Community invited to public hearing October 23.

As the City of Somerville prepares to award Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds for Fiscal Year 2020, the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) is holding a public hearing of the FY20 applications on Wednesday, October 23, at 6:30 p.m. in the third floor Community Room at the Visiting Nurse Association, 259 Lowell St. Come hear about the project proposals before the Community Preservation Committee and tell us which you think should be funded.

The City received three applications under the open space category which include:

· Renovating the Visiting Nurse Association Garden on Lowell St. to create the VNA Community Healing Garden

· Renovating the Central Hill Campus, which includes the area between School and Walnut Streets including space around City Hall, Somerville High School, and the Central Library. The renovation will include creating a new playground, memorial walk and a Gold Star Plaza

· Providing seed funds for the City of Somerville Open Space Acquisition Fund

Two applications were received under the Historic Preservation category and include:

· Constructing an elevator at the Somerville Museum to make it accessible to all

· Installing a fire alarm system at the Elizabeth Peabody House

Somerville residents are invited to comment on these projects during the public meeting on October 23, as well as through written comments which can be send to the CPA Manager, Judith Tumusiime at jtumusiime@somervillema.gov through November 1.

The FY20 funding round follows the award of over $2.2 million dollars to four affordable housing, five historic resources, and three open space projects during the FY19 funding round.

To date, the CPA has supported a total of 71 affordable housing, historic resources, and open space/recreation land projects through awards of over $24.2 million since its adoption in 2012. This includes $2.68 million in matching funds from the state. As a result of these projects:

· 85 new units of affordable housing are being created

· 0.17 new acres of open space are being created

· 10 historic buildings and three historic collections are being preserved

· 6 historic buildings are being made more accessible, and

· 8 open spaces are being improved

For more information on the CPA, sign up for the CPA Email Newsletter by visiting the City’s website at www.somervillema.gov/cpa and clicking “Sign Up Now for CPA News.”

Individuals with disabilities who need auxiliary aids and services for effective communication, written materials in alternative formats, or reasonable modifications in policies and procedures, in order to access the programs and activities of the City of Somerville or to attend meetings, should contact the City’s ADA Coordinator, Nency Salamoun, at NSalamoun@somervillema.gov or 617-625-6600 ext. 2323.