Cambridge Community Preservation Act Committee Soliciting Project Proposals

The Cambridge Community Preservation Act Committee is soliciting project proposals for funding consideration for the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 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 dliss@cambridgema.gov by Friday, July 11, 2025. Organizations are strongly encouraged to submit earlier.  

More information on the Letter of Interest is available at https://www.cambridgema.gov/-/media/Files/CPA/cpafy26loiinformation.pdf.

Through FY25, the City has appropriated/reserved a total of $301.7 million for CPA projects, including $241.5 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, construction of the O’Connell Branch Library Pocket Park, 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 28, 2025 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 Wednesday, August 20, 2025 at 7 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.cambridgema.gov/cpa or contact Daniel Liss, Principal Budget Analyst, City of Cambridge, at dliss@cambridgema.gov.