Massachusetts Community Preservation Act
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Contact the Community Preservation Coalition at

 33 Union Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02108

(617) 367-8998 phone
(617) 367-8788 fax

 

 

CPA Opportunities - Local Initiatives

The CPA is statewide enabling legislation to allow cities and towns to exercise control over local planning decisions. This legislation strengthens and empowers Massachusetts communities while creating a new targeted source of funding for three core community concerns:

Land and Open Space Uses

The Community Preservation Act is a funding mechanism for cities and towns. A minimum of 10% of the funds collected through the property tax surcharge must be used for “open space acquisition purposes.” The money can be used for a wide variety of capital projects or as a match when applying for funds for such projects. Money for recreational use cannot come from the first 10% of funds raised.

The Pines
The Pines - Pittsfield, MA
Affordable homes were constructed under the Homeownership Opportunity Program. After relocation of a state highway, a lakefront recreational area was also created.

General Project Uses

  • Purchasing land or interests in land to preserve natural resources, maintain scenic views, build greenbelts and trail systems, and enhance active and passive recreational opportunities available to residents of all ages, interests, and abilities.
  • Purchasing community-enhancing green space outright or purchasing development rights through mechanisms such as permanent conservation or agricultural preservation restrictions.
  • Matching or augmenting funds available under various government, land trust, and other conservation programs such as the state Self Help program.
  • Purchasing, through public/private funding, forest land easements through Massachusetts Forest Legacy Program.
  • Exercising rights of first refusal afforded to towns when temporary agricultural and forest land restrictions are removed
  • Purchase of open space being sold by nonprofit institutions which are consolidating operations or seeking sources of capital.

Specific Eligible Projects

  • East Boston Greenway. Augment acquisitions abutting the 1.2 mile Conrail right of way which will be the core of a greenway through the heart of the East Boston neighborhood.
  • Neponset River Greenway. Mattapan, Roslindale, and Lower Mills neighborhoods in Boston and Milton. Support acquisitions of land along the Neponset River Greenway to increase access and visibility of this much abused and virtually invisible urban river which runs through 14 towns.
  • Chelsea. Acquisition of 1/2 acre for intergenerational park. (using funds from the 70% remaining after 10% allocations)
  • Sudbury. Meacham’s Farm. Exercise town’s rights of first refusal to purchase development rights in 19 acres of Sudbury’s original “poor farm” next to 30 acres of undevelopable wetlands.
  • Hull. Purchase parcel of land that would allow public access to the Weir River, creating a Weir River Estuary Park protecting wetlands and marshes. Canoe access.
  • Dartmouth and Westport farmland preservation. Purchase interests, including development rights, in some of the 1800 acres of prime farmland currently on the market.
  • Lynn. Acquisition of 2.5 acres for a modernized ball field adjacent to High Rock Reservation. (from the 70%)
  • Concord. Satisfy town’s contribution for the purchase of a 100 acre parcel known as Mattison Field, close to protected land along the Sudbury River.
  • Williamstown. Acquisition of 35 acres of frontage to provide access to 200+ landlocked acres of woodland owned by town which connects to a trail over Berlin Mountain and the Taconic range.
  • Leominster. Acquisition of 35 acres, including on Barrett Pond, one mile from downtown.
  • Hudson. Purchase 33 acres adjacent to conservation area near downtown with scenic Danforth Falls and native brook trout fishery, accessible to local schools.
  • Kingston and Brockton. Acquisition of 80 acres wetlands, including two ponds and an abandoned cranberry bog, to protect Brockton’s water supply.
  • Sturbridge. Purchase 140 acres along river front for bike trails. (from the 70%)

If you have questions, feel free to call MassAudubon at 781-259-9506, ext. 7261.

Affordable Housing Uses

Battle Road Farm
Battle Road Farm - Lincoln, MA
 In cooperation with a town masterplan, 120 affordable homes were designed in the farmhouse vernacular. Conservation land was reserved and walking trails expanded..
Photographer: Lucy Chen
The Community Preservation Act is a funding mechanism for cities and towns. A minimum of 10% of the funds collected through the property tax surcharge must be used for capital or loan expenditures associated with providing community housing. The money can be used for capital projects or as a match for programs that fulfill these goals. Communities can use these funds as they work to fulfill their 40B requirements. The Act specifically recommends, wherever possible, the reuse of existing buildings or construction of new buildings on previously developed sites. See the following “Historic Preservation Uses” sheet:

Home Ownership

  • CPA funding can be used for down payment assistance or to finance low-interest loan programs for income-eligible first-time homebuyers (modeled after grant and deferred loan programs in Boston and many other Massachusetts communities).
  • CPA funding can be used as a subsidy to write down interest rates for first-time homebuyer programs such as the Massachusetts Housing Partnership’s Soft Second Program or the state’s Self Help Program which has specific matching requirements. This subsidy makes the Soft Second Program the most affordable mortgage in the state.
  • CPA funds can be another source for gap funding for non-profit community development corporations and for-profit developers in acquiring, rehabbing, or building affordable homes. The money reduces the purchase price to make the home affordable to income eligible buyers.
  • CPA funding can provide grants for the purchase and rehab of 1-4 family homes by income eligible buyers. This addresses our aging housing stock and the need for rehab.

Rental Assistance

  • CPA funds can be used to acquire or rehab rental housing.
  • CPA funds can back a revolving loan fund or guarantee fund for tenants who cannot afford first month, last month, and security deposit. The state once had such a program for tenants moving out of shelters. There is presently similar legislation pending (RAFT).

Other Uses

  • CPA funding can provide a match for state Home Modifications funds to adapt the homes of elderly and disabled town residents. Funds can be used to install such safety measures as ramps and bars.
  • CPA funding can provide matching funds under the Housing Innovations Fund which helps to build limited equity coops, housing for people with AIDS, etc.
  • CPA funds can be used to establish an endowed reserve fund to support affordable housing initiatives. Income from the endowment for local affordable housing can be used straight out or matched with state or federal funding.

If you have questions, feel free to call CHAPA at 617-742-0820, or MAHA at 617-822-9100.

Historic Preservation Uses

The Community Preservation Act is a funding mechanism for cities and towns. A minimum of 10% of the funds collected through the property tax surcharge must be used for “acquiring and preserving historically important structures and landscapes.” This provision allows communities considerable latitude in the kinds of projects they fund. The money can be used for capital projects or as a match when applying for funds for capital projects.

General Project Uses

  • Restoring or upgrading historic community buildings such as town halls, libraries, schools, town commons, park land
  • Reusing historic community buildings such as fire houses, police stations, abandoned schools etc. for affordable housing, community centers, office space
  • Provide accessibility at historic sites - elevators, ramps, restrooms, etc.
  • Provide a match for federal or state grants such as the Massachusetts Preservation Projects Fund
  • Provide gap funding for nonprofit organizations preserving historic parks, landscapes, town commons or preserving buildings on the site

Specific Eligible Projects

  • Easthampton Town Farm. Owned by the town, providing living quarters for otherwise homeless people; house needs major capital improvements
  • Winchendon school building. Large brick high school closed; brickwork and roof deteriorating rapidly; needs stabilizing to allow discussion of future uses
  • Falmouth historic house. Grant to community nonprofit to stabilize Highfield Hall and convert to community center/house museum
  • Brockton historic park. Olmsted designed, I.W.Morgan park needs revitalization for use as a recreational park for the community
  • Historic theater revitalization. Nonprofit groups in Pittsfield, Leominster, Northampton, Boston, and many others need funding assistance to restore these community resources and revitalize surrounding downtown areas
  • Lawrence canal restoration. Rebuild canal walls and restore to provide visitor attraction, generate power, and encourage greater reuse of vacant mill buildings bordering canals.
  • Lenox historic building and site. Provide matching grants to stabilize and restore historic Ventfort Hall in Lenox now owned by a nonprofit group trying to reuse it as a community resource.
    Truro town hall. Funds could be used for roof restoration and major capital costs of painting and upgrading
  • Charlton historic commons. Provide funding to purchase the “Militia Lot,” used for training soldiers during the American Revolution, and now threatened by inappropriate development
  • New Salem’s Academy Building, dating from the 1700s could be restored and reused with these funds for community use

If you have questions, feel free to call Historic Massachusetts at 617-723-3383.

Combined Uses

Click on any of the photos below for the full-size picture.
300 Summer Street300 Summer St. - Fort Point, Boston, MA

Artists are often urban pioneers, discovering great new territory in America's cities. Their need for a flexible and accessible space to create and show their work was answered with the large brick warehouses near the Fort Point Channel, and approximately 300 artists currently maintain studio space in Fort Point. In fact, the neighborhood is home to the largest concentration of visual artists in New England.

Also indicative of the area's revitalization is the Boston Educational Marine Exchange, formed with the goal of restoring Boston's Waterfront. Upon publishing "A Plan for Boston harbor", this group of citizens increased public usage and awareness of this great resource, which led to the Fort Point Channel bridges being listed on the National Historic Register.

This significant warehouse structure at 300 Summer Street was converted to affordable artist live/work lofts. A public atrium provides a cafe and gallery as well as public access to the historic seawall.

Baker Chocolate FactoryBaker Chocolate Factory - Dorchester Lower Mills, MA

In the fall of 1764, Dr. James Baker realized the vast potential of the Neponset River area. He set out, with Irish immigrant John Hannon, to provide colonists with a treasured commodity: chocolate. After the first batch of the product was made, America's first chocolate factory had been born along Dorchester's banks. The Baker Chocolate Factory continued to turn out its near-legendary products along the Neponset until 1965, when General Foods, Baker's parent outfit since 1927, shut down the venerable red-brick plant and moved the operation to Dover, Delaware.

This historic mill complex was converted to moderate-income housing, and the project opened the Neponset River to public access.

Central AnnexCentral Annex - Pittsfield, MA

This impressive historic school was converted to affordable housing, and the adjacent Common was upgraded as open space.

Sepiessa PointSepiessa Point - West Tisbury, MA

A portion of a Land bank conservation parcel was subdivided to provide a site for four affordable rental homes managed by the Dukes County Regional Housing Authority.

Warren HouseWarren House

This historic school was converted into mixed-income housing while 16 acres of adjacent playing fields were improved for recreational use.

Co-housing in West TisburyCo-housing - West Tisbury, MA

In a project that meets the need for affordable housing in an environmentally sensitive way, this 5-acre site provides 16 co-housing homes and common buildings serving a range of incomes.