DDS Housing Division - Public Notice - 08.11.2020

No longer on display. Expired on September 30, 2020, 12:00 AM

CITY OF HARTFORD PUBLIC NOTICE - 08.11.2020

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Hartford through federal funds provided by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS:

On or about August 28, 2020 the City of Hartford will request from HUD to undertake the following project during Fiscal Years 2020-21 and 2021-2022 which is neither Exempt nor Categorically Excluded:

RMS DONO, LLC is developing 270 rental apartments with ground floor retail along Main Street. The address is known as 1212 Main Street in Hartford’s Downtown North neighborhood. The site is currently a vacant and underutilized parking area.

The 270 units are comprised of two hundred eight (208) one-bedroom, and sixty-two (62) two-bedroom; including ten (10) units that will serve families and individuals between 50% and 60% market rate income levels. The new construction will include a six-story building with a tower element at the intersection of Main and Trumbull Streets which will help frame the views along Main Street to Hartford’s Downtown. The proposed residential project will provide a range of unit types that will attract a diverse income mix, demographics, affordability and age groups. It will also create a new walkable mixed-use gateway in Downtown North around the new Dunkin’ Donuts Park in a phased, flexible, sustainable and economical fashion. Capitalizing on the ballpark and the surrounding neighborhood context, this will create an exciting environment to live and visit.

Financing for the $56 million project will come from conventional funding, private equity and the City of Hartford HOME funds - $900,000. Funding approvals are in place.

RMS Construction, Inc. is the general contractor and the project architect is Lessard Design, Inc. Construction is expected to commence in early fall and take 18 months to complete. Full occupancy is expected by mid-2022.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City of Hartford has determined that the above-mentioned project will have no significant impact on the human environment. Therefore, an Environmental Impact Statement under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 is not required. Additional project information is contained in the Environmental Review Record (ERR) on file on the web at https://hartfordct.gov/Home under Public Notices on the main page.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the environmental review records to Lionel Rigler, Senior Project Manager, Office of Central Grants Administration, Office of Management, Budget and Grants, Hartford City Hall at his email address RIGLL001@hartford.gov. All comments received by August 27, 2020 will be considered by the City of Hartford 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 Hartford certifies to the HUD Hartford Field Office that the Mayor in his capacity as Certifying Officer for the City 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 Hartford Office approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities, and allows the City of Hartford to use Program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO THE RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD Hartford Field Office will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Hartford’s certification for a period of fifteen 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 Hartford; (b) the City of Hartford 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 or other participants in the project have committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by the HUD Hartford Office; 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 email in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to the HUD Hartford Field Office at CPD_COVID-19OEE-HAT@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact the HUD Hartford Field Office via email to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Download the Environmental Assessment: Environmental-Assessment-HOME-DoNo-Parcel-3-1212-Main-Street(PDF, 539KB)