Two new affordable housing proposals will be submitted for review at the CPC’s January 12th meeting. The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) will hold this meeting as a virtual meeting. To view and participate download the “Zoom Cloud Meetings” app in any app store or at www.zoom.us. At the meeting time, click on “Join a Meeting” and enter  Meeting ID: 87085165533.

You can also access the meeting at: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87085165533pwd=ODcrQjUzTGVtMW43blhQTXV5dnhtZz09 or one tap mobile: +13017158592,,87085165533#

Proposal #1: Coleman House Senior Housing Preservation Project

Coleman House Senior Housing Preservation Proposal – Owner 2Life Communities requests $4,214,622 in Community Housing preservation funds to rehabilitate and restore the ca. 1980s Coleman House buildings which currently provide housing and supportive services to 146 very low and extremely low income senior households (at or below 50% AMI) in Newton. 2Life Communities, will be completing a full restoration of the existing building, including mechanical systems, as well as rehabilitating all of its existing housing units. Units will also be reconfigured to to meet 2Life’s adaptable design standards and accessibility requirements and existing program spaces will be redesigned to serve as a village center for residents. The project includes a commitment to sustainability and the renovations are designed to meet Enterprise Green Communities standards.

The pre-proposal was reviewed by the CPC at their December 8th meeting and 2Life was invited to submit a full application at that time. The public hearing in January is expected to be a joint meeting with the Planning and Development Board, which will be discussing the potential use of HOME and CDBG funding in this project.

Proposal #2: Covid-19 Emergency Housing Assistance Program Additional Funding

Covid-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program – The City of Newton requests $1,200,000 in Community Housing support funds to extend the City’s existing Covid-19 Emergency Housing Relief Program through June 2021. The program has provided housing assistance to over 200 income eligible Newton households that have been negatively impacted by the Covid-19 crisis since July 2020. As the crisis has continued, however, it became increasingly clear that three months of assistance was not enough to address the ongoing need and the program has been extended twice since its implementation to address these concerns. The remaining program funds are anticipated to be expended in February, at a time when many households will still be in critical need of housing assistance. To address this ongoing need, the City is requesting additional funding to extend the program for an additional four months.

Next CPC Application Deadline

The deadline for new applications and discussion items to be added to the February 9th meeting is January 22nd. Information on the virtual meeting will be sent out with the agenda before the meeting.

More Information Online
In addition to CPC agendas, meeting packets & minutes, the website includes proposal & project instructions, major documents for current proposals & funded projects, and regularly updated financial and other reports on Newton’s current, future, and past CPA projects and spending.

For help or with questions, contact Lara Kritzer at lkritzer@newtonma.gov or 617.796.1144. The Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (CPA) provides local
and state funds for affordable housing, historic resources, open space
and recreation.

January 12th,  7:00 pm

To learn more about the CPA and Newton’s program, go to www.newtonma.gov/cpa.