Community Preservation Act

[dancerjodi]

It passed by 9 votes in Waltham: http://www.dailynewstribune.com/localRegional/view.bg?articleid=64938

Thoughts? Does your city have something like this in place (I'm curious what people's experiences have been). Its seemed to have worked well in nearby Newton since it was passed a few years ago.

Given Waltham's obscenely low tax rate, I figured that a 2% increase wouldn't kill me. Low income and Senior residents are exempt from it, and $ is matched by the state. Given the (imo) overdevelopment happening in some parts of the city and the plethora of property coming up for potential public use (old schools, closing hospitals) I think that community development is going to be especially important.

I'm curious if this passed in Watertown (my browser keeps crashing each time I try and get anywhere on the News Tribune site), also.

Comments

Eminent domain

[dancer.livejournal.com]

But, the city can take property via eminent domain for public purposes now as it is. All the CPA does is take some extra $ from taxpayers to help fund these projects (and then secures state matching) . . .

Re: Eminent domain

[developer.livejournal.com]

Certainly, but as the land owner pointed out, this increases the city coffers for eminent domain. Right now they can only buy what they can afford.

Which in some cases might not be a bad thing -- buying a run down building and turning it into affordable housing would be a great use of eminent domain. Rehabbing an old school as a community center is another good use.

I think that I like you would vote for it because in the end the potential good outweighs the potential bad, but when one gives the city more power or resources, the city bear watching. Which I suspect you will continue to do -- in that if they decided to tear down woods for a pfizer plant, you would object, while building something that benefits the community, or holding the land undeveloped in trust for the community would be good.

Re: Eminent domain

[dancer.livejournal.com]

"Which in some cases might not be a bad thing -- buying a run down building and turning it into affordable housing would be a great use of eminent domain. Rehabbing an old school as a community center is another good use."

A good deal of the property being eyed for development of large scale projects right now is either owned by the city (old schools) or state (Fernald, Metropolitan State Hospital). I think that's why this has had little public outcry against the CPA in Waltham - there isn't any kind of official organized group (only this 1 guy that owns woody property in North Waltham).

I am curious if changing demographics in the city (i.e. increase in yuppies) has anything to do with this passing (it didn't the last time around, 2001 iirc).