Fort Point Character, History & Livability

The recent news of General Electric choosing Fort Point for their corporate headquarters brings to light the continuous challenge of balancing increasing development and community growth with the character, history and livability of our neighborhood.

The Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (CPA) combines advocacy efforts to provide funding for a variety of initiatives that help to maintain a municipality's character, history and livability through a local Community Preservation Committee. 

Municipalities that adopt the CPA levy a small property tax surcharge and become eligible for a state match based on the revenue collected and other funds committed by the City of Boston for community preservation purposes. 

Almost half of the cities and towns in Massachusetts have already adopted the CPA and have collectively generated a total of $1.4 billion to address community needs. CPA would allow Boston to raise $20 million/year for affordable housing, open space and recreation, and historic preservation, by adding a 1% surcharge to property tax bills. View details of the CPA docket order offered by Councilors Michael Flaherty and Andrea Campbell.

Adopting the Community Preservation Act has the potential to fund important preservation projects (like the Northern Avenue bridge), and much desired open green space and affordable housing. 

Calls to action

• Write your City Councilor Bill Linehan, asking that CPA be placed on the ballot. 
• Attend the upcoming hearing on Community Preservation Act

Tuesday, March 29

1 pm

City Hall

Iannella Chamber, 5th floor

Please note that a vote will not be taken at this hearing. However, if the City Council does subsequently vote to pass this measure, it will be placed on the ballot in November for voters to ultimately decide whether the CPA will be adopted.