Requesting the appropriation of $425,000 from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) Fund to the Somerville Hispanic Association for community development for continued historic preservation of Grace Baptist Church.

To the Honorable City Council: The Mayor respectfully requests that this Council appropriate $425,000 from the Community Preservation Act Fund, including $195,000 from the Budgeted Reserve and $230,000 from the Undesignated Reserve to the Somerville Hispanic Association for Community Development for continuation of the restoration of the building which was formerly Grace Baptist Church. The appropriation will be allocated to the Historic Preservation CPA category (Fund # 3252). The following funding conditions have been placed on the project: 1) The CPA-funded portion of the project must be initiated within three years unless an extension is granted by the CPC; and 2) CPA funds will be used only for CPA-eligible expenses. Details of this request are available in the attached funding recommendation from the Community Preservation Committee. Appropriate staff will be available to address any questions you may have. Thank you for your consideration of this item. Respectfully Submitted, Katjana Ballantyne, Mayor