Lowell Community Preservation Committee approves eligibility for four projects, opens policy discussion on award deadlines

The Lowell City Community Preservation Committee on an evening meeting approved eligibility for four applications seeking Community Preservation Act funding, authorized placing $310,000 into the city—s Affordable Housing Trust Fund as an eligible use, agreed to prepay membership dues to the statewide Community Preservation Coalition and debated establishing time limits for awarded funds and a formal appeals process.

Committee members voted to invite full applications later this year for the projects found eligible: window replacement at 91 Dutton Street (the Cobblestones restaurant), a conversion of 267 Pawtucket Street into 29 affordable units proposed for homeless veterans, restoration work at the Smithbaker Center (415 Merrimack Street) and a request from the City of Lowell to earmark $310,000 for the city—s affordable housing trust fund. The committee also approved the CPC—s 2026 meeting schedule.

The eligibility votes determine whether applicants may submit full proposals for funding consideration; they do not appropriate money. "That 1 is deemed eligible. We look forward to the application," Chairman Bakke said after the roll call approving the window-replacement eligibility for 91 Dutton Street. The motion to deem the Cobblestones project eligible carried on a roll-call vote.

Why it matters: eligibility determinations move projects to the next step in Lowell—s Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding cycle, allowing applicants to prepare full proposals that will be scored for final funding recommendations. Committee members said clearer timelines for when reserved CPA funds must be spent could reduce administrative burden and free money for other projects when awardees do not make demonstrable progress.

The committee considere…