Finance committee forwards $3.23 million in CPA project recommendations to City Council

The Springfield City Finance Committee voted June 1 to forward FY27 Community Preservation Act (CPA) spending recommendations totaling $3,232,557 to the full City Council for approval on June 22.

The committee’s package includes $300,000 for the Springfield Office of Housing’s first-time homebuyer program, $300,000 each for new pickleball and tennis courts in Pinepoint’s Hornia Park and Nathan Bill Park, and several grants ranging from $25,000 to $300,000 for historic-building restoration, park improvements and neighborhood projects. The chair said the city must set aside 10% of CPA revenue — $323,276 under the estimate — for community housing, historic resources, open space and recreation and that administrative costs were budgeted at $150,200.

Why it matters: CPA funds in Springfield are a primary local source for neighborhood-scale preservation and recreation projects. Committee members framed this round as intentionally targeted at smaller, community-led projects rather than large, city-scale redevelopments.

The committee explained that the CPA revenue estimate assumes a local surcharge of $2,658,500, a state distribution of $524,257 and minimal earned interest, totaling $3,232,557. After set-asides and administrative costs, the undesignated reserve was reported as $2,112,729.

Notable recommendations included:
- $300,000 — Springfield Office of Housing first-time homebuyer program (down-payment assistance/forgivable loans).
- $300,000 — Pinepoint (Hornia Park) pickleball/tennis courts.
- $300,000 — Nathan Bill Park pickleball/tennis courts.
- $300,000 — exterior renovation assistance for Old First Church.
- $300,000 — exterior stabilization and restoration work on the long-vacant building at State and Walnut (referred to as the ‘‘Gun Block’’).
- $200,000 — roof replacement assistance for Malbury (Malberry) House condos/condominiums.
- $153,810 — $52 Sumar Avenue window restoration and a fire-suppression study for the performing arts/daycare site.
- $150,000 — Myrtle Street Playground (outdoor fitness equipment, partial funding).
- $100,000 — Wayfinders’ Rainville and Newport Terrace renovation (partial award).

Developer Matt Zer, representing the Bella Apartments redevelopment of Brightwood Elementary, urged the committee to raise his project’s award from $100,000 to the $300,000 originally requested, saying the project faces urgent tax-credit timing and fundraising constraints. ‘‘We were seeking the 300,000 … we had underwritten the full 300,000 in our budget and so we now have a gap,’’ Zer said. Committee members responded that the committee’s vote was complete for the year and noted a deliberate policy preference for smaller, neighborhood-driven projects; applicants were told they may reapply during the next funding cycle.

Councilor Davila moved to accept the committee’s CPA project recommendations and forward them to the City Council; the motion was approved by voice vote. The committee scheduled City Council consideration for June 22.

The committee’s recommendations will be considered by the Springfield City Council on June 22. Any final approval or changes will occur at that meeting.