The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) will recommend five projects to the City Council as part of their initial pilot round of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding. These efforts include the restoration of historic structures and monuments, as well as the creation of a community garden.
During Monday night’s meeting, the CPC voted to recommend funding for five projects and postponed two additional proposals until May pending further review.
Among the projects receiving the CPC’s recommendation were funds for restoring the city’s Civil War monument, enhancing the Garden Cemetery, developing a Marlborough Street Community Garden through The Neighborhood Developers (TND), and restoring the Governor Bellingham-Cary House.
Two proposals were deferred for additional information: renovations to the Congregation Agudath Shalom Museum (Walnut Street Synagogue) and a one-year contract position for an Affordable Housing Trust Fund housing specialist.
The CPC members engaged in substantive discussions about each proposal, mindful of the possibility that future funding cycles could bring requests with more substantial demands on the CPA fund.
In November 2016, Chelsea voters approved adopting the CPA, which will distribute hundreds of thousands of dollars annually toward affordable housing creation and acquisition, historic preservation, open space, and recreation. The CPA trust fund balance currently stands at just over $2.2 million.
Proposals in the initial pilot round are limited to $50,000 each. According to CPC Chair Jose Iraheta, the seven proposals submitted total just under $270,000.
According to Iraheta, the pilot round serves dual purposes: promoting awareness of CPA funding and allowing the CPC to refine its project recommendation process. While the CPC makes recommendations, the City Council ultimately approves funding.
“There’s so much we have to do to educate
the community and have them understand what this is all about,” noted CPC member Bea Cravatta. “This is a good amount of money that can change the city in a
positive way.”
The CPC evaluates projects based on several criteria: community support, benefit to vulnerable populations, matching funds from proponents, and alignment with Chelsea’s Master Plan.
“I believe that little pieces like this are
important to the community and to people of all income levels,” CPC member Tuck Willis remarked regarding the Civil War monument rehabilitation. “Seeing a decaying monument is not
good for anyone. A neater, cleaner, spiffier look is better for everyone.”
Garden Cemetery improvements also received strong support from multiple CPC members.
“This is a fantastic project that strongly
aligns with our leading and supporting principles,” stated CPC Vice Chair Caroline Ellenbird.
Both Cravatta and CPC member Juan Vega endorsed the project but expressed interest in exploring additional ways the broader community could utilize the space.
The two projects generating the most concerns were postponed to allow Karl Allen from the planning department to gather additional information for the CPC.
Willis and Vega both expressed reservations about using CPA funds to finance a city staff position dedicated to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund. CPC members also raised questions regarding funding and budget details for the Congregation Agudath Shalom Museum rehabilitation.