Community Preservation Act

About the CPA

Read the FY25 Community Preservation Plan to learn more about the CPA program.

The City of Somerville can provide you with an interpreter in your language for free. To request an interpreter, please contact us at somervillema.gov/ContactSomerViva or call 311 (617-666-3311).

Adopted in 2012, the Community Preservation Act (CPA, M.G.L. c. 44B) enables Somerville to fund improvements related to affordable housing, historic preservation, open space, and outdoor recreation. The public is welcome to apply for this community resource as well as influence how the funds should be spent. An annual application process is managed by the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for historic resources and open space/outdoor recreation projects. The Affordable Housing Trust Fund manages the process for awarding affordable housing applications.

The ordinance governing the CPC is available here.

Apply for an Exemption

The key source of revenue for the Community Preservation Act (CPA) program is a 1.5% surcharge on net property taxes (less the first $100,000 of property value which is automatically exempt). The CPA surcharge is included in property tax bills. 

Exemption for Persons with Low and Moderate Income
Low-income persons and low- and moderate-income seniors can apply to the Board of Assessors to be exempted from the entire CPA surcharge. To be eligible, households must have incomes below the guidelines shown below.  Applications must be filed annually with the Board of Assessors. The Board will accept fiscal year 2025 (FY25) applications between July 1, 2024, and April 1, 2025. 

Residents who anticipate receiving an exemption must pay the surcharge by the due date on their quarterly tax bills. The City will give a refund to property owners who receive the exemption after the surcharge is paid in full.

To be eligible for exemption from the CPA surcharge in FY25:

1. The applicant must own the property as of January 1, 2024. The applicant may be (1) the sole owner, (2) a co-owner, (3) a life tenant, or (4) a trustee with sufficient beneficial interest in the property under the terms of the trust.
2. The applicant must occupy the property as his/her primary residence as of January 1, 2024.
3. The applicant and each co-owner must have household income for 2023 that is at or below the relevant limit for that individual’s age and household size (see chart below). For properties subject to trusts, each co-trustee must meet the income limits.
    

Low & moderate-income exemption from Community Preservation Surcharge based upon area-wide median income published annually by HUD. Income limits are for FY 2025
 

Apply for CPA Funding

For information about how to apply for CPA funds for historic preservation or open space and recreation, please see the FY25 Application Instructions.

• Intent Form for non-City applicants. May be submitted any time throughout the year to receive application support, but intent forms must be submitted by May 31 for projects requiring City partnership to apply in the current funding round.
• Eligibility Determination Form required for all applicants, due July 14.
• HPC Advisory Review Request Form required for all Historic Preservation projects, due August 30.
• Full Applications required for all applicants, due September 15.
   

Affordable Housing Projects

Applicants with proposals for housing projects or programs should contact the Affordable Housing Trust. The CPC has empowered the Trust to serve as the affordable housing arm of the Committee, so the Trust will receive and evaluate applications for CPA-eligible affordable housing projects and programs. Please contact Paul Goldstein at pgoldstein@somervillema.gov with questions.
 

Community Preservation Committee

Committee Members

• Jahan Habib, Chair - Planning Board Representative
• Ryan Kiracofe, Vice Chair - General Public Representative
• Laura Beretsky - General Public Representative
• Jon Bronenkant - Public Spaces and Urban Forestry Division Representative
• Joe Capuano  - Housing Authority Representative
• Heather Heimarck - General Public Representative
• Eric Parkes - Historic Preservation Commission Representative 
• David Turin - Conservation Commission Representative
• Vacant - General Public Representative

Composition of the CPC is defined by local ordinance and state law. All members can serve up to two consecutive 3-year terms, and General Public representatives are appointed by the Mayor with City Council approval. The key duties of the Somerville Community Preservation Committee (CPC) are to:

• Develop and maintain a Community Preservation Plan, which establishes the Committee's priorities for recommending projects to the City Council to receive the Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding. The Committee's most recent Community Preservation Plan is available here.
• Prepare an annual budget for the City Council, which establishes how the Committee intends to allocate annual CPA revenue.
• Make project recommendations to the City Council. CPA funds can only be spent upon recommendation by the CPC and then approval by City Council. The CPC oversees an application process and deliberates on funding allocations that align with the Community Preservation Plan.
   

CPA Results

• CPA has committed over $35M to projects that make accessible public spaces, preserve historic assets, expand open space and recreation opportunities, and create affordable housing.
• $24M in local revenue since 2014 has generated $7M in state matching funds.
• CPA funds have leveraged over $300 million in funding from other sources to complete projects. CPA funds spent on Open Space/Recreation, Historic Preservation, and Housing stability programs has been matched nearly 1:1 with funds from the state or federal government, foundations, or private donations. Every $1 spent on housing construction has generated $18 from other sources.
• A list of all projects funded to date can be found in the FY25 Community Preservation Plan. Major accomplishments include:
  
  • The creation of over 120 affordable housing units.
  • Partnership with organizations including Somerville Homeless Coalition, Somerville Community Corporation, and Community Action agency of Somerville to provide housing stability.
  • Installation of elevators at the West Branch Library, Somerville Museum, Temple B’nai Brith, and the Somerville Hispanic Association for Community Development, as well as life-cycle upgrades at the Elizabeth Peabody House.
  • Expansion and design of new open space at Glen Park, Lou Ann David Park, 217 Somerville Ave, and Junction Park, and Blessing of the Bay Park.
  • Major improvements to Winter Hill, West Somerville, Brown, and Healey schoolyards and Allen Street and Hoyt Sullivan playgrounds.

Document Library
 

Meeting Packets

Community Preservation Plans and Reports

CPA Project Applications

Application Instructions