The 8/16/23 CSHCA Community Benefits Committee focused on the distinction between Community Benefits funds that are required of large developments versus the $750k “gift” that the CSHCA has been offered by one developer (Center Court).
For the Morrissey Boulevard’s three huge projects, the combined CB funds will be multiple millions. The BPDA will decide how the funds are distributed.
The CSHCA has determined our priorities for CB spending: Comprehensive Planning, Infrastructure, Beautification, Pedestrian Walkways, Public Spaces. This committee will advocate for our priorities. We don’t get to decide.
On the other hand, the CSHCA will decide on how our $750k gift will be distributed. Following is this committee’s first pass at a proposed distribution.
Please review the list and offer your comments, new items for the distribution list or support for any of the listed items. This committee hopes that the CSHCA membership will agree with a distribution plan in a few months. Your input would be very helpful.
Proposed Distribution of our $750k Gift (Note that the timing of the distributions (over one or two or three or ??? years) and the actual distributions amounts are yet to be debated. (Your input on these key questions would be helpful.)
First Choice: Hiring the equivalent of a staff person for the CSHCA to organize meetings, follow-up on membership votes, advocate for our positions, promote CSHCA events, canvas the neighborhood for issues and other tasks to be determined. Employee or consultant ??? Compensation ???
Second Choice: Fund specific actions to “Beautify” our neighborhood. Trees on Dorchester Ave is an example. What actions ??? How much do we budget ???
Third Choice: Hire a consultant to help us to create the “Vision” of our CSHCA neighborhood that we want. Building uses, heights, physical improvements, quality of life considerations, etc.
Fourth Choice: Relationship building events. Picnics, musical events, clean-ups, kids events, etc.
Other Choices Identified (only one supporter for each of the following): Bank the $750k, only spend interest earned annually; Initiate Comprehensive Planning to ensure that city/state planning addresses the 10,000 new housing units and 7m sq ft of new commercial space before us; Budget $x for each CSHCA committee to spend as they want to; create educational and recreational programs dealing with our sea shore; training for the CSHCA Executive Board on money management and compliance with government requirements; a Berm for Morrissey Blvd for flood control; review the Jane Jacobs philosophy for urban living; define who we (the CSHCA neighborhood) are in terms of character and life styles; fight development in our neighborhood; ensure that the entire CSHCA area benefits from the $750k.
At the end of our meeting, we discussed how spending this money wisely, funding efforts that bring neighbors together in multiple forms of interactions, creating multiple opportunities for socializing and working together, create a stronger community. We want the money for Community Building as well as physical building.
Any ideas? The Community Benefits Committee meets again on Wednesday, Sept 20, at 7pm at the Savin Hill Yacht Club.