those on the lower end of the economic spectrum who don't have automobiles."

Central Square resident Alberta Miller said that with the closure of the former Purity Supreme store in her neighborhood, she now has to walk 30 minutes to Market Basket in Somerville or pay much higher prices to shop at the closer Star Market.