17 projects in New Bedford compete for a community funding grant. Which will be chosen?

NEW BEDFORD — There are 17 project proposals in the city totaling $2.7 million that are competing for the $1.6 million available through the Community Preservation Act.

Once the CPC has completed its application review, it will vote on the projects to recommend for funding and submit their recommendations to the City Council for final consideration and awarding of funds.The New Bedford City Council will decide which projects get funded once all the applicants make their pitch, city officials announced in a press release.

The first round of applicants appeared in an online presentation on Wednesday before members of the city’s Community Preservation Committee.

The second and third presentations will be held on Jan. 11 and Jan. 20 at 6 p.m. by Zoom at https://zoom.us/j/84596031271. Meeting ID: 845 9603 1271 and Passcode: 624603. Or by calling 646-558-8656 and logging in with the same meeting ID and passcode.

The CPC is inviting the general public to attend the virtual presentations and provide their comments to the committee by Jan. 24 by emailing CPA@newbedford-ma.gov or by regular mail at: CPC, Department of City Planning, 133 William Street Room 303, New Bedford, MA 02740.

Here are the 17 projects competing for the grants:

Skate Park Design Phase 1 — $25,000 for the design and construction drawings for a renovated skate park in the existing footprint at Brooklawn Park. Applicant: City of New Bedford

City Wide Signage Proposal for Parks — $349,654 create a standardized, comprehensive, signage system for the City Parks. Applicant: City of New Bedford

Cliftex Phase II — $250,000 be used towards the creation of an Adult Day Health facility, administered by the Mentor Network, at the Cliftex Tile mill, a 55 and older apartment complex at 170 Riverside Avenue. Applicant: WinnDevelopment c/o Manomet II Limited Partnership.

Digitization of Maritime Records — $14,000 to physically preserve and expand public access to the New Bedford Public Library’s signature collection of historic American maritime records, notably containing the third-largest collection of American whaling logbooks. Applicant: New Bedford Free Public Library

Digitalization of the Milton Silvia Negative Collection, Part 2 — $20,000 toward catalog and identify the content of at least 60,000 images as yet uncatalogued in the collection; upgrade archival storage to preserve negatives; purchase drives for storage; and continue posting photos online for public access. Applicant: Spinner Publications.

First Baptist Church Restoration Project — $108,000 toward installation of the HC Chairlift in the historic sanctuary's main lobby area, and for the handicapped ramp and HC parking area. Applicant: Your Theatre Inc. and WHALE

Exterior painting of Gallery X building and steeple — $98,000 toward painting of the exterior of the building and the three tiers of the steeple, including repairing or replacing any compromised clapboards or architectural details prior to painting. Applicant: Gallery X, Inc.

George Washington portrait conservation — $26,000 toward conserving the large portrait that is in poor condition, covered with layers of varnish, and having canvas issues. Applicant: New Bedford Free Public Library

Holy Family High School Adaptive Re-Use Project — $175,000 toward the overall project of converting the former school into 15 units of affordable housing. Applicant: Bishop of Fall River

James Arnold Mansion, final roof work phase — $100,000 toward the roof repairs at the James and Sarah Arnold mansion at 427 County Street. Applicant: James Arnold Mansion, Inc.

LGBTQ+ Community Center Handicap Accessibility — $200,000 toward constructing an elevator to all 4 floors, handicap ramp (from street to back deck), addition to house the elevator, and six handicap, gender neutral bathrooms. Applicant: South Coast LGBTQ Network, Inc.

Whaling Museum’s Bourne Building Masonry Repair — $187,500 toward masonry restoration work on all elevations of the building and includes masonry re-pointing, removing and replacing cracked and/or spalled brick, removing and replacing failed angle iron lintels, and applying water-repellent, as needed, to masonry surfaces. Applicant: Old Dartmouth Historical Society/New Bedford Whaling Museum

Masonry repairs at Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum — $142,900 toward masonry repairs on the terrace and stairways, chimneys and foundation of the mansion. Applicant: Rotch-Jones-Duff House & Garden Museum, Inc.

Save the bells tower — $244,374 toward construction and installation of a completed 34-foot bell tower in Clasky Common Park to house the historic bells from St. Lawrence Church. Applicant: New Bedford Parks and Recreation

Strand Theater Restoration — $300,000 toward transforming the historic theater building at 1157 Acushnet Ave. into the Cape Verdean Cultural Community Center. Applicant: Cape Verdean Association in New Bedford

Temple Landing II — $ 500,000 toward costs associated with the development of new construction of a 4-story wood-frame building to include 27 units (23 1-bedroom and four 2-bedroom) of affordable rental housing for seniors (62+) and persons with disabilities at the 285 Ash Street site. Applicant: POAH United Front Four LLC

Thomas Dept. Store Restoration and Preservation — $15,000 to address water incursions into the building and to properly preserve the structure located at 414-430 Rivet Street. The building will provide housing, case management and support for individuals and families living at or below the federal poverty line. Applicant: Freedom Trust

Standard-Times digital producer Linda Roy can be reached at lroy@s-t.com. You can follow her on Twitter at @LindaRoy_SCT. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 17 projects in New Bedford compete for a community funding grant.