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Concord Housing Trust reserves $50,000 for Junction Village predevelopment, approves $25,000 small grants and authorizes $740,000 CPC application
Summary
The trust unanimously reserved up to $50,000 in non‑CPA funds for CHDC predevelopment at Junction Village, authorized the chair to report that support at a Sept. 12 DCAM hearing, approved a third year of the CHDC small grants ($25,000 non‑CPA), and authorized a $740,000 CPC grant application to support housing production priorities.
At the Town of Concord Housing Trust meeting, trustees approved a package of actions to advance several CHDC priorities and to signal local support for coordinated planning with the state’s MCI Concord process.
Reserve for Junction Village: The trust voted 6‑0 to reserve up to $50,000 in non‑CPA funds to be made available to the Concord Housing Development Corporation (CHDC) for predevelopment work on Junction Village, contingent on CHDC submitting specific funding requests and coordination with town/state planning. Rich Feeley moved the main motion; the roll call was unanimous.
DCAM public hearing representation: Trustees also voted unanimously to authorize Chair Keith Bergman to report the trust’s actions, including the $50,000 reservation, at the state’s DCAM public hearing on Sept. 12. Several trustees said the chair should be clear that the reservation is not a blank check and that CHDC must return with detailed applications before funds are spent.
Small grants program: CHDC requested a third year of the small grant program; trustees approved $25,000 in non‑CPA funds to continue grants for income‑eligible homeowners. CHDC reported prior years’ grants nearly exhausted the available funds and thanked the trust for support.
Community Preservation Committee (CPC) application: The trust authorized the chair to submit a $740,000 CPC application (proposed $500,000 FY26 CPA funds plus $240,000 in returned FY21 CPA funds from the Concord Housing Authority) to continue implementation of Housing Production Plan priorities. Trustees debated whether to list the surplus Peabody Middle School property in the application and decided to omit that item for clarity; the motion passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance: - Approve minutes of 07/16/2024 — unanimous. - Reserve up to $50,000 (non‑CPA) for Junction Village predevelopment (subject to specific requests) — moved by Rich Feeley; passed 6‑0. - Authorize chair to represent the trust at DCAM public hearing (Sept. 12) — moved by Mike Lawson; passed 6‑0. - Approve CHDC small grant program, Year 3, $25,000 (non‑CPA) — moved by Mike Lawson; passed 6‑0. - Authorize submission of CPC grant application for $740,000 (FY26 $500k + FY21 returned $240k) — moved by Rich Feeley; passed 6‑0.
Next steps: CHDC must submit specific grant requests and narratives before the trust will release funds; the chair will coordinate the trust’s public comments to DCAM and will present the trust’s CPC application to the Community Preservation Committee. Trustees scheduled the next trust meeting for Oct. 1 at 5 p.m. and adjourned at 6:21 p.m.
