Cambridge Community Preservation Act Committee Soliciting Project Proposals

The Cambridge Community Preservation Act Committee is soliciting project proposals from organizations for funding consideration in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 funding cycle. Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds can be used for affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation projects.

Organizations interested in submitting proposals should submit a one-page Letter of Interest noting the funding category, estimated amount of requested funding, and a brief description of the project to [email protected] by Friday, July 10, 2026. Organizations are strongly encouraged to submit earlier.

An organization submitting a Letter of Interest will be invited to meet with relevant staff to discuss the project and may be invited to submit a full application.

More information on the Letter of Interest is available at https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/files/citymanagersoffice/cpa/fy27cpaloiinformation.pdf

In addition, Cambridge residents are invited to make recommendations on funding priorities for affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation projects online.

Through FY26, the City has appropriated/reserved a total of $323.8 million for CPA projects, including $250.5 million for affordable housing initiatives. In 2001, Cambridge residents voted to adopt the CPA locally, which allowed the City to implement a 3% surcharge on Property Tax bills to fund eligible projects.

Recent open space projects funded by CPA include rehabilitation of Magazine Beach, rehabilitation of Maher Community Garden, and expanding native plantings in the Alewife Reservation. CPA historic preservation funds have supported the preservation of the Dance Complex facade in Central Square and the restoration of exterior details of 1627 Massachusetts Ave, a building originally built in 1862 that is being renovated into affordable housing.

There will be a public hearing on potential project ideas Monday, July 20, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. A public hearing on the allocation of funding between the categories of affordable housing, open space, and historic preservation is scheduled for Monday, July 27, 2026 at 5:30 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.cambridgema.gov/cpa or contact Daniel Liss, Principal Budget Analyst, City of Cambridge, at [email protected].