Middleboro Review and so on

  ADVERTISEMENT Sponsored by  The Boston Foundation The Best of  CommonWealth Beacon    OPINION Mass. Ave. in Cambridge. (Photo via Creative Commons/Flickr by massmart) How a 1940 electoral system reform in Cambridge made its 2025 housing breakthrough possible   November 30, 2025 By  Andrew Justus and Alex Armlovich Earlier this year, Cambridge quietly accomplished what few cities have dared: through an ambitious  zoning reform , it legalized four-story buildings across nearly every neighborhood. The reform dramatically increases the city’s capacity for new housing, with  projections that it could add 3,590 net new units  by 2040. This is more than just a housing “win.” It’s a triumph for Cambridge’s unique brand of representative democracy—one that balances citywide priorities with fair representation for diverse communities.  Why did Cambridge succeed where other cities have failed? The answer lies not just in zoning, but in how Cambri...