Mayor Wu recommends Community Preservation Act funding for 52 projects including three in East Boston totaling more than $27 million
Citywide this includes $14.6 million in affordable housing projects; $6.1 million in historic preservation projects; and $6.4 million in recreational use and open space projects
BOSTON – Monday, February 28, 2022 – Mayor Michelle Wu and the City of Boston Community Preservation Committee (CPC) today announced their recommendation of 52 projects, totaling over $27 million in grants through the Community Preservation Act (CPA) current funding round. Following the CPC’s public hearing and vote and Mayor Wu’s recommendation, the proposed projects have been filed with the Boston City Council for a vote of approval. Projects supported with Community Preservation Act funding must create or preserve affordable housing, historic sites, or open space and recreation.
“The Community Preservation Act helps us invest in our communities by empowering residents and local organizations to put funding to important priorities across our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am grateful to the Community Preservation Committee and all of the applicants for their commitment to expanding affordable housing, historic preservation and open space and recreation to benefit Bostonians across our city.”
“Our residents, civic leaders, and community groups work tirelessly to make their neighborhoods better places to live, work and raise their families,” said City Councilor Michael Flaherty. “CPA funds allow for community driven, transformational change in our communities. As Chair of the Council’s Committee on Community Preservation, I am excited to review the applications and see the impact all of these projects will have on our neighborhoods.”
Including this funding round, when approved by the City Council, the City of Boston will have awarded over $119 million to support 245 projects across the City since residents voted to adopt the Community Preservation Act in 2016. Community Preservation Act-funded projects can be found in 23 neighborhoods. Of those supported since its creation, there have been 98 open space and recreation projects, 37 affordable housing projects, and 110 historic preservation projects. Mayor Wu previously announced some of these affordable housing projects as part of her investment of $40 million in new recommended funding to create and preserve over 700 income-restricted units of housing in Jamaica Plain, Dorchester, Chinatown, Hyde Park, and Roxbury.
The Community Preservation Fund was created following voters’ passage and adoption of the Community Preservation Act in November 2016. It is funded by a 1 percent property tax-based surcharge on residential and business property tax bills, which took effect in July 2017, and an annual state funding from the Massachusetts Community Preservation Trust Fund. The Mayor and Community Preservation Committee recommend funding use and the City Council must vote to approve.
“With appreciation to the CPA staff, the Boston CPC is pleased to recommend 52 projects to Mayor Wu for funding consideration by the City Council under the leadership of Michael Flaherty, Council Committee Chair,” said Felicia Jacques, Chair of Community Preservation Committee. “This recommendation fully commits over 50% of funds to housing with the remaining funds supporting 42 historic preservation and open space projects. These projects address a variety of uses and a bounty of worthy community projects spanning the city in virtually every neighborhood.”
After the Committee’s review of applications received for Community Preservation Act funding, the following East Boston projects are recommended for grants.
East Boston – Bennington St. Cemetery
$67,000 to repair and repoint the 1837 historic Harmony Street cemetery cobblestone wall and fencing.
East Boston – Nantucket Lightship LV-112
$250,000 to repair interior elements of historic 1936 lightship critical to the museum vessel’s structural integrity.
East Boston – 6 Chelsea Terrace Secret Garden
$225,000 for the creation of recreational space, funding critical improvements to a blighted lot to make it a functional community garden with seating and a public path.
