[MassHistPres] CPA Funds for Historic Preservation of a Church

[Gretchen Schuler]

Check the Community Preservation Coalition website for much information on
the Acton case.
https://www.communitypreservation.org/home/news/ma-supreme-judicial-court-issues-decision-acton-lawsuit

We have used CPA funds to help restore and preserve exterior architectural
features on buildings now owned by religious organizations.

Gretchen Schuler
Wayland Historic District Commission
Wayland Community Preservation Committee



On Mon, Oct 7, 2019 at 8:44 AM Amy Ritterbusch <hdcchair at hopkintonma.gov>
wrote:

> We have a beautiful church in Hopkinton on the Common (2 Main Street
> <https://sites.google.com/hopkintonma.gov/historical-properties/by-street-name/main-street>)
> right by the Marathon start line. Its steeple is in need of an
> expensive renovation and the congregation does not have the funds right now
> for the renovation, although they would like to preserve it. Our town has
> adopted the Community Preservation Act and I believe CPA funds can in
> theory be used for private homes and buildings, but our Assistant Town
> Manager told me that the use of funds for religious institutions has been
> the subject of litigation in the past (separation of church and state). So
> I was wondering if anyone had any experience in getting grants to assist in
> the restoration of a church or other religious structure and how they went
> about it. The church right now is NOT in a local Historic District, but it
> may be possible to add it to the Historic District at a future town
> meeting, especially if that meant grant funding would be available. We'd
> hate to see the historic steeple come down and it is not fully protected
> right now since it is not in a district. I think everyone involved wants to
> see it preserved, but it is just the cost that is an obstacle at the moment.
>
> Thanks!
> Amy
>
> --
> Amy Ritterbusch
> Chair, Hopkinton Center Historic District Commission
> <https://www.hopkintonma.gov/hhdc/>
> Facebook @HopkintonHistoricDistrict
> <https://www.facebook.com/HopkintonHistoricDistrict/>
>
>
>
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