Southwick Cigar Factory
In This Issue
Hire a Housing Coordinator!
CPA Land Purchase Warrant Articles
Trust Fund and Legislative Updates
CPA Featured Project: Southwick Cigar Factory
Partner Organizations 

CPA Update

March 8,  2012

Greetings!  

 

Housing, Open Space and Historic Preservation...there's something for everyone in this issue of CPA Update!  First, we explore a novel idea that some CPA communities are using to make progress on their housing goals.  Plus we'll share tips for creating land acquisition warrant articles and an inspirational historic preservation success story from Southwick.  Read on for all the latest CPA news...

Housing Coordinators: A Great Use of CPA Funds!  

Webster house

One of the most effective ways CPA communities can jump start their community housing effort is to fund the hiring of a "housing coordinator" for the municipality. By funding such a position under the "support" verb on the CPA allowable uses chart, even semi-rural communities, which often struggle with how to create community housing, are having great success.

 

Read on for details on how Carlisle and others are using CPA funds to hire a housing coordinator...

Writing a Successful CPA Land Purchase Warrant Article
Allard Farm

As we near the spring town meeting season, it seems an appropriate time to review some pointers for successful Community Preservation Act articles to acquire land. Every city or town has its own particular drafting "style" for its warrant articles, but we've put together a comprehensive list of the major points that are important to include.  You'll want to make sure whoever is drafting your land purchase articles has a copy of this information.

 

Read on for our warrant article checklist, plus sample text...

CPA News

coalition news CPA Trust Fund Update

 

Monthly reports from the Department of Revenue (DOR) show that collections for the statewide CPA Trust Fund have lagged over the past few months, in comparison to last year. Since the beginning of the trust fund year in September 2011, the fund has received, on average, 11% less each month. We're awaiting DOR's annual March budget memo, which has in the past included a projection for the next CPA Trust Fund distribution.

 

Click here for a chart showing monthly CPA trust fund collections since September 2011

 
State HouseCPA Legislation Still a Top Priority

 

The Coalition continues to advocate on Beacon Hill for HB 765, An Act to Sustain Community Preservation. The bill's major components would bolster the statewide CPA Trust Fund, broaden CPA participation, and allow communities to rehabilitate existing recreational land.  As the spring construction season approaches, please let us know if you have any upcoming groundbreakings or grand openings for CPA projects. We're looking to keep legislators abreast of the latest CPA news, and inform them of great projects in their districts. The legislature has until July 31st, the end of this year's formal session, to finish work on the legislation.

 

The Coalition's pending legislation page has more information on HB 765.

 FEATURED PROJECT: Southwick Cigar Factory

With the help of CPA funds and a group of Lee David Hamberg and Pat Ordiorne of the Southwick Historical Societydetermined local preservationists, the town of Southwick succeeded in a race against the clock to save what is probably the last surviving cigar factory in the Connecticut River Valley. Although it was in very good condition structurally, the building was scheduled for demolition to make way for a new pharmacy. With a grant from the local CPA fund, the building was carefully dismantled piece-by-piece and moved just down the road. In its new location on Southwick Historical Society property, the preserved factory joins the 1750's-era Moore house to create a new heritage tourism destination - the Southwick History Museum.

 

Click here for the inspiring story of how preservationists beat the clock... 

VISIT WWW.COMMUNITYPRESERVATION.ORG 

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