Matters ▸ Attachment
CPC Final Funding Rec Grace Baptist Church FY23 — File 23-1641
COMMUNITY PRESERVATION COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR
Grace Baptist Church FY23 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, 59 Cross Street, in which its programs are
housed. The funds requested in FY23 will continue weatherproofing and stabilization of the building’s
exterior, including window restoration; gutters, and repointing of deteriorated masonry.
ELIGIBILITY
Historic Resources: This project would preserve and rehabilitate a historic building.
RECOMMENDATION
On March 1, 2023 by a vote of 4‐0, the Community Preservation Committee recommended approval to
City Council that the Somerville Hispanic Association for Community Development be awarded
$425,000 of Community Preservation Act funds to continue the preservation of the former Grace
Baptist Church, as described in their application from the following account:
Category: Historic Preservation
Recommended Funding Source
Amount
Grace Baptist Church FY23 Historic
Preservation Improvements
Budgeted Reserve
$195,000
Undesignated Reserve
$230,000
Total
$425,000
FUNDING CONDITIONS
The CPA‐funded portion of the project must be initiated within three years unless an extension
is granted by the CPC.
CPA funds will be used only for CPA eligible expenses.
KATJANA BALLANTYNE
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 make it safe and accessible for the clients of the food
pantry and other community groups and organizations who use the building. The City holds a
Preservation Restriction on this building, which was granted by SHA4CD as a condition of a prior CPA
grant.
PROJECT BUDGET AND SCOPE
CPA Expenses
Amount
Construction
$308,000
Soft Costs and Contingency
$117,000
Total
$425,000
MEASURES OF SUCCESS
The goals of this project are to:
1. Cut and repoint brick dentil courses
2. Repoint and rebuild selected brick spandrel areas
3. Provide new gutters and downspouts at northeast and southeast end of building
4. Restore existing windows at 2nd and 3rd floors of southeast tower
5. Restore existing windows at 2nd floor north and south elevations
6. Provide new storm windows at 2nd floor tenant space
The full original proposal is available at: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NCUbQ08aGkbF9vtVM_Ch2‐
RLVP_U4LqM/view?usp=share_link