COMBINED NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
To All Interested Persons, Agencies, and Groups:
These notices shall satisfy procedural requirements for federally assisted activities to be undertaken by the City of Lorain.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about December 2, 2019 the City of Lorain, Building, Housing, & Planning Department will submit requests to Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds under the Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 and under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzales National Affordable Housing Act as amended, to undertake a project known as:
Demolition of El Patio 2933 Grove Avenue (0300094109006)
This building was built in 1905 and was originally an old grocery store and meat market until 1942. Later the building became a café in 1942. The demolition project of the El Patio site, as it has been known since 1992, is due to nuisance and an urgent threat to the public and the welfare of the residents of the City of Lorain. The City of Lorain health and fire departments have no objection to the demolition of this site. The approximately 0.22 acres site consists of a two-story abandoned building, totaling approximately 6,800 feet, most recently operated as a restaurant on the bottom floor and several abandoned apartment dwellings on the second floor. The approximate cost of the demolitions will be $70,000.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT (FONSI)
The site locations are blighted and have some asbestos contamination conditions that are hazardous. The property investigations show documented releases of asbestos based on the Phase I Environmental Assessments (ASTM E 1527-13) and an asbestos survey has been completed for this site. No evidence of recognized environmental conditions (REC’s) associate with this site as defined by the ASTM E 1527-13 standard.
The City will require that the asbestos remediated. Based on these commitments to remediate hazards to known standards, the issuance of this FONSI is being made.
The legal staff representing the city will incorporate appropriate language regarding the project listed above into the legal documents written for said project. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) which is on file at:
Department of Building, Housing, & Planning
City of Lorain City Hall, 5th Floor
200 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, OH 44052
Attn: Kellie Glenn, Director
(440) 204-2020
The ERR for this project may be examined upon request during regular business hours at the City from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the project may submit written comments to the Department of Building, Housing, & Planning at the above-mentioned addresses. All comments received by December 2, 2019 will be considered by the City of Lorain prior to authorizing a submission for a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.
RELEASE OF FUNDS
The City of Lorain certifies to HUD that the certifying officer, Kellie F. Glenn in his official capacity as Director of the Department of Building, Housing, & Planning 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 certifies 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 Lorain the use of Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds pursuant to the following stipulations.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Lorain’s certification for a period of 15 days following the anticipated submittal date or its actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if they are based on one of the following: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer or the City of Lorain; (b) the City of Lorain has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) 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 (d) 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 addressed to:
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (Columbus Field Office)
Ohio State Office
200 North High Street
Columbus, Ohio 43215-2499
Attn: Office of Community Planning and Development
Potential objectors should contact the above entity as noted above to verify the actual last day of the objection period. HUD will consider objections received by December 19, 2019 or a period of fifteen days from its receipt of the request, whichever is later.
BY ORDER OF THE CITY OF LORAIN, LORAIN COUNTY, OH:
Joseph F. Koziura, Mayor
City of Lorain
Kellie F. Glenn, Director
City of Lorain Department of Building, Housing, & Planning