Council President Michael Fenton and Councilors Victor Davila, Tim Allen, Melvin Edwards and Jose Delgado pose with Yaimil Lozado and his family and his boxing championship belts.
Reminder Publishing photo by Sarah Heinonen
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council approved the use of Community Preservation Act funding to renovate the exterior of a historic at 37 George St. that was ravaged by fire, but not before thoroughly questioning the owner’s lack of homeowners’ insurance and how that would impact the project.
The home, built in 1896 by architect Frederick Newman, experienced what Community Preservation Committee Chair Robert McCarroll described as a “really significant fire” in May.
The blaze tore through the roof, destroyed the windows and burned away the exterior clapboard on part of the house. McCarroll recommended approving $300,000, the maximum provided for a project in a single funding cycle.
City Council President Michael Fenton asked about the circumstances of the fire. Martinelli, who mostly spoke through a CPC member due to a language barrier, said she and her husband were home at the time, but she was unsure of the fire’s cause. She stated that she did not use candles with live flames, so that could not have been the cause.
The property, which is currently assessed at $258,000, was purchased by Owner Paola Martinelli and her husband in 2017 for $85,000 cash after sitting vacant for years. The owners, who had been renovating the house while occupying it, did not have a homeowner’s policy on the house when the fire occurred.
Councilor Zaida Govan asked if $300,000 was enough to restore the home. McCarroll said the funding was intended to restore the exterior of the house, “which is what is in the public interest.” The couple later said they had spent all their money purchasing the home and renovating it over the past eight years. McCarroll said the city had no other financial programs that apply to Martinelli’s situation.
Many of the councilors were concerned about the lack of insurance. Councilor Victor Davila said, “If something were to happen, we’d lose that $300,000.”
A CPC member explained that the city does not distribute the money directly to homeowners. Instead, he said, the CPC inspects the work as it is done and then reimburses the contractor. Referring to the contractors completing the expected renovations, McCarroll said, “If they don’t get done, they don’t get paid.”
McCarroll said the CPC funding contract requires a building to be insured during construction. The contractor who would perform the work, Sapphire Construction & Remodeling principal Candido Osorio, said his company carries an insurance policy that covers the building until it is watertight. At that point, he said, the homeowners can have the building insured. Delgado commented that a different type of insurance covers construction, as opposed to homeowners’ insurance.
Councilor Malo Brown asked if the couple planned to obtain homeowners’ insurance once they were able. The CPC member translated, “100%.”
When asked by Delgado, the owners said they were not planning to sell the home. Once the building’s envelope is secure, the couple plans to move back in. Govan asked if they could afford to refurbish the interior. Martinelli’s husband works in construction and plans to do much of the work himself, Martinelli said through the CPC member who was translating. “He said, “They’ll go at a pace they can manage.”
Councilor Melvin Edwards said he was familiar with the “pristinely beautiful property.” Considering how the money is disbursed, he said the city was not at risk of losing its funding. Without the CPC funding, he said, the home would be demolished. “This is the only way this property can be saved,” Edwards said. “Once it’s gone, its lost.”
Councilor Tracye Whitfield acknowledged that the home was “valuable” but said there are other valuable properties in need of funds that are insured. She then said it is not widely known that the CPC will consider mid-cycle requests and took issue with the idea that “some people are privy to information others are not.” She later said that she did not want the couple “out on the street” but also did not want to “show favoritism” or “do favors for some and not others.”
Another member of the CPC joined the meeting via Zoom. She clarified that the CPC did not have an “emergency fund” and therefore would not advertise it as an option. McCarroll said mid-cycle requests, like the one before the council, are only accepted by the CPC in emergency situations. The Frederick Newman House was only the second time the committee had entertained a mid-cycle request, he said.
The project was approved with a vote of 10-3, with Fenton, Whitfield and Brown voting against the funding.
Boxing teen
The City Council, led by Councilor Jose Delgado, recognized 14-year-old Yaimil Lozado with a proclamation for his athletic accomplishments. Lozado has won several boxing championships, including two Silver Glove USA Boxing New England King of the Ring Champions. Lozado also represented Springfield at the 2025 Copa Olympica in Puerto Rico, taking home the gold medal. Lozado also received a proclamation from the Massachusetts Senate through state Sen. Adam Gomez’s office.
Lozado, who came to the City Council meeting with his mother and two younger siblings, said, “If it wasn’t for my family, I wouldn’t be here right now.” Lozado, an honor student, also plays basketball and performs in Libertas Academy Charter School’s drum line.
Delgado said he first met Lozado when he walked in the Springfield Puerto Rican Parade. Several of the councilors praised the teen for his athleticism and down-to-Earth demeanor. Davila advised Lozado to “never lose sight of Jesus,” while Whitfield told him, “We are honored to honor you.” Fenton cited Lozado’s “poise” and said, “We’re proud to call you a son of Springfield.”
