2019-12-12-CPC-NEEDS.rpt - Laserfiche WebLink

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Stone Building (the former East Lexington Library) on Massachusetts Avenue, the Hancock-Clarke House, Munroe Tavern and Buckman Tavern. Importantly, the CPA- funded rehabilitation of the Cary Memorial Building and the Lexington Community Center is now complete. Future projects could include restoration and rehabilitation of other buildings on the Battle Green and the interiors of the Hosmer Home ("White House") and the Stone Building, as well as restoration of and sensitive modifications for accessibility in the Lexington Center Streetscape. • Documentation, survey, conservation and restoration of historic landscapes, including historic burying grounds and monuments. Examples would be the CPA-funded projects for creation of a Master Plan for the Battle Green, including restoration of the MinuteMan statue, and restoration of two of the Town's historic burying grounds. • Application for survey and planning grants for updating existing inventories and National Register nominations, with special emphasis on Mid-Century Modern neighborhoods and the social changes that accompanied these resources. Many current Inventory forms date from the 1970s and contain incomplete or inaccurate information, and need updating to promote their long-term preservation. This is especially critical for the earliest 17th and 18'h century buildings in Town. CPA funds provide important matching funds for other grant opportunities, including grants from the Massachusetts Historical Commission. Past CPA grants have enabled the updating, correction and posting online of the Town's Cultural Resources Survey, as well as a study of the Mid- Century Modern movement in Lexington. Completed projects include the preparation of National Register of Historic Places nominations for the Peacock Farm and Six Moon Hill neighborhoods, a review of the Inventory listings on Meriam Hill and the research and documentation of 123 new properties long pending for inclusion in the Inventory. • Educational projects such as research of historic sites and buildings and the installation of informational signs that encourage the preservation of historic resources. CPA has provided funding for extensive archaeological research into the battle site of Parker's Revenge, within the Minuteman National Historical Park. CPA funding has also enabled the placement of directional and informational signage throughout the historic center of Town, as well as the posting online of a survey of historical periods in Lexington, historic maps, a guide to the architectural styles of houses found here and a bibliography of additional reading about Lexington's history. Future projects could include the restoration and repair of the Tercentenary guidepost signs formerly located at key intersections across Town and the creation of programs for the public to showcase the history and significance of homes and neighborhoods on the Cultural Resources Survey. • Preservation of historic documents, archival materials and artwork. The Town Clerk continues to evaluate, restore and digitize many of the Town's historic records in a multi- year project using CPA funding. The Lexington Historical Society and the Cary Memorial Library have similarly used CPA funds to conserve important Society records. Many important paintings and sculptures in theTown's collections could also be preserved using CPA funds. 16