Cambridge residents campaigning to save their homes on the Ekin Road estate have expressed cautious optimism after the city council announced plans to retain 14 existing houses.
This comes after months of contention, with the council initially favoring a full redevelopment proposed by real estate company Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) in February. The JLL report suggested demolition was the “preferable option,” sparking the formation of the “Save Ekin Road” campaign group.
The council’s spokesperson acknowledged the significant community pushback, stating they had “listened to feedback” in their revised proposal. Maurice Chiodo, spokesperson for the campaign group, remains hesitant. “It felt numb,” he said upon learning about the revised plans. “For years, everything pointed towards demolition, so this feels unreal.”
While saving 14 homes represents a win for the campaign, their ultimate goal of preserving the entire estate appears out of reach for now. Chiodo emphasized that 14 houses “doesn’t go far enough,” hinting at the possibility of continued efforts to prevent further demolition.
The news comes amidst a larger conversation about housing development in Cambridge. The city grapples with balancing the need for new homes with the desire to protect existing communities. The Ekin Road saga serves as a microcosm of this tension, highlighting the human cost of large-scale development projects.
