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Cambridge demolition permit applications rose by 44 percent in the past six months year-over-year, City Manager Yi-An Huang ’05 told the City Council in a Monday meeting.

The number of demolition permit applications increased from 32 to 46, while residential demolition applications rose from 14 to 31. The surge in applications could signal the beginning of a new development boom following a landmark zoning law passed in February that eliminated single-family zoning restrictions and allowed some six-story buildings for inclusionary housing projects.

But Melissa Peters, the assistant city manager for community development, cautioned in the six-month review of the new ordinance that it was “too early” to draw strong conclusions about the legislation’s impact on development.

But in the period studied from February to August, the rise in demolition petition permits was not accompanied by a significant rise in demolition permits issued or building permit applications. City staff said the discrepancy could be due to a backlog, but did not provide a concrete explanation.

“​​I would think that a good reason why there aren’t as many petitions is because developers are waiting to see if we lower our inclusionary rate,” Councilor Catherine “Cathy” Zusy said at the Monday meeting. (The inclusionary rate, or the share of affordable units required in buildings over ten units, is currently 20 percent.)

But Councilor Burhan Azeem quickly noted that the Council is unlikely to reduce the inclusionary housing rate.

“You guys should feel good to continue,” he said, addressing developers who could be hoping for a rate cut.

Peters also cautioned that permits applications are less helpful in predicting development trends than the number of permits that Cambridge actually grants.

“You can get a permit to just make sure you have the right to develop, but then you go and find the financing,” Azeem said, referencing a set of projects on Ellery Street and Western Avenue that developers submitted permit applications for before securing necessary funding.

Peters added that applicants often submit permit applications for projects that are never finished. City staff told the councilors that demolition applications usually reflect only a conceptual idea of the building. The city will not know the actual number until the building application stage.

Of the 46 demolition applications since February, only three required review by the historical commission, and all were passed. Three requests were also considered by Neighborhood Conservation Districts — groups of volunteer citizens appointed by the city manager to review building and demolition applications to preserve the character of neighborhoods — where one has been approved and two are currently under discussion.

The legislation was passed after more than a year of deliberation between citizens, experts, city staff, and politicians in an effort to make housing in the city more affordable. Now, several candidates for City Council are running on promises to review and amend the legislation.

Catherine “Cathy” Zusy, who was the sole opposition vote in February, said residents of Ellery Street and Western Ave reported feeling “traumatized” by the development projects since the passage of the ordinance.

“It’s so well intentioned to create more housing and to provide more inclusionary units, but I just feel that it’s just so very, very brutal,” she said. “I look forward to future reports, and I certainly hope it’ll be amended going forward.”

Vice Mayor Marc C. McGovern said the numbers might hide demolition applications for personal house add ons and other projects without total demolitions. He added that misinformation is spreading about the number of permits in the system.

“We don’t need to add to people’s anxiety. They are anxious enough,” he said. “There have not been hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of demolition permits filed since the multi-family housing zoning has passed.”

— Staff writer Diego García Moreno can be reached at diego.garciamoreno@thecrimson.com.
—Staff writer Summer E. Rose can be reached at summer.rose@thecrimson.com.