Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact and Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about May 14, 2024, the City of Boston, acting through its Mayor’s Office of Housing (MOH) will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Federal funds through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program pursuant to the authority of Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, as amended (t42 U.S.C. 12701 et seq.) for the following project: 150 Centre Street

150 Centre Street, the “Project”, is a proposed four-story, 72-unit affordable housing project located adjacent to Shawmut Station on the MBTA's Red Line in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston.  The Project will serve a diverse set of households, including units reserved for households earning 30%, 50%, 60%, 80% and 120% of the area median income (AMI), housing that is sorely needed in the City and in particular the St.Mark's/Melville area of Dorchester (Boston), MA.  The Project will also include 25 below-ground parking spaces.  The gross square footage of the building will be 81,447 sf.  The building is designed to exceed the Commonwealth's climate resiliency and energy efficiency goals. The design incorporates Passive House standards, is ''all electric'' with the latest high-efficiency heat pump heating and ventilation equipment, will have photovoltaic solar panels on the roof, climate-sensitive landscaping and open space design, be bike-friendly, and will likely utilize an innovative mass timber framing structural system that will even further reduce embodied carbon within the building. Lastly, the project's location immediately adjacent to mass transit and pedestrian proximity to services and shops will allow the families living there to make the easy choice to get around without a car. The environmentally sensitive nature of the project will even further lower housing costs for the families that will call 150 Centre Street home.  The Project developer is Trinity Financial, Inc. and the total development cost is approximately $55,277,113, including $2 million in Federal HOME funds from the City of Boston.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City of Boston has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) is not required.  Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file at the DND Compliance Unit, 12 Channel Street, 9^th Floor, Boston, MA 02210 and may be examined or copied weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., excluding legal holidays.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the DND Compliance Unit, 12 Channel Street, 9^th Floor, Boston, MA 02210 or via email to erresponses@boston.gov. 

All comments received by May 13, 2024, will be considered by the City of Boston prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds.  Comments should specify which notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The City of Boston certifies to HUD that Michelle Wu, in her official capacity as Mayor, consents to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal Courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities in relation to the environmental review process and that these responsibilities have been satisfied.  HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities, and allows the City of Boston to use Program Funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Boston’s certification for a period of fifteen (15) days following the anticipated submission date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later), only if they are on one of the following bases:

• The certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Boston;
• the City of Boston has omitted a step or failed to make a decision of finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58;
• the grant recipient has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or
•  another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR Part 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. 

Objections must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58) and shall be emailed to the Environmental Officer, US Department of Housing and Urban Development, at CPDRROFBOS@HUD.gov.  Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

1 City Hall Plaza, Boston, MA  02201