CPA Projects Database

These funds would be used to expand the boundaries of the existing Dickinson NHR District in concert with the development of a local historic district there, and would pay for the development of a new NHR district related to the historic development of the Amherst Depot, and the industrial uses and adjacent residential neighborhoods that sprang up in response to the presence of the railroad. NHR districts provide properties with limited protections when state or federal funds are being used for a project, and such districts can also be protected by local regulations such as zoning or local historic districts. To reduce costs, this project would be ‘bundled’ with other NHR district nomination projects already under development.

Replacement of the ‘modern’ steel Town Tomb door with a more appropriate period iron door would cost approximately $3,000—the original hinges survive and would be restored and reused. Resetting the new door would have to be done in coordination with reconstruction of the stone facing for the Tomb

There are ongoing problems with climate control in the three-room Special Collections section of the library. This project would appropriate $10,000 for a study of the HVAC needs of the Special Collections section alone, for development of bid specifications for an appropriate new climate control system for that section, and possibly for interim measures to allow for improved climate control prior to installation of a new system. Amherst invested in the conservation of historic documents housed at Special Collections for four (4) years. Making sure that the climate controls that protect those documents are working properly is an obvious and necessary investment.

Pioneer Valley Habitat is requesting Community Preservation Act Funds to purchase construction materials needed to build the third home at the Stanley Street Amherst site. Community Preservation Act Funds are a very important element in the funding for Habitat homes. The cost of construction for the first home at this site was $125,000. Habitat raises the funds to build the homes as they are building. They sell the homes to the family for the cost of construction and provide a 20-30 year 0% mortgage. All mortgage payments are used by Habitat to help build more homes. An allocation to Habitat is not a onetime donation – it is a long-term investment that is continuously reinvested in meeting the housing needs of very low income families

This project being undertaken in completion of the Preservation Plan involves the disassembly and reconstruction of the large cut stone slabs, columns, and pillars that constitute the south face of the 1855 Town Tomb, including the removal of the existing foundation and construction of a new foundation. A representative of Dorsey Memorials in Amherst who examined the stone wall facing of the tomb indicated that the stone panels are leaning and are in danger of coming down on their own. Funds previously appropriated for an engineering study of the tomb would be employed to examine the foundation and associated engineering issues. This restoration work would need to be done in concert with the replacement of the tomb door and should be accompanied by the associated landscape restoration.

This badly-deteriorated iron fence around the Cutler plot has fallen and many parts are missing. $10,000 will pay for: 1) research and design to determine extent and dimensions of a restored fence enclosure, and; 2) creation of patterns and casts from surviving posts, finials, balustrades, and top and bottom rails.

A 26 acre old field habitat adjacent to Lawrence Swamp and high priority on the Amherst OSRP. Seller: Andrew Olendzki. 2 parcels.

Lawrence Swamp Complex - Amherst has worked for more than thirty years to protect over 600 acres of land in and around Lawrence Swamp in an effort to safeguard one of our critical drinking water sources. In the process, an extensive complex of public and private lands has been conserved in a mosaic of parcels that provide contiguous wildlife habitat and a working landscape for sustainable farming. The Tietjen land is one of the largest unprotected parcels remaining in this complex. Seller: Tietjen

Habitat for Humanity has requested an additional $70,000 to fund the balance of the infrastructure and construction materials for Housing at Stanley Street on land donated by Amherst College. Habitat for Humanity originally requested $60,000 for this development but only received half of that amount as part of the Town’s FY 08 CPA appropriations. The Housing Partnership/Fair Housing Committee is therefore recommending that Habitat for Humanity receive an additional $30,000 to honor their original request.

These funds will underwrite the cost (bond debt service) of restoring the exterior masonry of the 1889 Town Hall.

To pay for an analysis of the masonry portions of the Town Tomb, the development of cost estimates and bid specifications for resettling and securing those structural elements, and for installing a more secure and original Tomb door.

Funds to be used for the fees associated with the purchase of HPRs in times of historic preservation emergencies or other opportunities between town meetings.

For the third installment of the document restoration. Documents are being microfilmed prior to restoration and rebinding.

To fund the research and nomination necessary to expand the East Village NHR district, and for individual NHR nominations of outlying or isolated historic buildings.

To fund a survery of North and South Amherst Cemeteries, established in 1818. The survey includes: physical boundary survey using both traditional and GIS methods, inventory of existing burial info, and documentation of site conditions through photography and other means.

To fund the acquisition of a conservation restriction, to be managed and controlled by the Amherst Conservation Commission. Seller: David N. and Phyllis H. Smith

Monies appropriated to the Amherst Housing Authority to fund repairs to Keet House, and to authorize the acceptance of an affordable housing restriction.

To fund survey and design work on the North Pleasant Cemetery entrance to provide pedestrian access to the cemetery given that planning will soon begin for capital streetscape improvements along the east of N Pleasant St. between Kellog St. and the Southern driveway of the Carriage Shops.

For purchase of an APR on the North Amherst Community Farm, a parcel to be used for community agriculture, education, and preservation.

For restoration of the oldest headstones in the cemetery

For engineering services related to masonry restoration at Town Hall. The actual restoration will be funded with Capital Plan Funds.

Additional funding for APR purchase first funded from 2004 funds.

For chimney restoration at the historic Strong House.

To study the options, organization, oversight and benefits of establishing a Housing Trust Fund