Community Preservation Act Funding Recommended for 52 Projects Totaling More Than $27 Million

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.

Affordable Housing: 10 projects, totaling $14,660,159

Chinatown -  288 Harrison Residence 

$2,000,000 to partially fund the creation of 85 affordable rental housing units for low-to-moderate income individuals and families in Chinatown with restrictions ranging from 30% to 80% Area Median Income (AMI).

Dorchester -  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).

Dorchester -  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).  

Dorchester - 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). 

Jamaica Plain - Stonley-Brookley   

$1,975,000 to partially fund the creation of 45 mixed income-restricted homeownership units in a new development. Community Preservation funds will support the 32 affordable units ranging from 80% to 100% Area Median Income (AMI).

Jamaica Plain - 127 Amory Street

$2,000,000 to partially fund the creation of a 96-unit building that is 100% affordable with units restricted between 30% to 80% Area Median Income (AMI). This development continues the transformative redevelopment of the Boston Housing Authority Amory Street campus.

Roxbury - Nuba Homes 

$1,500,000 to partially fund the creation of a 49 unit mixed-income affordable homeownership building on the BPDA-owned Parcel 8. Community Preservation Funds will support the 36 affordable  homeownership units ranging from 60% to 100% Area Median Income (AMI).

Roxbury - Nubian Ascends Artist Housing 

$1,083,632 to partially fund the creation of a 15-unit mixed-income homeownership development with a preference for artists. Community Preservation Funds will support the ten affordable homeownership units at or below 80% Area Median Income (AMI)

Roxbury - Bartlett Station Drive - F5 

$1,000,000 to partially fund the creation of a 44-unit affordable housing rental development for low-to-moderate-income individuals within Bartlett Station development. All apartments will be affordable to households with incomes ranging from 30% to 80% Area Median Income (AMI). 

Roxbury - 2085 Washington Street (Parcel 10) 

$2,000,000 to partially fund the creation of a 10-story rental and homeownership building on a gateway corner in Nubian Square, the final phase of the redevelopment of Parcel 10. Community Preservation funds will support the 64 units of affordable rentals ranging from 30% to 80% Area Median Income (AMI). 

Historic Preservation: 25 Projects totaling $6,141,357

Allston-Brighton - St. Luke’s and St. Margaret’s Church 

$500,000 for masonry and roofing repairs to the 1914 building complex, the first phase of a reimagining of the landmark.

Back Bay - Boston Architectural College 

$495,000 for masonry and window restoration of 951 Boylston Street of the Boston Architectural College flagship building.

Back Bay - Community Church Boston 

$100,000 for the roof replacement of the five-story storefront building, home to the Community Church.

Beacon Hill -  Nichols House Museum 

$72,400 for exterior restoration of original features and shutter restoration of the women's history museum.

Beacon Hill - Beacon House

$350,000 for exterior masonry restoration of the affordable housing for 117 elders and people with disabilities.

Beacon Hill -  The Vilna Shul 

$275,000 for the restoration of the failed front plaza at Vilna Shul, Boston's Center for Jewish Culture.

Boston Harbor Islands - The Boston Harbor Islands Archaeological and Climate Change Impact on Native History

$250,000 to preserve the archaeological sites and artifacts of the Boston Harbor Islands. These funds will preserve the existing archaeological collections excavated from the islands and conduct new collaborative community archaeological surveys to preserve the archaeological sites most at-risk to erosion caused by climate change.

Charlestown - USS Constitution Museum 

$20,000 for the relocation of the mechanical system above flood-level to protect the Museum’s site and collections.

Charlestown - Charlestown Working Theater 

$75,000 for structural stabilization of the foundation of the former Boston Fire Station turned community theater.

Chinatown - 95 Hudson Street 

150,000 for the masonry restoration and structural repairs to the permanently affordable rowhouse.

Citywide - Boston City Archives 

$78,000 to digitize the City of Boston 1920 women's voter registrations ledger books for public records.

Dorchester - 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.

Dorchester - 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.

Dorchester - William Clapp House 

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

Downtown - World Ocean School - Schooner Roseway 

$360,000 to rehabilitate and restore the framing and ballast of the historic 1925 vessel, allowing it to continue to function as an educational space for primarily under-resourced students in the Boston area.

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.

Jamaica Plain - Hope Central Church

$100,000 to restore windows and remove foundation vegetation to improve energy conservation of the 1936 structure as part of a phased program of envelope repairs to the complex.

Kenmore-Fenway - Huntington Theatre 

$100,000 to restore and repair character-defining elements of the 1924 theatre entrance, including doors, balconies, balustrades and masonry.

Roxbury - Dr. Marie E. Zakrzewska Building  at the Dimock Center 

$1,000,000 to complete the restoration of the historic 1872 Dr. Marie E. Zakrzewska Building, including critical structural repair, window restoration, roof and dormer repair, and strengthening of the porte cochere. This work will complete the reuse of the structure as an in-patient substance abuse disorder treatment center for men.

Roxbury - First Church Roxbury 

$343,000 to repair and restore the west entry of the 1804 meetinghouse and construct an accessible ramp to adaptively reuse the former church sanctuary as a community meeting and arts space.

Roxbury -  Twelfth Baptist Church

$161,850 for roof repair to the historic 1873 Twelfth Baptist Church in Roxbury.

South Boston - Congress Street Fire Station-Boston Fire Museum 

$327,000 for continued critical structural repairs to the masonry facade and parapet walls and reinforcing interior structural timbers of historic 1891 Fire Station.

South End - South End Historical Society-Francis Dane

$300,000 to repair, and restore cast-iron ornament, brownstone masonry, and an oriel bay window at the 1858 South End Historical Society headquarters building.

West Roxbury - Restoration of Westerly Burying Ground 

$57,000 for the restoration of front wall, fence and gate, as well as the restoration of interior cast iron plot fence, and resetting and repair of gravestones at the 1683 Westerly Burying Ground.

Open Space & Recreation: 17 projects totaling $6,404,338

Beacon Hill - Charles River Esplanade 

$18,810 for a multi-year improvement project to plant approximately 50 trees on the Esplanade from 2022 to 2023.

Charlestown - Warren Prescott School

$1,000,000 to restore and redesign the decades-old Warren-Prescott K-8 school play structure and outdoor play-space, which serves as the primary playground for over 500 public school students.

Citywide - Boston Open Space Acquisition Fund 

$1,300,000 for the Boston Open Space Acquisition Fund, acquisition of real property interests in open space or land for recreational use.

Dorchester - 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.

Dorchester - 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.

Dorchester - 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.

Dorchester - 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. 

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.

Hyde Park - Sherrin Woods Trailhead and Wetlands 

$250,000 for the rehabilitation and restoration of the degraded portions of the property at the Sherrin Street entrance, street side, and adjacent wetland buffers. 

Mattapan - Edgewater Food Forest

$104,369 for the  creation of a new community food forest on a vacant 11,816 SF property for active and passive recreational use including the development of a community garden, trails, and park space.

Mattapan - Cote Village Playground

$226,808 for the creation of a new public playground in the new Cote Village 76 units affordable and workforce housing development.

Mission Hill - Evans Way Footbridge Restoration 

$650,000 for the restoration and rehabilitation of the Evans Way footbridge, funding capital improvements and extraordinary repairs. The bridge will invite the public to discover and explore the many recreational, natural and cultural amenities of the Back Bay Fens.

South Boston - Barnard Place Park

$34,390 for the continued capital improvements to help complete a new small neighborhood park in South Boston to make it functional and secure for local residents. Work includes installation of irrigation and solar security lighting.

South Boston - Christopher Lee Playground - Little League Field 

$650,000 for the rehabilitation and restoration to the Christopher Lee Playground little league field. Capital improvements include new irrigation and drainage, benches, batting cage, and chain link fence.

South Boston - Boston’s Children’s Museum 

$100,000 for the rehabilitation and restoration improvements on the museum’s property by replacing failed planking at the Boston Harborwalk, to ensure that the walkway is a safe environment for the public and Museum visitors.   

South End - Crite Park

$250,000 to transform long-neglected property into a vibrant community park, the site will memorialize the late Allan Rohan Crite, an internationally acclaimed African American artist and longtime South End resident. 

West Roxbury - Sophia Snow Place

$150,000 for the Preservation and restoration of native plantings around the certified vernal pool located in Allandale Woods to protect this Boston's Urban Wild and create a bridge to increase accessibility to the future healing garden.