Notice of: City of Lakewood 6000 Main St. SW Lakewood, WA 98499 253-512-2261, in association with Pierce County Department of Human Services 3602 Pacific Ave., Suite 200 Tacoma, WA 98418 and Washington State Department of Commerce Multi Family Housing Unit 1011 Plum St. SE Olympia, WA 98504.
These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken jointly by the City of Lakewood, Pierce County, and Washington State Department of Commerce.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about September 27, 2024, the City of Lakewood will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of $1,000,000 in Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME) funds under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 12901 et seq.), as amended; $1,175,489 in HOME-ARP funds under section 3205 of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) (“ARP”), as amended; and $1,000000 in direct federal funds allocation through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118.42) (the FY2024 Act), and the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-47 (the Further FY2024 Act), to undertake a project known as Gravelly Lake Commons housing project, located at 5516 – 5520 Fairlawn Dr. SW, Lakewood, WA, which will consist of the construction of 25-units of permanent affordable rental housing. Total project costs are estimated at $13.1 million.
Additional project funding will be provided through the following: City of Lakewood – $1,000,000 in ARP funds under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (P.L. 117-2) (“ARP”); Pierce County Department of Community Connections – $3,500,000 in American Rescue Plan Act – State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds; Washington State Department of Commerce – $5,000,000 under the 2023 Washington State Housing Trust Fund Traditional Competitive Funding Round, authorized under the State Taxable Building Construction Account” (Fund 355), which was appropriated in the 2023-2025 Capital Budget, ESSB 5200, Laws of 2023; and $500,0000 in a direct budget allocation from the State of Washington directly appropriated by the Legislature in the 2023-25 Capital Budget, ESSB 5200, Section 1020(8), Laws of 2023.
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
The City of Lakewood, on behalf of the State of Washington and Pierce County, 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 for review at City of Lakewood, 6000 Main Street S.W., Lakewood WA 98499, and may be examined or copied weekdays 9 A.M. to 4 P.M or may be found electronically at: https://cityoflakewood.us/category/rfp-rfq-bids/.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with the determination in this notice or wishing to comment on the ERR may submit written comments to the City of Lakewood, Attention: Jeff Gumm, Housing Division Manager, 6000 Main St. SW, Lakewood, WA 98499, or jgumm@cityoflakewod.us. All comments received by 4:00 PM, September 26, 2024, will be considered by the City of Lakewood prior to authorizing submission of a Request for Release of Funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.
RELEASE OF FUNDS
The City of Lakewood certifies to HUD that Mr. Jeff Rimack, in his capacity as Director of the City of Lakewood Planning & Community Development Department, 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 Lakewood to use program funds.
OBJECTION TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Lakewood 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: (a) the certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Lakewood; (b) the City of Lakewood has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the grant recipients have 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 via U.S. mail and/or email in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76). Objections shall be addressed to Seattle HUD CPD Office via email at: seacpdrrof@hud.gov or via U. S. mail at: Seattle HUD CPD Office, 909 1st Avenue, Suite 310, Seattle, WA 98104. Potential objectors should contact the Seattle HUD Field Office via email at seacpdrrof@hud.gov to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
I am definitely in favor of making more “affordable” housing available. What I question is how is it that each “affordable” unit will cost more than half a million dollars? Like many of the public construction projects in our area, this one seems grossly overpriced. We need reasonably priced housing, but the affordable description should apply to both the renters and the taxpayers who invariably fund such projects.
@Fred Block,
I was wondering that too. But the bigger picture is cost of everything associated with building 23 houses with various county, city, state and Federal agencies involved in the funding. The oversite and administrative costs are probably going to be massive as well as project management. The houses are most likely a reasonable cost to build it’s everything else that will eat at that budget.