Lowell CPA Committee Votes to Triple Minimum Housing Allocation to 25 Percent

LOWELL — May 15, 2025 — Lowell's Community Preservation Committee voted to dedicate 25 percent of its annual budget — $313,000 — to community housing, nearly tripling the state-mandated 10 percent minimum. The committee approved a total FY2026 appropriation of roughly $1.25 million, also allocating $62,600 for administrative expenses, $125,200 each for open space and historic preservation, and $625,800 to an open reserve. One member opposed the housing increase, arguing the committee should retain flexibility to fund open space projects. The vote came alongside discussion of a newly created but not yet operational Lowell Affordable Housing Trust Fund, with members indicating they intend to revisit channeling housing dollars through that body once it is fully staffed. The committee also approved five two-year grant extensions — for the St. George Greek Orthodox Church at 44 Princeton Boulevard, Clemente Park, O'Donnell Park, the Downtown Lowell Building Restoration Loan Fund, and the Hadley House project of the Lowell Housing Authority — and authorized an $87,462.80 debt service payment tied to the city's borrowing for the Raleigh's Farm open space acquisition, with payments running through at least June 2055.