Framingham CPC recommends $1.7 million for seven FY25 projects, unanimously approves grants

The Framingham Community Preservation Committee (CPC) on March 24 recommended awarding about $1.7 million in Community Preservation Act funds to seven projects in fiscal year 2025, approving each proposal by unanimous vote and preparing paperwork to send the recommendations to the City Council.

The committee — chaired by Tom Mahoney — presented projects across the three CPA categories: community housing, open space and outdoor recreation, and historic preservation. The items the CPC recommended include continuation of an emergency rental-subsidy program, construction funding for four accessible housing units as part of Carlson Crossing East, construction of an accessible splash pad at Cushing Park, design funding for the middle section of the Carol Getchell Nature Trail, trail amenities at four city trails, and two historic-preservation grants for the Framingham History Center.

Why it matters: The CPC’s recommendations allocate one of the city’s main locally controlled sources of funding for housing, parks and historic resources. Several awards leverage state and federal financing and include conditions intended to protect long-term affordability or require project permits before construction funding is released.

Jewish Family Service of MetroWest rental-subsidy continuation Karen Margolis, the CPC vice chair, presented a request from Jewish Family Service (JFS) of MetroWest to continue its emergency rental-assistance program for another year. JFS asked for $100,000 in CPA funds to provide direct rental payments for very low-income Framingham households, primarily families with young children; JFS stated it expects to serve about 20–25 families at roughly $4,000 per household on average and will pair payments with case management supported by non-CPA funding. The committee moved and approved a recommended appropriation of $100,000 (split in the motion as $35,128 from the Community Housing Reserve and $64,872 from CPA fund balance) with reporting conditions requiring periodic outputs/impact reports.

Carlson Crossing East — four accessible units The Framingham Housing Development Corporation II requested $600,000 in CPA funds to help construct two buildings containing four fully accessible family units for extremely low-income households as part of the Carlson Crossing East redevelopment (the final phase of the former Beaver Street federal public housing project). The CPC motion recommends the full $600,000 toward site work and construction costs; the project’s total estimated cost for those four units is $2,640,000, with the remainder expected from construction loan and equity financing. During discussion, the committee considered adding a condition requiring CPA funds be returned if the project did not reach final closing. Paul Landis, executive director of the Framingham Housing Authority, cautioned that adding bespoke language can complicate tax-credit transactions and said, “I don't see risk. We're not hearing risk,” while noting the project is in active rounds of funding and construction financing. After further discussion about existing protections (land-lease terms, HUD provisions and the CPC’s standard grant agreement), the committee voted to recommend the $600,000 without adding the extra return language as a separate condition (motion approved unanimously).

Cushing Park splash pad (open space and outdoor recreation) Dave Gadeko, the committee’s Parks and Recreation representative, presented a proposal for a new ADA-accessible splash pad at Cushing Park. The CPC recommended $500,000 in CPA funding toward a project estimated at $1.5 million, with the City expected to appropriate the remaining funds in fiscal 2026 or 2027 and with a condition that construction funding cannot proceed until all permits and required city appropriations are in place. The CPC voted to recommend the grant by unanimous show of hands.

Carol Getchell Nature Trail middle section — design and permitting Steven DeNicola, the Conservation Commission representative, presented a request for $105,000 in design and permitting funds to complete an 1,833-foot middle section of the Carol Getchell Nature Trail to connect earlier CPC-funded north and south sections. The committee discussed phrasing around accessibility: several speakers noted that “universal accessibility” can be interpreted differently across trail types and that the design will be constrained by wetlands and river setbacks. Participants agreed to specify that the middle section design should meet Forest Service Trail Access Guidelines (a more precise standard for wooded/riverine trails) rather than use the broader term “universal.” The CPC voted in a roll-call to recommend the $105,000 grant.

Trail amenities across four sites The CPC recommended $315,000 for improvements across four city trails — including benches, accessible picnic tables, bike racks/repair stations, kiosks and boardwalks at selected locations — with the condition that capital installations (boardwalks, etc.) not proceed until required permitting is complete. The project total was estimated at $330,627, with a $20,000 contribution from Friends of Saxonville noted; the committee voted unanimously to forward the recommendation.

Historic-preservation grants: Edgell Memorial Library and Academy Building Kevin Swope presented two Framingham History Center proposals. The first requests $30,000 to restore woodwork at the Edgell Memorial Library (project total $35,000 with $5,000 in in-kind services). The second requests funds to purchase and install an addressable fire-alarm system at the Old Academy Building. The History Center submitted a corrected cost on March 24 raising the academy alarm request from $89,000 to $90,000 (Anna Tucker said, “we do request $90,000 funding from CPA instead of $89,000”). The CPC recommended $30,000 for the Edgell work and $90,000 for the academy fire alarm; both awards include a requirement that work conform to the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and that the grantee document conformance. Both motions were approved unanimously.

Process and next steps Committee members said staff will prepare the formal grant paperwork and the CPC will present its package and recommendation to the City Council in April. Chair Tom Mahoney thanked coordinator Heather O'Donnell for managing applications and ongoing CPC administration.

Votes at a glance - JFS of MetroWest — Rental Subsidy Initiative (CPA 25-002). Recommendation: $100,000 (Community Housing Reserve $35,128; CPA fund balance $64,872). Motion by Karen Margolis; second by Kevin Swope. Outcome: approved, vote 6–0–0 (show of hands). - Carlson Crossing East — Type 2 Accessible Units (CPA 25-003). Recommendation: $600,000 (Community Housing Reserve). Motion by Karen Margolis; second by Mary Anne Trachel. Outcome: approved, vote 6–0–0. - Cushing Park Splash Pad (CPA 25-007). Recommendation: $500,000 (Open Space & Outdoor Recreation Reserve $248,835; CPA fund balance $251,165). Motion by Karen Margolis; second by Mary Anne Trachel. Outcome: approved, vote 6–0–0. - Carol Getchell Nature Trail middle section design and permitting (CPA 25-009 / 25-059 slide numbering). Recommendation: $105,000 (CPA fund balance). Motion by Steven DeNicola; seconded. Outcome: approved, roll-call vote 7–0–0. Motion language specifies meeting Forest Service Trail Access Guidelines for the middle section design. - Creating and improving recreational opportunities on Framingham trails (CPA 25-014). Recommendation: $315,000 (CPA fund balance). Motion by Karen Margolis; second by Mary Anne Trachel. Outcome: approved, roll-call vote 7–0–0. - Edgell Memorial Library woodwork restoration (CPA 25-011). Recommendation: $30,000 (Historic Preservation Reserve). Motion by Karen Margolis; second by Dave Gadeko. Outcome: approved, vote 7–0–0. - Academy Building — addressable fire alarm (CPA 25-012). Recommendation: $90,000 (Historic Preservation Reserve). Motion by Karen Margolis; second by Mary Anne Trachel. Outcome: approved, vote 7–0–0.

What the CPC recorded: application counts and past activity At the hearing the CPC reported it reviewed 18 eligibility forms (16 determined eligible), received 8 full applications in November, and selected 7 projects to recommend for FY25. The committee said it has funded 23 projects over the prior two years totaling approximately $4.5 million; the seven FY25 recommendations total about $1.7 million.

Quotes “We have a public hearing to to, discuss our program for the, for this fiscal year. Welcome. My name is Tom Mahoney. I'm the chair of the CPC,” Tom Mahoney said at the meeting opening. “I don't see risk. We're not hearing risk,” Paul Landis, executive director of the Framingham Housing Authority, said during discussion of Carlson Crossing financing. “We do request $90,000 funding from CPA instead of $89,000,” Anna Tucker, director of the Framingham History Center, said when updating the academy fire-alarm request.

Ending The CPC will finalize grant paperwork and present the FY25 recommendations to the Framingham City Council in April; each grant will be subject to standard CPC grant-agreement terms and any project-specific conditions voted by the committee (for example, permitting and reporting requirements).