The February 9th CPC Meeting Agenda and Meeting Packet are now available online for review. Topics include continued funding for the Covid-19 Emergency Housing Program and new proposals for Coleman House and the Grace Tower Restoration.

CPA Project Updates for February
Covid-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program – In January, the City submitted a new proposal for $1.2 million in additional CPA community housing funds to extend the existing short-term housing assistance program through June 2021. Established in July 2020, the program was designed to provide housing payment assistance to households below 80% AMI who have been negatively impacted by the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The program pays up to 70% of a household’s monthly rent or mortgage payments (for homeowners in deed restricted affordable housing). While applicants are initially qualified for three months of assistance, those who continue to need assistance are currently able to extend their participation in the program in three month increments for up to eight months of assistance. The CPC recommended approval of the program in January, and the Finance and Zoning and Planning Committees recommended approval at their February 4th meeting. City Council review of the project is scheduled for their next meeting on February 16th.

Grace Episcopal Tower Restoration (Newton Corner)
Representatives of Grace Episcopal Church have requested $1,433,000 in CPA Historic Resource funds to stabilize and restore the ca. 1872 conical stone tower, steeple and belfry of the National Register of Historic Places listed building. The CPC recommended the project for CPA funding at their October 13th meeting. Following its review by the Finance and Zoning and Planning Committees at their February 4th meeting, the project is expected to go before the City Council on February 16th.

Coleman House Senior Housing Preservation Project -Owner 2Life Communities requests $4,214,622 to rehabilitate and restore the ca. 1980s Coleman House buildings which provides housing and supportive services to 146 very low and extremely low income senior households (at or below 50% AMI) in Newton. The project will completely restore Continue reading →

The Newton Highlands Neighborhood Area Council is hosting a virtual Winter Cheer Photo Contest to help spread community cheer in these frigid—and isolated—weeks.

Share your cheer-worthy photos via email, they will share them on Instagram, and enter all participants into a bi-weekly drawing for gift cards to local businesses. Please see additional rules and information on how to submit at this link Winter Cheer.

Make your plan now for the Winter Walk & Roll Week celebration from February 8th – 12th. Walk or roll around your neighborhood or house, or to school or a park.

• Download the activity booklet at www.NewtonSafeRoutes.org to play Bingo and I Spy.
• Print or draw a winter boot, decorate it, and hang it in your window.
• Look for other boots on your walks.
• Learn to walk like a penguin. And bundle up!

Brought to you by Newton Safe Routes to School.

Newton Inspires: Broadway Babies! The Newton Schools Foundation invites you to join in a free, virtual event featuring Newton Public School alumni Zachary Baer, producer, live and digital entertainment; Skylar Fox, director, playwright and theatrical designer; Ryan Vona, actor and singer-songwriter, and Tess Primack, actress and founder of Broadway from Home in a live and engaging conversation about life in the theater.

For more details and to register visit https://newtonschoolsfoundation.org/nsf_news/our-next-newton-inspires-speakers-tuesday-feb-9/

Special guest Adam Brown, director of Theatre Ink at NNHS, will moderate. This event is part of NSF’s Newton Inspires speaker series—notable Newtonians sharing their passions with the community.

February 9th at 7:00 pm

The 4C Tree Project aims to honor the memory of lives lost to COVID-19 by celebrating life through the planting of trees, and they need your help to make it a success. Spearheaded by Green Newton’s Environmental Youth Leadership Program, the Capture Carbon Commemorate COVID-19 Tree Project (4C Tree) hopes to demonstrate the resilience of our City through difficult times and its commitment to a healthy ecosystem. Your gift will help plant trees in public spaces throughout Newton as memorials to loved ones lost and as reminders of the importance of caring for our world.

Learn more about the project at GreenNewton.org.
Sponsor a 4C Tree HERE.