Newton Community Farm (Angino Farm)

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Newton Community Farm
303 Nahanton Street (at corner with Winchester Street)
Newton, MA 02459

Current Project Goals

Newton Community Farms requests CPA funding to rehabilitate and restore parts of the mid 19th century farmhouse located at Angino Farm. Proposed work includes remediating excessive water and moisture issues, upgrading electrical system, replacing the kitchen ceiling and lighting, and replacing the hot water system.

Funding

Requested CPA Funding $88,554

Newton Community Farm Funding $10,000

Unused CPA funding at close of Project $11,896.25

Total Project Cost $86,657.75

Current Funding Process

November 26, 2021 - Pre-Proposal submitted for review at the CPC's December 14 public meeting. Submitted materials include the following:

Newton Community Farm Cover Letter
Letter of Support from Commissioner Josh Morse
Newton Community Farm Statistics for 2021
Attachment #1 - Proposed Improvements to Farm House
Attachment #2 - Cost of Proposed Improvements
2015 Aerial Map of the Property
Interior Condition Photos

February 18, 2022 - Additional materials submitted for full proposal public hearing on March 8, 2022. Materials submitted include the following:

Letters of Support Received with Full Proposal (18 total - updated March 1, 2022)
Newton Community Farm Financial Information
Newton Community Farm Operating Budget Summary, 2019-202 2
Angino Community Farm Analysis of Historical Significance

March 8, 2022 - NCF project presentation to CPC at public hearing. CPC votes to recommend full funding of the project at the public hearing.

March 14, 2022 - CPC Funding Recommendation sent to City Council for review and approval.

April 19, 2022 - City Council Order approved for full funding of the project.

August 8, 2023 - Paul Holt, Newton Community Farm, presents the final report for the completed project. The project is under budget as the kitchen ceiling was determined to be structurally sound at this time. CPC unanimously votes to accept the final report and close the project.

Prior Project Goals and Details

Acquire the last working farm in Newton for use as a community-supported agriculture farm; restrict the use of 1.5 acres to open space for active farming; preserve and rehabilitate the historic farmhouse as housing for the farm manager; and preserve and rehabilitate the historic barn to support farm operations and programs.

Prior CPA Funding (Three Completed Projects)

See Debt-Financed Projects from Reports page for breakdown of debt issuance, principal & interest. Most annual interest payments are authorized through annual CPA program budgets, so individual Board orders do not total to full project cost.

$3,402,700	CPA funds appropriated or authorized, counted as:
$669,200	Historic resources
$1,461,000	Open space
$1,122,800	Recreation
$430,000	Additional estimated private funding for barn renovations, both exterior and interior
$3,373,700	Actual Amount of CPA funding used ($29,000 in unused funds returned to CPA general fund)

Contact

The City of Newton owns & oversees the farm.

Newton Farm Commission
303 Nahanton Street
Newton Centre, MA 02459
paul@newtonzcommunityfarm.org
617-775-4790

The private nonprofit Newton Community Farm, Inc., (NCF) runs the farm under a 20-year license from the City of Newton, with public oversight from the City's Farm Commission. NCF runs community-supported agriculture and educational programs and covers all day-to-day operating costs from its own sources. No City funds are used for annual operating costs.

Greg Maslowe, Farm Manager
Newton Angino Community Farm
303 Nahanton Street
Newton, MA 02459
information@newtoncommunityfarm.org
617-916-9655
(Membership information, educational programs, public events, & future plans)

Projects

See the sections below for details on these projects.

Farmhouse Rehabilitation and Restoration
Farm Acquisition
Farmhouse De-Leading
Barn Rehabilitation

Background & News for All Projects

2005-06

2 May 2005 - Newton Farm ordinance establishes Farm Commission
24 May 2005 - Conservation restriction - full text (South Middlesex Registry of Deeds, book 46234, page 97)
31 October 2005 - Farm operation proposal, initial business plan submitted by Newton Community Farm, Inc. in response to City of Newton Request for Expressions of Interest (RFI)
March-December 2006 - City of Newton operator agreement with Newton Community Farm, Inc.

2008-12

15 June 2008 - Analysis of Historic Significance, preservation guidelines approved by Farm Commission
26 June 2008 - Operator agreement amendment, allowing privately funded renovation of the barn's exterior
17 December 2009 - Operator agreement extension, converting renewable 2-year agreements to a 20-year agreement with 5-year reviews
Fall 2012 - Angino Farm featured in CNN report about Newton as one of America's best places to live.

Barn Interior Rehabilitation

Goals

This project built on the privately-funded exterior preservation and rehabilitation of the farm's late 19th-century barn by preserving and keeping historic framing, floors and walls visible on the interior, while also adapting the space to support current farm operations by providing accessible entrances and public restrooms, storage for equipment and harvested crops, workspaces, a demonstration kitchen, and space for meetings and classes. Private funds were used to construct a partial loft on the main floor, for staff offices, and may be used to convert the rear deck to a three-season screened porch, as additional meeting or classroom space.

Funding

$748,000	CP funds spent, counted as follows based on initial project budget: 15% historic resources, 85% recreation
$200,000	Estimated additional private funds raised
Public Buildings	For additional costs covered through City of Newton Public Buildings operating budget, see project final report in the Farmhouse De-Leading section below

Contact

Newton Public Buildings Dept.
52 Elliot Street
Newton Upper Falls, MA 02464
617-796-1600 (Public Buildings Dept. main number)

Proposal Review & Appropriation

Angino Farm Barn Renovation 2009 Initial Funding Request

16 October 2009 - Proposal (incl. elevations & plans, NCF annual audit, statistics on volunteer hours, map of members & supporters)
18 November 2009 - Public hearing presentation (incl. photos, elevations & plans)
January 2010 - Supplemental information requested by CPC (incl. operating budget for renovated barn)
2 February 2010 - CPC funding recommendation
15 March 2010 - Board order (appropriation)

July 2012 Supplemental Funding Request

3 July 2012 - Pre-proposal
19 September 2012 - Updated request for off-cycle consideration (with revised funding request amount)
21 September 2012 - Full proposal for supplemental funding, including updated development & operating budgets and updated plans & elevations (This large file may load slowly.)
11 October 2012 - Presentation to the CPC (includes photos, plans, elevations)
24 October 2012 - CPC supplemental funding recommendation
17 December 2012 - Board order (appropriation)

Project News

November 2008 - Barn exterior preservation & renovation photos
22 June 2010 - Accessibility recommendations by Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities
February 2010 - Updated concept plan
24 March 2010 - Updated project schedule
28 September 2014 - Gala opening of the renovated barn, at the farm's Fall Festival (photos)
29 January 2015 - Project final report (photos)

Farmhouse De-Leading

Goals

Abate lead paint or replace windows and doors as needed at Angino Farm, to allow safe occupation by the farm manager and his family by start of school year, fall 2006.

Funding

$70,000

CP funds appropriated (historic resources)

Proposal Review & Appropriation

14-18 April 2006 - Proposal, with attachments:
- Letters of support
- Summary of lead paint inspection (from October 2004)
12 May 2006 - CPC funding recommendation
15 May 2006 - Board order (appropriation)

Acquisition

Goals

Acquire the last working farm in Newton for use as a community-supported agriculture farm, and restrict the use of 1.5 acres to open space (ideally for active farming). This 2.26-acre parcel was farmed continuously from the late 18th through the late 20th century.