[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6117393,"mediaKeyId","2730426-e9bd4c4d55bbd8a7d7c10069147c4ce5","parentId",2730426,"title","Votes at a glance: Needham CPC recommends seven warrant articles for Town Meeting including two major housing awards","audioSeconds",805,"startMs",1907000,"endMs",2712000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730426-e9bd4c4d55bbd8a7d7c10069147c4ce5&start=1907&end=2712","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730426-e9bd4c4d55bbd8a7d7c10069147c4ce5/thumbnail_1907000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6117393/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-Needham-CPC-recommends-seven-warrant-articles-for-Town-Meeting-including-two-major-housing-awards","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117393-8205df9f7a5c052e0498ddbc3746587e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448652&Signature=FMs5BJWcySfOpNrrqVKm4qrvUJyC-k111BQWgkQplpOcMU-5vUHe2NOjDQmeo9mTbiKokNFSPWvABtOYxKl-LG9Qrn-qcHANQRkiyT5xkcbCsdWSsdaNk7BU6K7cb5Qr-dJ0FuaLsW2v~dul~wFaTpl89UbM9GsoO2X9IGUNESRSTf4p3N4X76GlpY1RgsFZ7MwKJgKRJsC8eYHB1ygcAJR0ngciXC3KI4FcFpWv8UpbpOmprtkqVH1U7R2qf-wbMThdIi9-bi~jyVezQhqnQiu5Ka-6-CggGa2nXn~Hogjlof0v0a2MvE3m4xvLW-txB8NT9MaEU86B69UqosfnEQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Needham, MA","date","2025-03-22T00:00:00Z","article","The Needham Community Preservation Committee on March 19 recommended funding for seven warrant articles that will appear on the Town Meeting warrant in May. The committee recorded formal recommendations and roll-call votes on each article; all motions listed below were recommended by the committee and will appear as advisory recommendations for Town Meeting consideration.

Votes at a glance

- Article 20 (Historic preservation): Recommend $46,712 to the Needham History Center & Museum for ongoing collection storage upgrades. Funding source: CPA historic reserve. Committee vote: unanimous roll-call (Aye: Marshall; Adam; Jim; Paul; Maureen; Reg; Chair).

- Article 21 (Conservation signage & equipment): Recommend $104,000 for the Conservation Department's signage and equipment improvements with the full amount from CPA free cash. Committee vote: unanimous roll-call (Aye: Marshall; Adam; Keith; Paul; Maureen; Jim; Reg; Chair).

- Article 22 (Community housing ' Charles River Center): Recommend $2,840,223 for construction costs associated with the East Militia Heights development ($741,180 from CPA free cash; $2,099,043 from CPA receipts). Committee vote: unanimous roll-call (Aye: Marshall; Adam; Keith; Paul; Maureen; Jim; Reg; Chair).

- Article 23 (Community housing ' Needham Housing Authority): Recommend $3,200,000 for preservation of Seabeds Way ($872,545 from CPA housing reserve; $2,310,200 from CPA free cash; $17,255 from FY2025 general reserve). Committee vote: unanimous roll-call with one recusal noted during discussion (Aye: Marshall; Adam; Keith; Paul; Maureen; Jim; Reg; Chair).

- Article 24 (Recreation ' action sports park and pickleball): Recommend $300,000 for design of an action sports park and pickleball courts with the full amount from CPA free cash. Committee vote: unanimous roll-call (Aye: Marshall; Anne; Keith; Paul; Maureen; Jim; Reg; Chair).

- Article 25 (Elliott School grounds renovation design): Recommend $69,960 for design of Elliott School grounds renovation (funded from FY2025 general reserve). Committee vote: unanimous roll-call (Aye: Marshall; Adam; Keith; Paul; Maureen; Jim; Reg; Chair).

- Article 26 (FY26 CPA budget and reserves): Recommend appropriation and set-aside amounts pursuant to Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 44B, including $82,000 for administrative expenses and set-asides for open-space and other reserves as described in the article information. Committee vote: unanimous roll-call (Aye: Marshall; Anne; Keith; Paul; Maureen; Jim; Reg; Chair).

Context and next steps: committee members said they will prepare presentation slides and FAQ documents for Town Meeting and for the select board packet. For the two housing articles (22 and 23), the committee attached conditions and follow-up tasks to clarify affordability restrictions, project-based subsidy commitments and eligibility for any pre-closing disbursements. The CPC's recommendations are advisory and final appropriation decisions will be made by Town Meeting in May.

For full motion texts and funding splits, see the article information that will be distributed with the warrant and presented at Town Meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Needham: Community Preservation Committee 03/19/2025","oneSentenceSummary","On March 19 the Needham Community Preservation Committee voted to recommend funding for seven warrant articles (Articles 20'6), including historical preservation storage, conservation signage, two housing projects, two recreation/design items and the FY26 CPA budget/reserves.","taxTitle","Town of Needham, Norfolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",54445,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6117398,"Needham CPC approves split funding for two housing projects, after debate over costs and tenant services",1139,106000,1245000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2730426-e9bd4c4d55bbd8a7d7c10069147c4ce5&start=106&end=1245","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2730426-e9bd4c4d55bbd8a7d7c10069147c4ce5/thumbnail_106000.jpg","/articles/6117398/Town-of-Needham/Norfolk-County/Massachusetts/Needham-CPC-approves-split-funding-for-two-housing-projects-after-debate-over-costs-and-tenant-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6117398-e6ff1fc19de0510eeab8e19000ff070c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448652&Signature=opeme-81RGUedgqeN4Qp~0Av~2mu2bE1ZuFE30TJfJeTCeLiavyynQdaihr~DgSi-JUvWak62-LoEoul~rcHmGWt2muXENbnwiWsnaQ2cTy3w3x5BY5q8lc~KndRqLCS1jvl4WeZsb3AO1Qv1laIE-DSTy8lXhjctc8ME1LxxhMloye-6-Kc9zODAu6TC3ef933VGMXLCfN0xsoRcPJ3ErxC5sVOtduLt5LwUWO783QDAv-vkBgzGsp0Gb3z~6Vy9kCBfu1kNR7SG3MxUOu3h96PTrnDSldIV3I5I77HYFDDv3OKrX4qbcGfinkLmGQ1NrfUz7cpy2za47PZOoW38A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Needham Community Preservation Committee voted March 19 to recommend funding two separate housing projects: $3,200,000 for the Needham Housing Authority's preservation of Seabeds Way and $2,840,223 for the Charles River Center's East Militia Heights development. The votes follow a detailed discussion about shifting budget items, a proposed $325,000 tenant-services increase from the Needham Housing Authority and options that might reduce the Charles River Center's requested CPA ask.

The committee is the town's body that recommends spending from the Community Preservation Act (CPA) fund. Dave Harrow, chair of the Needham Community Preservation Committee, opened discussion on the two housing proposals after consultant Emily Ackenberg reviewed a March 12 memo she had sent the committee about recent changes to the Needham Housing Authority (NHA) proposal. Emily Ackenberg said the NHA's most recent submission showed a higher tenant-services line and a proposed management-fee change from 2% to 3% \"below the line,\" which reduced cash flow and required a smaller mortgage contribution from the housing authority. She told the committee that while the project's total cost had decreased she was not persuaded by the case for the additional $325,000 request given the committee's limited funds.

Committee discussion focused on two related points: the urgency of funding Seabeds Way because it is linked to the previously funded Linden Chambers project, and the Charles River Center project's greater flexibility to adjust its pro forma. Committee member Adam (liaison) presented a recommended split of the available housing balance (which he stated as $6,040,223) into $3,200,000 for the Needham Housing Authority and $2,840,223 for Charles River Center. Multiple committee members said they preferred that allocation because they viewed the NHA preservation project as less able to absorb reductions and more closely tied to the Linden Chambers timeline, while Charles River could pursue alternatives such as income averaging, concessions, or additional private or consortium funding.

Emily Ackenberg said the Charles River Center team had acknowledged the ideas discussed by the committee (income averaging and concessions) as reasonable but had not yet raised either with subsidy or investor partners, which created execution risk if the committee insisted on those changes. She also noted uncertainty about whether the Charles River Center missed any funding cycles for regional consortium funding.

Several committee members said they favored funding both projects in part; the motion that carried split the existing housing funds roughly along the lines proposed by Adam. The committee also discussed whether the CPC should make pre-closing disbursements to NHA and agreed that the committee's prior guidance (allowing pre-closing disbursements only after all project funds are committed and at the town's discretion) should guide any such request.

A committee member (Rich) stated a conflict of interest and recused themself from further discussion on the matter.

Formal recommendation motions and roll-call votes followed. The committee recommended funding of Charles River Center (Article 22) in the amount of $2,840,223 (split $741,180 from CPA free cash and $2,099,043 from CPA receipts) and recommended funding of Needham Housing Authority (Article 23) in the amount of $3,200,000 (with $872,545 transferred from the CPA housing reserve, $2,310,200 from CPA free cash and $17,255 from FY2025 general reserve). Both recommendations passed on recorded roll-call votes by the committee.

Why it matters: the two awards together use the majority of the committee's housing balance and will affect the timing and scale of other CPA-funded projects. Committee members repeatedly framed the choices as trade-offs between preserving existing affordable units (Seabeds Way) and supporting a new, larger Charles River Center development that serves people with intellectual disabilities and low-income households.

The committee indicated it would carry forward the conditions discussed during deliberations: (1) clarifying affordability or subsidy commitments (including project-based subsidy renewals and underlying affordability restrictions) and (2) limiting any pre-closing disbursement to situations where the project has all other funds committed and the town agrees.

The CPC will present its warrant articles and the committee's votes at Town Meeting in May; the committee also plans to provide the select board and town meeting members with FAQ material explaining the Seabeds Way'Linden Chambers connection and the reasons for the recommended split.

A note on process and uncertainty: committee members acknowledged Emily Ackenberg's point that certain requested cost adjustments (tenant services increases and management-fee changes) reduced available mortgage or other sources for NHA and that some of the proposed cost reductions for Charles River Center (income averaging, concessions) had not yet been tested with subsidy agencies or investors.

The committee's recommendation is advisory; final appropriation decisions will be made by Town Meeting when the warrant articles are considered in May.","The Needham Community Preservation Committee voted to recommend $3.2 million for the Needham Housing Authority preservation of Seabeds Way and $2,840,223 for Charles River Center's East Militia Heights, after discussion about shifting costs, tenant services and restricted program funding.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Needham CPC recommends seven warrant articles for Town Meeting including two major housing awards

Needham CPC approves split funding for two housing projects, after debate over costs and tenant services