Holyoke committee approves FY26 eligibility list, sets Nov. 7 deadline for full applications

The Holyoke Community Preservation Committee on a 6-0 vote accepted eligibility recommendations for FY26 project applications and set a new deadline of Nov. 7 for full applications, with one exception requiring an earlier submission to the Historical Commission.

The committee voted to deem the stained-glass elements at Saint Paul’s Church ineligible because they “do not meet the criteria” for religious iconography, to exclude a golf cart request from a Springdale Park application, and to disallow audio-visual equipment at the War Memorial as non-historic. The committee approved other portions of those applications as eligible. The committee also said the Chicago bandbox (Nick’s Nest) will be considered eligible only if the city’s Historical Commission finds it locally historic after a public meeting; the commission must receive supporting materials by Oct. 24 so it can consider the item and, if needed, schedule a hearing.

Why it matters: eligibility determinations under the Community Preservation Act (CPA) are the gateway for projects to request CPA funding. The committee’s decisions determine which applicants may proceed to the substantially longer full-application process and which project elements must be revised or dropped.

Committee chair Jay opened the special meeting and said he had sent recommendations to members in advance and hoped the group could approve the eligibility list. Committee member Michael objected to some items and said of Saint Paul’s stained glass, “it doesn’t meet the criteria. … it’s not eligible.” Chair Jay said he had spoken with Saint Paul’s leaders and encouraged them to contact the state coalition for other funding options, but he recommended the stained glass be marked ineligible.

The committee also discussed the Springdale Park request for a golf cart, which Jay described as “definitely ineligible,” noting that even basic fixtures such as trash cans must be secured to qualify. Regarding the War Memorial application, Jay said the memorial itself is historic and “a number of the parts of their application are eligible, but the audio video is not really historic in nature.” He said that conclusion was reached with guidance from the state.

On the Chicago bandbox (Nick’s Nest), members said the feature is not listed on the state or federal registers but may have local significance. Jay said, “we as a municipality can say this is important to Holyoke,” and that the Historical Commission (referred to in the meeting as Chris’s committee) will review the application and make a local-determination vote. The committee directed the Chicago bandbox applicants to provide materials to the Historical Commission by Oct. 24 so the commission could review and, if appropriate, schedule a public hearing at its November or December meeting.

After discussion, Jay moved to accept the eligibility recommendations as discussed — marking Saint Paul’s stained glass, the Springdale Park golf cart and the War Memorial audio-visual equipment ineligible, and noting the Chicago bandbox’s need for a Historical Commission determination. The motion was seconded by Sarah and passed 6-0. Jay then moved to set Nov. 7 as the deadline for full applications, with the same Oct. 24 requirement for Chicago bandbox materials to the Historical Commission; that motion was also seconded and passed 6-0.

As next steps, staff (Rebecca) will send letters to applicants notifying them of eligibility determinations and will provide a PDF and link to the full-application materials with the Nov. 7 deadline. Jay said he would contact the Chicago bandbox applicant (Nick Sness) and Michael Moriarty to explain the Historical Commission process, and he said he would loop Historical Commission members into related communications so they are prepared.

The committee held the special meeting to complete eligibility decisions and to allow applicants sufficient time to prepare full applications for FY26 funding. Public presentations of eligible applicants are expected in January as in prior cycles.