Springfield Community Preservation Committee

The City of Springfield has announced a $2.6 million stabilization project for the historic 1819 Old First Church in Court Square, funded by American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds and a Community Preservation Act (CPA) grant. Kronenburger & Sons Restoration will perform exterior and interior repairs to preserve the landmark, with work scheduled for July 2026 through Fall 2026.
CPC Chair Bob McCarroll and CPC member Judy Crowell join Mayor Sarno and others to celebrate the start of the Old First Church, restoration project.
Project funding: $2,320,509.45 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and $300,000 awarded Community Preservation Act (CPA) grant.

Old First Church has played an important role in Springfield’s and America’s History. First Church was organized by Springfield’s founder, William Pynchon and Dr. Samuel Osgood, a noted abolitionist was the pastor of the congregation when the current church building was constructed. The building was Springfield’s fourth meeting house was a stop on the Underground Railroad and has hosted notable guests, including orator and statesman Daniel Webster, abolitionist John Brown and Swedish opera singer Jenny Lind. Former President John Quincy Adams laid in state in the center aisle. The City acquired the building in 2007 after the church’s disbandment and the building suffered damage from the 2011 tornado. The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Boston/New England District Council held a Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) and continues to work with the City to examine future redevelopment potential for Court Square and Old First Church.
Residents are looking forward to seeing the golden rooster weathervane— removed after the 2011 tornado— proudly sit back upon the roof!
Community Preservation Coalition

The Wheel of Fortune home lottery was drawn today for the newly renovated house at 58 Itendale Street. Built in 1919, the house had been foreclosed by the City of Springfield for the non-payment of taxes and had been vacant for several years when Concerned Citizens for Springfield, Inc., acquired it for restoration.
It was completed in partnership with (CPA funds) and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) HOME Investment Partnership Program from the City of Springfield, Office of Housing.

CPC Chair Bob McCarroll is seen here speaking about the "give a little get a lot" aspect of the Community Preservation Act. Thank you to Springfield for supporting CPA programs like this. Mayor Dominic Sarno drew the order of names. Hundreds of applications were submitted and nine potential homeowners selected were entered into the drawing. The city has additional lotteries coming up soon, contact Springfield Housing Director Gerry McCafferty for more details. City of Springfield, MA - Development Services Division
Congratulations to the winner, enjoy your new 3 bedroom, 1 ½ bathroom energy efficient, entirely electric powered, with heat pump HVAC, heat pump water heater, solar panels, and a new deck and single-car garage.
Community Preservation Coalition

Please attend if you can tomorrow, Wednesday June 24th.
This is a major change.
The proposal will limit single building local historic districts. If a project seeks CPA funds and the building is not designated as a local historic district or in the National Registry, CPA funding may be contingent on obtaining a preservation restriction and the costs associated with it will be borne by the owner of the property. This may limit CPA eligibility and granting of funds for otherwise eligible projects.

Springfield Preservation Trust encourages Springfield residents to advocate for Historic Ordinance. The Springfield Historical Commission will have a public meeting on June 24 at 10am at 70 Tapley Street, or you may contact Andrew at
[email protected] prior to 9:30am to receive a Zoom link for the meeting.

The proposed Historic Ordinance revises current historic preservation practices for the Springfield buildings. It has been under review for a while, and crucial points must be protected. The Trust encourages these advocacy points:
Section 49-2. Definition of Historic Site. It should include historic landscapes, both natural and designed, as well as areas, lands, and parks of historic significance.
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Section 49-6. A $10 minimum fine is very inadequate to get anyone's attention and even suggests a lack of seriousness. The minimum should be at least $50, if not more.
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Section 49-10 C. The Massachusetts Historical Commission does not respond to general inquiries about whether a building meets National Register criteria. It is the Springfield Historical Commission that should apply the National Register criteria through study and then submit the report to the MHC. It has to start with the local commission. We would point out that MGL Chapter 40C does not require buildings in local historic districts to be eligible for the National Register.
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Section 49-10 F. “The cost and expense to the Commission for the preparation and submission of all reports shall be levied against the applicant.” The creation of local historic districts is the municipality's responsibility, and residents should not have to pay for them.

​Please attend tomorrow’s Springfield Historical Commission meeting.

SPRINGFIELD — The City Council voted to approve 19 of the recommended CPA projects. Thirty project applications were submitted, twenty projects recommended and nineteen projects were approved for funding. One project was sent to subcommittee for further review. The 2026 CPA funds available: $3,269,851.00 with 20 Project recommendations: $3,264,659.00
Congratulations to:

$300,000 Down Payment Assistance

$300,000 Nahorniak Park pickleball & tennis courts

$300,000 Nathan Bill pickleball & tennis courts

$300,000 Affordable Housing Trust Fund 2612 Main St renovation

$300,000 Old First Church exterior restoration

$300,000 Gunn Block stabilization and exterior renovation

$200,000 Mulberry House roof replacement

$185,500 Straitway to Heaven (4 Garfield Street) exterior restoration

$150,000 Myrtle Street Playground fitness equipment

$152,810 52 Sumner Ave window restoration & fire sprinkler study

$100,000 Rainville & New Court Terrace exterior renovation

$100,000 Bella Apartments exterior renovation (HELD for review)

$74,500 Parent Villages (32 Hampden Street) exterior renovation

$63,802 Buckingham Triangle renovation

$51,547 7-9 Stockbridge Street exterior renovation

$36,000 St John's Community House roof and gutter replacement

$25,000 Merrick Park Puritan Statue repair/surrounding landscaping

$15,000 ReGreen Springfield Forest Park Arboretum

$9,500 ReGreen Springfield Urban Wilds study

A beautiful day for the official opening of Magazine Park!
CPA members Judith Crowell, Juanita Martinez, Rosemary Morin and CPA admin Karen Lee filling in for Chair Bob McCarroll, join the Springfield Parks Department (Director Tom Ashe, and Laura Walsh, Senior Project Manager extraordinaire) and The McKnight Neighborhood Council. This partnership along with Mayor Sarno, Congressman Neal and local legislators created a family friendly fun environment for play. Community Preservation Coalition

Today's ribbon cutting for the spectacular enhancement of Magazine Park in Historic McKnight. CPA provided the initial seed money and $2 million dollars later with the help of legislators, the City and the people of Springfield, we have a gem for years to come
Community Preservation Coalition

The Herbert and Louise Whitney Fund for Community Preservation is now Accepting Applications for a Community Preservation Grant.
Are you working to preserve the history of your New England community? Historic New England’s Community Preservation Grants support small to mid-sized organizations across the region that are saving and sharing the stories, places, and traditions that define their communities.

Each year, one grant of $1,250 is awarded to a qualifying 501(c)(3) history or preservation organization in each New England state: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

2026 application available: May 1, 2026
Deadline for submission: June 30, 2026
Notification: Grant awards will be announced in the fall.

Community Preservation Grant Guidelines | Historic New England In this spirit of collaboration, Historic New England annually awards grants to one small to medium-sized history organization in each New England state to support projects that save and share their communities’ diverse history as part of telling the whole story of New England.

April 21, 2026 CPA discussion of projects.

Send a message to learn more

What are your thoughts?
Springfield is creating a comprehensive housing plan, for the first time in over 20 years. This important work will guide spending, legislative and policy decisions about all aspects of housing, impacting all city neighborhoods.

A series of open house events are planned next week. You're invited to attend any of the events to share what’s important to you and your neighborhood.

For more information:
Geraldine McCafferty | Director of Housing
CITY OF SPRINGFIELD
t: 413.787.6500