Cambridge mayor Jan Liggett voted against a motion on December 19 to investigate the plausibility building affordable housing in raised buildings above city owned parking lots. Four other city councillors also voted against the motion.
The motion, brought forward by ward 7 councilor Scott Hamilton, was supported by all the delegates who presented at the meeting including resident Matthew Rodgers, and three housing advocacy groups.
Despite strong support for the motion from delegates, and the voting support of councilors Kimpson, Earnshaw, Roberts, and Hamilton, the motion was ultimately defeated, with Mayor Liggett suggesting that churches should be converting their own parking lots for housing.
Before calling the vote, Liggett stated that voting “no” does not mean that a councillor is against building affordable housing.
