About the MCDC

In 1997 several neighborhood associations were formed. Many projects were accomplished; playgrounds built, streets cleaned, flowers planted, landlords held accountable, and traffic problems addressed. However, a larger more encompassing organization was needed. MCDC was created to leverage and carry out larger projects and organizing.

Marlborough Community Development Corporation (MCDC) held its first annual meeting as a 501 (c)3 non-profit in January 2003.

Board of Directors

Left to right: Chris O’Keeffe, Arthur Bergeron, Duncan Power, Michelle Herlihy, Phil Lodge, Larry Reeves [January 2006]

• Jack Gracey, Executive Director
• Michelle Herlihy
• Chris O'Keeffe, President
• Brian Palmer
• Duncan Power
• Larry Reeves
• Maura Navin Webster

Supporters

Financial Support

• Citizens Bank
• 27 Prospect Street Foundation
• Digital Federal Credit Union
• Ezra M. Cutting Trust
• Marlborough Savings Bank
• The Sudbury Foundation
• Individual Donors
• Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD)
• St. Mary's Credit Union

Special Thanks for Legislative Support

• Representative Steve LeDuc
• Senator Pam Resor

Achievements

Housing and Community Development

• We are developing a pipeline of real estate projects that will provide affordable and diverse housing.
• This spring, we launched a very well received First Time Homebuyer class.
• In April 2005, MCDC and Citizens Bank volunteers provided landscaping and exterior repair to an elderly homeowner as part of HIRE (Home Improvement Resources for the Elderly).

Community safety

• Members of MCDC researched and advocated for the reinstatement of community police officers during the City’s budget hearings in 2004 and 2005.
• In 2005, funds were made available to restore these positions and also to hire a code enforcement officer to address many outstanding community safety concerns.

Streetscapes, trees, and beautification

• When 20+ stately trees lining West Main Street were threatened as a result of pending highway reconstruction, members of MCDC rallied residents to hearings demanding that the City and the Highway Department take all necessary measures to preserve and protect as many as possible and set up measures to replace each lost tree with 2 replacement trees.
• Members successfully, launched the Sponsor-a-Tree program recruiting 30 residents to steward the newly planted replacement trees.
• The Marlborough Litter League’s mission is “To inspire and empower those who live and work in Marlborough to take pride and enjoyment in the regular upkeep of our city through awareness, education, and participation in on-going clean-up efforts.” Having only formed as a committee of MCDC in July of 2006, the committee has held 4 successful neighborhood cleanups and is committed to assisting any non-profit (and others as resources allow) to increase the recycling efforts.

Planning

• Members of the organization participated in a series of charettes to develop a comprehensive plan for redevelopment of target areas of Marlborough, including downtown, Lincoln Street Corridor, and surrounding neighborhoods.
• In December 2004, a community forum was held to solicit comments on the disposition of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
• At our Spring 2005 General Meeting, we facilitated a thoughtful discussion on the development of mixed use zoning as a means to encourage a family-friendly build-out of Marlborough in the coming decade.
• Over 40 people attended our Fall 2005 General Meeting to discuss with Marlborough’s new Code Enforcement Officer, Pam Wilderman her role in making Marlborough a Liveable Community. Communication, Cooperation, and Prevention were themes of her presentation.
• This past spring, we hired BSC/Terrasphere and facilitated an extensive planning process to gather input regarding desired enhancements to the recently opened Assabet River Rail Trail (ARRT). We derived input from over 200 individuals through surveys, focus groups, individual discussions, and intensive planning sessions.
• Our Annual Meeting this year brought visibility and dialogue to the complicated issue of diversity and multiculturalism in a community with a rapidly growing immigrant population.
• In June of 2007, we brought over 40 individuals together to discuss the future of Marlborough's Public Transportation Service.