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 projects are recommended for grants. The proposals include 10 affordable housing, 25 historic preservation and 17 open space and recreation projects across 19 neighborhoods.

Dorchester Affordable Housing Projects:

DMH Housing Harvard Commons
$601,527 to partially fund the creation of supportive affordable housing for low-to-moderate-income individuals and families by funding the new construction of a four-unit building located on the Harvard Commons campus. All units will be reserved for the clients of the Department of Mental Health with units ranging from 30% to 50% Area Median Income (AMI).

Hamilton at Mt. Everett
$1,500,000 to partially fund the new construction of a four-story building with 36 one-bedroom apartments, designed for and available to individuals and couples 62 years and older. Supportive services will be provided on-site by Hebrew Senior Life. All apartments will be affordable to households with incomes at or below 60% Area Median Income (AMI).

Talbot Commons II
$1,000,000 to partially fund the creation of 42 affordable rental units on two vacant city-owned parcels. All units will be deed-restricted with units ranging from 30% to 60% Area Median Income (AMI).

Dorchester Historic Preservation:

Global Ministries Christian Church
$200,000 for roofing and drainage repairs, and the construction of a new accessible entrance to the 1889 shingle-style building.

Greater Love Tabernacle Church
$449,107 for the rehabilitation of the exterior of the 1924 masonry structure, as well as an entrance accessibility project. Work includes masonry, window and drainage repairs, and accessibility entrance structure.

William Clapp House
$61,000 for critical structural masonry repairs at the William Clapp House to protect the museum’s collections and exhibits.

Dorchester Open Space & Recreation:

Oasis at Ballou Farm
$500,000 for capital improvements to Oasis on Ballou community farm to support growth of more healthy produce and create more access to the site for residents, student groups, and other community stakeholders.
Martin Richard Dorchester Field House – Outdoor Recreational Space
$500,000 to develop a fun and vibrant park-like setting around a new 75,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art youth development field house that will include gardens, playscapes, exercise and event space, trees, and permanent plantings.
Codman Burial Ground Park
$350,000 for private cemetery, owned by the Second Church will rehabilitate an existing but underused greenspace and create a neighborhood park that offers educational, recreational, contemplative and artistic uses.
Garden at Magnolia
$94,961 the continued construction to help complete a new community garden, lawn, perennial beds, and children’s garden in Uphams Corner.

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