CPA Cover Letter autumn 2023
City of Northampton
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
December 1, 2023
James Nash
City Council President
210 Main Street, Room 16
Northampton, MA 01060
Re: Community Preservation Committee Recommendations for Funding, Autumn 2023
President Nash and City Councilors,
In September 2023, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) began reviewing project proposals submitted for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding consideration. After extensive
review including applicant presentations, site visits, public comment sessions and deliberation, the CPC voted to recommend the six funding requests before you tonight; totaling $1,463,000.
These projects include all eligible CPA project area: historic preservation, recreation, affordable housing, and open space preservation. The CPA funding being recommended will leverage
more than $16 million dollars in funding from other sources. The second round of FY24 funding will start in January.
The CPC encourages Councilors and the public to visit the CPC’s website
to view the full applications submitted for each project funded this round. Meeting minutes, the City’s Community Preservation Plan, information about the CPA, financial documents
and other project materials can also be accessed on the CPC’s webpage.
Projects Recommended for Funding:
CT River Greenway Multi-Use Trail $535,000
This project will facilitate full design of an accessible multi-use trail that will connect Hatfield, which has no shared use trails, with the MassCentral Rail Trail and the New Haven
and Northampton Canal Greenway. This will provide what will soon be a continuous link from Boston to Northampton to New Haven can both serve Hatfield and one of the most beautiful
sections of the Connecticut River.
Laurel Street Housing, $420,000
This project will allow Valley CDC to complete construction of 20 affordable apartments on a vacant parcel that had formerly been part of the State Hospital Campus. Apartments will
range in size from one to three bedrooms, and all will be restricted to households earning 60% or less of area median income. CPA funds will match more than twelve million from other
funding sources already secured.
Historic Northampton Clothing Collection, $65,000
This will allow Historic Northampton to complete critical ‘urgent care’ to preserve its historic clothing collection. This included repairs necessitated from centuries spent on hangers,
archival cleaning. structural supports, repair work to hats and shoes so they maintain their shapes, acid-free boxes and muslin bags, and covers to protect items from dust and UV damage.
Pickleball Court Creation, $350,000
CPA funding will allow the recreation department to construct six pickleball courts at Ray Ellerbrook Field, the preferred site identified in a CPA-funded assessment study. These will
be the first dedicated municipal courts in Northampton.
Boggy Meadow Road Trail, $18,000
This will allow a design to be created for a universally accessible all-persons trail from the Cooke Avenue entrance to the Broad Brook Greenway to the scenic beaver pond, about 1/3
of a mile. The trail, historically known as Boggy Meadow Road, also serves as vehicular access to the Fitzgerald Lake dam for maintenance and repairs, as well as for emergency access
to the area. The road is in need of repairs to allow for continued access, and this design will incorporate both an everyday trail design for many types of non-motorized users, and
for periodic heavy machinery.
Rocky Hill Greenway Multi-Use Trail, $75,000
Partially using CPA funding, the City engaged a consultant several years ago to complete design to the 25% level, and secure all necessary environmental permits. These documents helped
to secure $3.6 million in federal funding for trail construction. CPA funds are now requested to engage an engineering consultant to finalize and update the plans to include design
requirement changes, implemented since drafts were first completed, and to review bids and oversee construction. A relatively small investment of City funds will be able to fully complete
the trail to a ribbon cutting. This local match represents costs not eligible under the federal funding for constriction.
Thank you,
Brian Adams
Chair, City of Northampton Community Preservation Committee