CPA Committee Recommends $1.4M in Funding for Community Projects

Affordable housing, historic preservation and recreation resources: these are among the spending recommendations from the town’s Community Preservation Committee.

The committee’s grant recommendations,  a total of $1,417,000, will be considered by the June 2022 Annual Town Meeting. 

The FY23 recommendations include:

·      $200,000 for the town’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund, for down payment and rental assistance for buyers or residents living in Great Barrington.

·      $50,000 in pre-development funds to support Construct’s proposed affordable housing development at the former Eagleton School on Route 23.

·      $350,000 for the Southern Berkshire CDC’s pre-development costs related to additional affordable housing development at 100 Bridge St.

·      $250,000 for exterior restoration of 343 Main St. (former home of Berkshire Community College) by The Alander Group, which is planning commercial redevelopment of the property.

·      $25,000 for engineering and design work on the Castle Street pedestrian underpass. This amount does not include construction costs.

·     $ 500,000 for Memorial Field Improvements, including improving the baseball field, including accessibility features,

·       $7,000 for aquatic vegetation assessment of Lake Mansfield.

·       $35,000 for McAllister Wildlife Refuge maintenance.

The CPC committee reviews applications and makes recommendations for use of the town's Community Preservation Act funds, which come from a property tax surcharge.

For information about this program, visit the CPC page of the town website at https://www.townofgb.org/community-preservation-committee or call email crembold@townofgb.org.