Lowell committee recommends $1.6 million in Community Preservation Act allocations, sends package to City Council

The Lowell Community Preservation Committee on Wednesday recommended a package of allocations from this year—ommunity Preservation Act (CPA) revenues and approved standard restrictions to safeguard historic and affordable-housing investments.

The committee voted to recommend about $1.6 million in allocations and to reserve $220,422.25 for open-space projects, then forwarded the full list of project recommendations to the Lowell City Council for final appropriation. Committee members noted the committee—an only recommend awards; the City Council has the legal authority to appropriate CPA funds.

The recommendations follow deliberations on 10 applications from housing and historic-preservation applicants. The committee noted the total request pool was nearly $5 million; members said available funds were far smaller and urged applicants that were not recommended to reapply or seek other sources. Committee members and staff repeatedly emphasized that some requested line items are not eligible under the CPA statute.

Staff and committee discussion highlighted one eligibility issue: the East End Club pplication sought $100,000, including roughly $80,000 for a parking garage and EV chargers. Committee staff told members those items are not eligible CPA uses, leaving only about $20,000 of that request eligible under the CPA categories. "Parking garage is clearly none of those things," a committee member said, describing staff guidance that CPA funds are limited to community housing, historic preservation, and open space under state law.

Committee members also reviewed project timelines, prior CPC commitments and permitting status as part of their deliberations. Several projects had previously received committee or council funds; staff noted that unfinished permitting or inspection issues would prevent disbursement of funds until the projects met permitting and contracting requirements. One project, 484 Merrimack Street, has had active discussions with Inspectional Services and work that had been paused; the project representative told the committee that inspections and permitting discussions had continued and that construction was back under way.

After discussing priorities and proposing placeholder amounts, the committee voted on the recommendation package. The final recommended allocations sent to the City Council were: $125,000 to 246.1 Market Street (historic preservation); $59,000 to 573–579 Lawrence Street (historic preservation); $256,000 to Saint Anne—piscopal Church (historic preservation; placeholder to keep the project on a multi-year repair timeline); $96,500 to Wanalansett Mills (historic smokestack repair); $200,000 to 484 Merrimack Street (historic); $75,000 to 32 Bridge Street (historic); $220,000 to 138 Cross Street (community housing); $125,000 to Mass Mills 4 (historic preservation); $20,000 to East End Club / Westforth LLC (housing; eligible portion only); and $200,000 to Suffolk Place (community housing). The committee—hair read the final list into the record before the vote.

Votes and formal motions The committee took several formal votes by roll call: - Motion to reserve $220,422.25 of this year's CPA receipts for open-space projects to carry forward to future years: passed by roll call (all members recorded as voting in favor). - Motion to adopt the committee's recommended allocations (the list above) and forward them to the Lowell City Council for appropriation: passed by roll call (all members recorded as voting in favor). - Motion to require historic-preservation restrictions on all projects receiving historic-preservation funds: passed by roll call (all members recorded as voting in favor). - Motion to require that affordability restrictions on projects receiving community-housing funds match the most restrictive restriction imposed by other funders when applicable (and to set a 100% AMI, 10-year affordability restriction for the East End Club ward because no other funder restriction applies): passed by roll call (all members recorded as voting in favor).

Committee members and staff reminded applicants that the committee—an only recommend funding; the City Council must appropriate funds before any contract or payment. Staff emphasized applicants should not spend money expecting CPC reimbursement until a city contract is executed.

Why it matters Lowell's CPA funds are a dedicated local resource for community housing, historic preservation and open space. The committee must follow statutory eligibility rules and balance limited local funds against a steady pipeline of large projects. The recommendations now move to the Lowell City Council, which has the final authority to appropriate funds and set contract terms.

Next steps The City Council will consider the committee—ndorsed recommendations later this winter. If the council approves appropriations, the city will draft contracts and conditions (including the recorded historic or affordability restrictions) before any funding is released to project sponsors.