Letters

LETTER: Community Preservation Committee Should Prioritize Senior & Special Needs Housing

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Dear Editor,

The recording of the Annual Public CPC Meeting is not up. I had submitted an email since I could not attend. I thank those on the board who took the time to engage with it. I am part of Housing for All Watertown (HAW), and it is no secret that I am pro dentistry and diversity. However, the email (see below) was written from the lens of someone who deeply cares about persons with special needs and having family age in place with others. 

The call for CPC funds to be allocated to more housing is not new to the CPC board, and it predates the formation of HAW. There are 4 and half pages on housing needs per the board’s 2022 Annual Year-End Report.  https://content.civicplus.com/api/assets/0e2ac721-212a-4561-b2a6-6abdd04c8ebc?cache=1800

As I noted in my email, the Affordable Housing Trust has made the call for more Senior and Special Needs housing. We live in a time when loneliness and lack of community is a scourge on society. Many senior citizens cannot afford to move into a communal residence, nor can their houses accommodate an extended family situation. Who is left to tend to these senior citizens?  Their neighbors, if available and willing. The disabilities community is in worse shape in terms of loneliness and housing. The Commonwealth has great services and people from all over the nation come here for those services. With The Perkins School and other facilities, Watertown, in particular, has been a community that supports persons with disabilities.

Government

Watertown Community Preservation Committee Holding Annual Public Meeting

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The following announcement was provided by the City of Watertown:

Join the Community Preservation Committee (CPC) for a Public Hearing — your chance to stay informed, get answers to your questions, and help shape the future of Watertown! When: Thursday, June 26, 2025, at 7 p.m.

Where: Watertown City Hall, Lower Hearing RoomOr join us via Zoom: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/91525442843

What’s Happening:

Project Updates: Get the latest news about the Walker Pond and Saltonstall Park projects. Learn about newly approved Community Preservation Act (CPA) projects. Have a great idea? Find out how you can apply for CPA funds to make it happen! Questions?Reach out to Lanae Handy, Community Preservation Coordinator at lhandy@watertown-ma.gov or visit www.watertown-ma.gov/cpc for more details.

Government

Community Preservation Committee Hosting Annual Public Hearing in June

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The Community Preservation Committee will host its annual Public Hearing on June 26, 2025. See details in the announcement from the City of Watertown, below. Don’t miss the CPA Annual Public Hearing hosted by the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). You may also join the hearing and meeting remotely via Zoom: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/91525442843. Save the Date: CPA Public Hearing, Thursday, June 26, 2025, 7 p.m..

Around Town

Community Preservation Committee Recommends Funding Affordable Housing Project

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A rendering of the proposed Willow Park Housing development. An affordable housing project got a boost from the Watertown Community Preservation Committee, which voted to recommend that Community Preservation Act money be used to help fund the project in East Watertown. CPA funds come from a surcharge on Watertown property tax bills, and the money can be used for historic preservation, open space and outdoor recreation, and affordable housing projects. See details in the announcement from the CPC, below. At a special meeting on Dec.

Government

Residents Wanted to Serve on the Community Preservation Committee

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The City of Watertown seeks applications from residents seeking to serve on the Community Preservation Committee. See information below. City Manager George J. Proakis is inviting Watertown residents to apply for membership on the Community Preservation Committee. Interested applicants should complete and submit a Universal Application. The Community Preservation Committee (CPC) makes recommendations for the use of Community Preservation funds for initiatives related to open space, outdoor recreation, historic resources, and community housing.

Around Town

Community Preservation Committee to Hear Presentation on Willow Park Housing Development

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A rendering of the proposed Willow Park Housing development. Hear about the proposed Willow Park Housing development during the presentation to the Watertown Community Preservation Committee on Nov. 21 at 7 p.m. See details below. Preservation of Affordable Housing and the Watertown Housing Authority will present their project to redevelop the Willow Park Housing development to the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). You are welcome to join in-person or via Zoom with the link: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/91525442843

Read the Willow Park application here.

Around Town

Community Preservation Committee Holding Annual Public Hearing, Application Deadline Announced

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The City of Watertown announced the annual Community Preservation Act public hearing, and the deadline to apply for Community Preservation Act funds, which can be used on projects involving historic preservation, open space, and affordable housing. Community Preservation Act Annual Public Hearing

CPA Annual Public Hearing will continue in City Hall, in the City Council Chamber on Thursday, July 18, 2024, at 7 p.m.

Don’t miss the CPA Annual Public Hearing hosted by the Community Preservation Committee (CPC). You may also join the hearing and meeting remotely via Zoom: https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/j/91525442843. This event is a great opportunity to: 

Tell us your open space, outdoor recreation, community housing, and historic preservation priorities;

Hear more about CPA projects;

Learn how and when to apply for CPA funding; and

Get answers to your questions about CPA in Watertown. You may send questions or comments, in advance, to Lanae Handy, Community Preservation Coordinator, at lhandy@watertown-ma.gov .

Around Town

Community Preservation Committee Accepting Applications, Find Out How Apply

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The following information was provided by the City of Watertown:

Interested in applying for CPA funds? Your first step is to complete a Project Eligibility Form to determine if your project is eligible for CPA funding. Project Eligibility Forms are due July 29, 2024. 

Sign up for CPA Clinic Hours  Learn how to turn a good idea into a successful project. If you have a notion for a project on city-owned property, get connected to the right city departments for permission and support. Find answers to all your questions about the application process and forms. 

Schedule an appointment during CPA Clinic Hours, listed below, for a phone call or in-person meeting:

June 21, 2023: 1:30-3:30 p.m.

July 6, 2023: 10:30-12 p.m.

July 10, 2023: 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Read the application instructions here. Contact Lanae Handy, Community Preservation Coordinator at lhandy@watertown-ma.gov or visit watertown-ma.gov for more information.