Our Properties
7 Summer St
We officially acquired our first property in the summer of 2022. This project, funded by the City of Somerville, the Somerville Affordable Housing Trust Fund, and Winter Hill Bank, brings five permanently affordable homes to Somerville’s Union Square Neighborhood. The newly constructed condominium building sits atop land that will be stewarded in perpetuity by the Somerville Community Land Trust.
In spring of 2023, we welcomed our first five families! We are working hard to acquire our next property and continue making progress toward our goal of providing affordable homeownership opportunities to low- and moderate-income Somerville residents.
12 Pleasant Ave
Acquired in January 2024, this multifamily rental building includes six 2-bedroom apartments that were already home to six households. We are thrilled to share tenancies have been preserved!
The City of Somerville Office of Housing Stability provided financial support to the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS) to unionize tenants at 12 Pleasant Ave. after tenants informed CAAS that the property was to be sold. With support from CAAS, tenants successfully remained in their homes while the SCLT coordinated with the City of Somerville Housing Division to secure financing through the Affordable Housing Trust Fund and purchase the building. The SCLT is proud to establish strong, honest and committed relationships with all of its residents and has laid the groundwork to accomplish this. To quote a current tenant:
CAAS have been excellent advocates for the tenant's union and effectively supported us in our negotiations with the prior landlord. SCLT has been very communicative and transparent throughout the sale process. I believe that SCLT's acquisition of the building is a "best case scenario" for us tenants. I am excited about SCLT's plans to make the building permanently affordable and look forward to working with them.
297 Medford Street
Somerville CLT is in the process of acquiring 297 Medford Street in partnership with Just A Start to construct a 100% affordable rental development in the Gilman Square neighborhood of Somerville. We have an entered into a Purchase & Sale Agreement with the sellers and are currently in an environmental due diligence phase due to the site’s prior use as an auto-body shop. Leveraging the City of Somerville’s Affordable Housing Overlay, SCLT and Just A Start aspire to construct ~40-60 new affordable rental apartments.
SCLT and Just A Start must seek a zoning map amendment to change the site’s designation from Mid-Rise 3 to Mid-Rise 4 to make this project financially feasible by building up to 6 floors. At the current zoning , financial limitations prevent the site from hosting a affordable housing development. Help us create sorely needed affordable housing by supporting this zoning map amendment by:
Signing on this online letter of support that will be shared to City Council. Click here for Spanish and here for Portuguese. Letters are available as PDFs below.
Attending our upcoming community meeting — Wednesday March 5, 2025 at 6PM at the Somerville Public Library, Main Branch. Click here for more information.
Attending and demonstrating public support at a March 20 Land Use Committee meeting. Click here to access agendas and learn more about meetings.
Letters of support are available to download as a PDF in English, Spanish and Portuguese.
They can be sent to a.bueno@somervillecommunitylandtrust.org for submission to City Council or they can be submitted directly at publiccomments@somervillema.gov.