Ruggles Recommendation Cover Letter
City of Northampton
Community Preservation Committee
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
December 8, 2008
Mayor Clare Higgins
City of Northampton
210 Main Street, City Hall
Northampton, MA 01060
Re: Community Preservation Committee Recommendation to Fund the David Ruggles
Center for Early Florence History and Underground Railroad Studies Historic
Preservation Project
Dear Honorable Mayor Higgins,
On September 12, 2008, the deadline for the third round of Community Preservation Act
(CPA) funding requests in the City of Northampton, the Community Preservation
Committee (CPC) began reviewing ten project proposals submitted for CPA funding.
The Community Preservation Committee conducted project site visits on September 27,
2008, and met with five applicants on October 15, 2008 and five applicants on November
5, 2008 to discuss their project proposals.
On November 19, 2008 the CPC held its summary evaluative discussions of the
applications, and on December 3, 2008 the Community Preservation Committee voted 7-
0 to fund $150,000 to the David Ruggles Center for Early Florence History and
Underground Railroad Studies Historic Preservation Project. The requested funding is
for the purchase of the museum and education center.
The following are conditions/contingencies that the Community Preservation Committee
is requiring as part of its recommendation for the David Ruggles Center for Early
Florence History and Underground Railroad Studies Historic Preservation Project:
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Procedures for monitoring and reporting shall be worked out among the
Committee, Mayor and the grantee.
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Prior to receipt of funding, the David Ruggles Center provides a preservation
guarantee that is acceptable to the CPC.
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$12,500 is provided for predevelopment costs, $18,000 is provided upon signing a
Purchase and Sale Agreement, and the remainder is provided at the purchase
closing.
We hope that you will find this overview useful during this critical stage in the funding
process. The Community Preservation Committee has worked diligently to ensure that
both the Committee and the process have been comprehensive, transparent and inclusive;
we welcome your input and expertise on this project recommendation.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Jack Hornor
Chair, City of Northampton Community Preservation Committee