Preservation Grants
The Cambridge Historical Commission is a municipal agency concerned with the history of Cambridge and the preservation of significant older structures in the city. To aid in the preservation and rehabilitation of these older buildings, the Commission administers various federal, state, and local programs. One of these is the Preservation Grants program.
The Affordable Housing Preservation Grants Program is funded with appropriations from the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act, which was adopted by Cambridge voters in 2002. The Historical Commission began the Affordable Housing Preservation Grants Program in 1976 with Community Development Block Grant funds. To learn more about the Community Preservation Act and how it is used in Cambridge, visit the city's CPA webpages here.
USE OF GRANT FUNDS:
Grant funds may be used to restore exterior features that contribute to the original appearance of the building. Such work includes the repair or restoration of original ornamental trim, porches, columns, railings, windows, and chimneys. The grant may also be used to restore original siding such as clapboards or shingles. Homeowners may also use Preservation Grants to remove vinyl, aluminum, or other artificial siding in order to restore the house's original shingles or clapboards. Grants may also be applied toward structural repairs that are essential to the integrity of original features. Preservation Grants are offered in conjunction with rehabilitation projects that are meant to maintain the livability of the home, such as roofing, porch rehabilitation, or bathroom or kitchen upgrades, and are administered by the rehab agency.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
Homeowners must meet certain eligibility requirements. The applicant must have owned the home for which he or she is seeking a Preservation Grant for at least one year. The homeowner must also reside in the house, and the house can have no more than four rental units. In addition, the applicant must qualify for affordable housing assistance according to guidelines established by the Community Development Department. To check the current eligible income levels, which are based on the estimated median household income for the Boston Metropolitan Area, follow this link on the Cambridge Community Development web site.
COORDINATING AGENCIES:
Preservation grants are offered in association with two non-profit organizations that operate home improvement programs in Cambridge: Homeowner's Rehab, Inc. (280 Franklin Street; 617/868-4858) and Just-A-Start (320 Cambridge Street; 617/494-0444). Although the programs differ in minor details, each provides rehabilitation assistance to low and moderate-income families by means of low-interest or deferred loans.
APPLICATION PROCESS:
The homeowner should first contact the Historical Commission staff (617/349-4683) for an initial assessment of the structure's eligibility for a grant. One of the rehab agencies will conduct an initial assessment of the owner’s eligibility and arrange for a site visit by CHC staff. The agency, the applicant, and the staff member determine how the homeowner would use a Preservation Grant once their eligibility is established. After the rehabilitation agency has established an applicant's eligibility and outlined a scope of work, the agency forwards an application to the Commission staff. The full Commission will consider the application at its next meeting. Grants are awarded for projects that help retain or recover the original architectural integrity of the house.
GRANTS:
The formula for grant disbursement is as follows:
Homeowners (Home Improvement Project participants):
an outright grant of up to $30,000 plus 50% of additional documented costs up to a maximum disbursement of $50,000
Affordable Housing Agencies (per project)
an outright grant of up to $50,000 plus 50% of certain additional documented costs
If an applicant receives a grant, he or she is notified in an award letter, which states the conditions of the grant and the scope of work to be done. The homeowner then signs a contract with the City in which he or she agrees to carry out the work under the supervision of the Historical Commission and to maintain the restored features for five years. If the house is sold before the end of the five-year period, a portion of the grant must be returned. After the contract is signed, work may begin. When the work is completed in a manner satisfactory to the Historical Commission, the homeowner is reimbursed for the grant amount.
The Cambridge Historical Commission is a municipal agency concerned with the history of Cambridge and the preservation of significant older structures in the city. To aid in the preservation and rehabilitation of these older buildings, the Commission administers various federal, state, and local programs. One of these is the Institutional Preservation Grants (IPG) Program. The Historical Commission began the IPG Program in 2005. The IPG Program is funded with appropriations from the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act, which was adopted by Cambridge voters in 2002. To learn more about the Community Preservation Act and how it is used in Cambridge, visit the city's CPA web pages here.
Institutional preservation grants provide funds to qualified non-profit organizations for rehabilitation or restoration of significant Cambridge buildings or structures. First time grantees are eligible for an outright grant of up to $50,000; additional funds are granted on matching basis. The Commission’s IPG program extends the Commission’s Preservation Grant program, but with some significant differences.
- Applicants to the IPG program must be non-profit organizations.
- The building or structure for which assistance is being sought must be significant on the local, state, or national level for its architecture or associations with important persons, organizations, or events.
- The work must constitute rehabilitation or restoration rather than ordinary maintenance.
- Applicants must demonstrate that they have the financial and managerial resources to enable projects to proceed expeditiously to completion.
The first priority of the IPG program is to address building envelope projects that keep the weather out and preserve the structure: roofs, windows, and exterior walls are the first line of defense. If these elements are sound, grants can be used to restore exterior decorative elements, like porches and steps. Accessibility projects are also a high priority.
View the following important documents by downloading them below: