To: Robert Healy, City Manager
From:Richard Rossi, Chair, Community Preservation Act Committee
Date:June 30, 2005
Re:Appropriation of CPA Open Space Reserve Funds For Purchase
of 12-14 Watson Street
The purpose of this memo is to summarize the meeting of the Community Preservation Act Committee on June 29, 2005 with regard to the City’s recommendation to use CPA Open Space Reserve funds for purchase of the parcel at 12-24 Watson Street for passive open space. See list of Committee members and City staff present at the meeting, below.
The unanimous recommendation made by the Committee on June 29, 2005 was based on an offer to sell the land made by Cambridgeport Children’s Center as well as the presentation made by Jennifer Wright of the Conservation Commission and public comment heard at the CPA public meeting held on June 29, 2005. A proclamation signed by 32 “Parents of the Cambridgeport Children’s Center In Support of the Sale of the Watson Street Garden to the City Of Cambridge was also provided. This publicly advertised meeting was attended by six members of the public. Based on this input, the Committee recognized that the opportunity to purchase the parcel at 12-14 Watson Street meets the City’s goal of promoting passive open space and enables the City to obtain this property at negotiated price below the appraised market value in exchange for a commitment to maintain the property as passive open space.
Accordingly, on June 29, 2005 the CPA Committee voted unanimouslyto recommend to the City Manager that the CPA Open Space Reserve funds be appropriated as follows:
- Open Space Reserve ($153,654.02)
- $153,654.02 appropriated to purchase 12-14 Watson Street for passive open space/community garden
Attendance at Community Preservation Act Committee Meeting: June 29, 2005
Committee Members Present:
Richard Rossi, CPA Committee Chair, Deputy City Manager
Louis DePasquale, Assistant City Manager, Finance
Wyllis Bibbins, Member, Historical Commission
Gerald J. Clark, Cambridge Housing Authority
Lee Farris, Resident, City of Cambridge
Barbara Shaw, Member Planning Board
Lenora Jennings, Resident, City of Cambridge
Kaki Martin, Member, Conservation Committee (temporary appointment)
City Staff Present:
Beth Rubenstein, Assistant City Manager for Community Development
Chris Cotter, Housing Director, Community Development Department
Zoe Weinrobe, Housing Planner, Community Development Department
Cassie Arnaud, Housing Planner, Community Development Department
Sam Corda, Managing Director, Water Department
Chip Norton, Director of Watershed Management, Water Department
Charles Sullivan, Executive Director, Historical Commission
Jennifer Wright, Executive Director, Conservation Commission
David Kale, Budget Director
Nancy Schlacter, Assistant to the City Manager
Attachments:
- Open Space Reserve/Appropriation, Watson Street Community Garden
(Power Point presentation)
- Proclamation of Parents of Cambridgeport Children’s Center In Support of Sale
- Public Sign-up Sheet