Mayor Walsh recommends 35 projects for inclusion in Community Preservation funding

Spring Pilot Program calls for projects that require less than $500,000 to begin construction by fall 2018

Mayor Martin J. Walsh and the city's Community Preservation Committee (CPC) today recommended 35 projects, totaling more than $8 million, for inclusion in the upcoming spring funding round for the Community Preservation Act (CPA). A hearing on the appropriation of funds for these projects will be held this evening, with an anticipated vote from the Boston City Council on Wednesday.

"The Community Preservation Act is a new tool that will help take our work on affordable housing, historic preservation and open space to the next level," said Mayor Walsh. "I am proud to recommend these important projects for funding approval, which represent a wide range of needs and will build strong neighborhoods throughout our city."

In March, Mayor Walsh announced that applications were available for a spring pilot program calling for applications for projects that require less than $500,000 to begin construction by this fall, bringing new investments in housing, parks and open space and preservation of historic sites to Boston's neighborhoods. This fall, Mayor Walsh will launch the next round of applications.

Organizations with affordable housing, historic preservation, and parks and open space proposals were eligible to apply for funding. The CPC is committed to a program that will have broad community participation, accessible and visible projects that have a positive impact on neighborhoods and residents, and oversight strategies to ensure timely, effective use of funds.

The following projects are being recommended for funding:

Historic Preservation:

Project	Recommended Amount
Vilna Shul (Beacon Hill)	$500,000
Sip & Spoke Comfort Station (Dorchester)	$365,000
South End House (South End)	$46,260
St. Augustine's Chapel & Cemetery (South Boston)	$307,000
Church of the Covenant (Back Bay)	$430,000
Eliot Church (Roxbury)	$100,000
Roxbury Presbyterian Church (Roxbury)	$385,000
First Church Roxbury (Roxbury)	$150,000
Clap & Clapp Houses (Dorchester)	$51,200
Old Josiah Quincy School (Chinatown)	$71,733
Otis House (West End)	$43,552
Emmanuel Church (Back Bay)	$306,700
TOTAL	$2,756,445

Affordable Housing:

Project	Recommended Amount
Talbot Commons (Dorchester)	$500,000
Call-Carolina Homes (Jamaica Plain)	$500,000
Arx Urban Development (Dorchester)	$500,000
TOTAL	$1,500,000

Recreational Use and Open Space:

Project	Recommended Amount
Otis School Playground (East Boston)	$456,000
Higginson School Playground (Roxbury)	$500,000
Belle Isle Marsh (East Boston)	$5,000
Orchard Park (Roxbury)	$217,444
Hemenway Playground (Dorchester)	$92,063
Martin's Park (South Boston)	$500,000
Healy Field Community Garden (Roslindale)	$175,000
Veterans' Victory Garden (West Roxbury)	$10,000
Talbot-Norfolk Triangle Children's Garden (Dorchester)	$30,000
Spectacle Island (Harbor Islands)	$48,720
McDonough Sailing Center (South Boston)	$78,783
We Grow Microgreens Urban Farm (Hyde Park)	$134,700
Delphine's Courtyard (Roxbury)	$200,000
TOTAL	$2,447,710

Blended Historic Preservation/Recreational Use and Open Space:

Project	Recommended Amount
Franklin Park Bears Frieze (Roxbury)	$49,500
Westland Avenue Gateway (Fenway)	$200,000
Roseway Schooner (Boston Harbor)	$250,000
Olmsted Park (Jamaica Plain)	$352,000
Copp's Hill Burial Ground (North End)	$104,400
Mt. Hope Cemetery (Roslindale)	$5,000
Evergreen Cemetery (Allston-Brighton)	$370,000
TOTAL	$1,330,900

Aligning with Imagine Boston 2030 and the City's agencies and departments, Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds will contribute to building strong neighborhoods through strategic investments that support affordable housing, open space and historic preservation.

ABOUT THE COMMUNITY PRESERVATION ACT (CPA)

By adopting the CPA in November 2016, the City has created a Community Preservation Fund. This fund is capitalized primarily by a one percent property tax-based surcharge on residential and business property tax bills that began in July 2017. The City will use this revenue to fund initiatives consistent with CPA guidelines: affordable housing, historic preservation, open space and public recreation.

As part of the City's plan to oversee the investments made through the adoption of the CPA, Mayor Walsh worked in partnership with the Boston City Council to form a Community Preservation Committee (CPC) that will study community preservation needs and make recommendations on how CPA funds should be allocated. The CPC is made up of nine members, five of whom are representative of the City's boards and commissions and four of whom are appointed by the City Council. The funding of any project requires a recommendation from the committee and appropriation by the City. For more information, visit our Community Preservation webpage.