Matters ▸ Attachment
CPC Funding Recommendation Grace Baptist Church FY22 — File 212876
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR
Grace Baptist Church FY22: Historic Preservation Improvements
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The Somerville Hispanic Association for Community Development (SHA4CD) requests CPA funds for
continued preservation of the historic Grace Baptist Church in which its programs are housed. The
funds requested in FY22 will provide accessibility improvements to the basement level, creating an
accessible entrance, eliminating changes in floor elevation, and installing the foundation for an elevator
to eventually serve the upper floors of the building. The grant will also cover the cost of emergency
structural repairs to the roof, and will restore wooden window frames and sashes in the upper floor of
the southwest tower.
ELIGIBILITY
Historic Resources: This project would rehabilitate a historic building, enabling it to be used for its
intended purpose.
RECOMMENDATION
On November 17, 2021 by a vote of 8‐0‐0 the Community Preservation Committee recommended that
SHA4CD be awarded $494,110.50 of Community Preservation Act funds for continued improvement of
the Grace Baptist Church, as described in their application presented in October, 2021 from the
following accounts:
Category: Historic Preservation
Recommended Funding Source
Amount
Grace Baptist Church Historic Preservation
Improvements FY22
Historic Preservation Reserve
$223,427.57
Budgeted Reserve
$270,682.93
Total
$494,110.50
FUNDING CONDITIONS
For each element of the project scope, proposed improvements must receive approval of the
Somerville Historic Preservation Commission and all necessary permits before funds will be
disbursed.
Where relevant, improvements must be compliant with ADA and MAAB regulations.
Upon commencement of the Project and as appropriate, SHA4CD agrees to post a sign stating
that the Project was funded through the City of Somerville’s Community Preservation Act
program.
JOSEPH A. CURTATONE
MAYOR
CITY OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE
ALIGNMENT WITH COMMUNITY NEEDS
The Somerville Hispanic Association for Community Development is an East Somerville non‐profit that
serves a range of urgent community needs including food, shelter, childcare, and gathering space for
numerous community groups. Continuing upon work funded through previous CPA grants, the project
will help to preserve the historic building and ensure that the programs and services are handicapped
accessible. Previous urgent repairs to the structure and envelope of the building may have exceeded
30% of the value of the building, which would trigger a requirement that the entire building be brought
into compliance with accessibility codes under 521 CMR: Massachusetts Architectural Access Board.
PROJECT BUDGET AND SCOPE
CPA Expenses
Amount
Emergency Structural Roof Repair
$11,510.50
Accessible Entrance and Elevation of Ground Floor
$374,550
Foundation for Elevator
$63,600
Window Restoration
$44,450
Total
$494,110.50
Sources
CPA funds
$494,110.50
Other
$0
Total
$494,110.50
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
The goals of this project are to:
• Create an ADA accessible entrance to the building
• Facilitate handicapped accessibility throughout the basement level of the building
• Restore the exterior elements of the building’s historic architecture.
The full original proposal is available at:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/ifa.somervillema.gov/documents/cpa/grace‐baptist‐church‐2021‐09‐13‐full‐
application.pdf