06/11/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/11/2025 09:37
The Cambridge Community Preservation Act Committee is soliciting project proposals for funding consideration for the Fiscal Year (FY) 202 6 funding cycle. Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds can be used for affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation projects.
Organizations interested in submitting proposals should submit a one-page Letter of Interest noting the funding category , estimated amount of requested funding, and a brief description of the project to dliss@cambridgema.gov by Friday, July 1 1 , 202 5. Organizations are strongly encouraged to submit earlier .
More information on the Letter of Interest is available at https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/Files/CPA/cpafy26loiinformation.pdf .
Through FY2 5 , the City has appropriated/reserved a total o f $ 301.7 million for CPA projects, including $ 241.5 million for affordable housing initiatives. In 2001, Cambridge residents voted to adopt the CPA locally, which allowed the City to implement a 3% surcharge on Property Tax bills to fund eligible projects.
Recent open space projects funded by CPA include rehabilitation of Magazine Beach , construction of the O'Connell Branch Library Pocket Park, and expand ing native plantings in the Alewife Reservation . CPA historic preservation funds have supported the preservation of the Dance Complex facade in Central Square and the restoration of exterior details of 1627 Massachusetts Ave, a building originally built in 1862 that is being renovated into affordable housing .
There will be a public hearing on potential project ideas Monday, July 28 , 202 5 at 5:30 p.m. A public hearing on the allocation of funding between the categories of affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation is scheduled for Wednesday, August 20 , 202 5 at 7 p.m.
For more information, please visit www.cambridgema.gov/cpa or contact Daniel Liss , Principal Budget Analyst, City of Cambridge , at dliss@cambridgema.gov .