CPA Projects – Detailed Report

This project will preserve and restore the Arlington Friends of the Drama (AFD) building, which is listed in the Town’s historic inventory and is located in the Pleasant Street Historic District. It was purchased by the AFD in 1923; now in its centennial year, it is one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the country. The AFD partners with many organizations in the arts community, for example, participating in the successful campaign to designate a Cultural District in the Town. In addition, AFD reaches out to the broader community in numerous ways, such as providing an annual scholarship to a local graduating senior to further their education in the performing arts. Thus, this project will rehabilitate and restore an historic building while also supporting an important cultural resource in the Town. Specifically, the funding will be used to repair and restore elements of the building façade and crumbling stairs and to replace an aged, partially functional HVAC system with a heat-pump system. Both improvements are necessary to preserve the building (e.g. a burst pipe caused by the outdated HVAC system resulted in a significant leak causing interior damage). The energy improvements are consistent with the Town’s energy efficiency goals and are expected to be eligible for MassSave rebates, for which AFD will be applying; any such rebates would be returned to the CPA.