The Springfield City Council unanimously approved Community Preservation Act funding requests for 19 projects throughout the city. However, $300,000 for the Kavanagh Building Reuse development failed to garner the appropriate amount of votes after some councilors expressed concerns about the overall project.
Photo credit: Focus Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — Two weeks after the Community Preservation Committee sent its final recommendations, the Springfield City Council approved 19 Community Preservation Act funding requests for projects covering community housing, historic resources and open space and recreation.
One other CPA funding request dedicated to the Kavanagh Building Reuse project, did not pass the council because of multiple concerns relating to proximity and location of the project.
The CPC approves CPA funding on a yearly basis, with the act’s creation aiding projects that help preserve the character of the community. This year, the committee received 35 applications totaling more than $8 million. According to CPC Chair Robert McCarroll, the committee could award $3.5 million this year because that is the amount of funding available from revenues.
In his presentation to the council on June 9, McCarroll said the CPC’s total revenue for fiscal year 2026 is about $3.1 million, with $2.5 million coming from the local tax levy, $262,000 from interest and about $400,000 projected to come from the state.
McCarroll added that the CPC also accrued approximately $400,000 from past projects that got canceled or came in under budget.
“It was a very difficult year for the committee because even though we had three and a half million dollars to recommend to you, we had 35 projects, the most we’ve ever had, asking for more than $8 million,” McCarroll said. “So, it was a very difficult vetting process and part of what we ended up doing is taking about half of the projects and recommending funding a portion of them thinking they could always return in future years.”
Nineteen of the CPA funding requests passed the council with little to no discussion. Open space and recreation projects like the installation of exercise equipment at the Forest Park Fitness Course and the buildout of all-ability play equipment at Marshall Roy Park received $300,000 in CPA funding.
Meanwhile, another $300,000 will help fund the replacement of the Paramount Theater Roof, which the CPC says is the first phase of a much broader development project.
The project narrative says the replacement costs $790,000 in total and is expected to be completed by July.
“The existing building has numerous leaks and is incurring damage now,” reads the narrative, which was submitted by Machdev Sohan, the owner of the theater. “We want to secure the envelope of the building to give us time to prepare the larger development/preservation plan.”
The council also approved CPA funds for stained glass windows rehabilitation at 52 Sumner Ave. — the performing arts venue that used to house the Faith United Church — and $288,000 for the design, permitting, acquisition and installation of a new 210-linear-foot low-profile EZ Dock system.
Ward 6 City Councilor Victor Davila expressed jubilation for the 19 CPA funding requests, specifically highlighting 52 Sumner Ave. and Forest Park Fitness Course as major boons for the community.
At-Large City Councilor Jose Delgado was equally exultant about the fact that the projects touch each of the 10 Springfield neighborhoods.
“Not only that, but it’s touching upon different challenges that are needed,” Delgado said. “Particularly … housing.”
As chair of the council’s Finance Committee, Ward 7 City Councilor Timothy Allen congratulated the CPC on vetting the projects and ultimately recommending the funding.
“It’s terrific work, a lot of detailed work,” Allen said. “A lot of projects that would never get done if it wasn’t for CPA.”
Kavanagh debate
Although councilors were overwhelmingly appreciative of the 19 CPA requests that passed, one request of $300,000 for the Kavanagh Building Reuse project sparked debate amongst the body.
The $10.2 million State Street development, which broke ground in 2023, converts the building into 35 affordable one or two-bedroom units of permanent supportive housing, some of which will be leased to people experiencing mental health and substance abuse problems.
According to the project narrative, the units will operate through a master lease between the Mental Health Association and Renaissance Development, the project managers.
Donald Mitchell, the managing director for Renaissance, told the council that $1.9 million has already been invested in the project for demolition, abatement, soft costs and environmental expenses.
Because of some design defects, the developers had to stop work last summer to break the project down into phases. Mitchell said the first phase will include 25 units of housing and the buildout of 6,000 more square feet per floor, while the second phase will include the remaining 10 units.
Mitchell said the latter phase would likely arrive a year or so after the first phase.
According to the project narrative, the $300,000 in CPA funding would have allowed Renaissance to complete the remaining exterior work to the historic building’s front façade, including masonry work steelwork, glasswork, awnings and signage.
The council approved a special permit for the project itself in 2022, but At-Large City Councilor Sean Curran was against the project for its proximity to the High School of Commerce, and that sentiment continued during the June 9 meeting.
“We do have a mental health crisis here in the city of Springfield; we do need such services,” Curran said. “But the location is just about on the front lawn of Commerce High, and I don’t think that’s really the appropriate location for such a facility.”
He also mentioned how the city already committed $2.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act to the project two years ago, and that another $300,000 from taxpayer dollars was a “bridge too far.”
Ward 4 City Councilor Malo Brown was similarly leery of the project due to some of the architectural miscalculations that have already occurred with the project. He said the problems that occurred last year regarding the design defect likely means that problems would still remain when the housing is eventually built.
“I don’t see throwing extra money at it to try to fix it is the answer,” Brown said. “I was very wary about the actual project, and now fast forward, there’s issues. I was worried there would be issues at the beginning.”
Regarding concerns around the proximity to Commerce, Mitchell said the school’s past administration was on board with the project when it was initially presented to them. However, no discussions have been made with the current regime, according to Mitchell, who reiterated the project’s overall goal when speaking to the council.
“It’s not a facility. It’s a mixed-use building,” Mitchell said. “It’s housing for folks with low-income issues, and some of them may have mental health issues. So, I just want to make sure that the narrative is correct.”
Despite concerns from Brown and Curran, other councilors were still happy with the project’s conceits. At-Large City Councilor Kateri Walsh said this is a good project that will help a lot of people and added that she would hate to see another empty building on State Street.
“I still support it now,” Walsh said. “I think it addresses many needs in the city of Springfield.”
Meanwhile, Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce corroborated Mitchell’s visit to Commerce when the project was first conceived, saying that he remembers Renaissance visiting the school to do their due diligence.
In his remarks, Click-Bruce emphasized the need for the housing in Springfield.
“I hear what my colleagues are saying, but I don’t like going back on my word.” Click-Bruce said. “I voted for this personally the first time around. Nothing has changed since.”
With a couple of councilors absent, support from a few was not enough to push the CPA funding for the project forward.
Aside from Curran and Brown, City Council President Michael Fenton, Delgado and Allen also voted against the appropriation.
Readers can learn more about the CPA funding by visiting prior Reminder Publishing reporting: tinyurl.com/2dfebcmb/.
