Management and Budget Office New York City

Management and Budget Office New York City (NYCOMB)
Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)
Build It Back: Disposition and Redevelopment of Single-Family Housing
United Public Notice
Notification of Intent to Request Funds (NOI RROF)
Final notification and public explanation of the proposed activity in the floodplain zone
No Significant Exposure Notice (FONSI)
All interested agencies, organizations and individuals
These notices comply with three separate but related procedural requirements for activities undertaken by the New York City Management and Budget Office (NYCOMB) in Kings, Queens, and Richmond Counties. In accordance with 24 CFR 58.33 and 24 CFR 55.20 (b) (1), the combined Notice of Intent to Request Funds (NOI RROF), Final Notification and Public Explanation of Proposed Activities in the Flood Zone and Notification of No Significant Impact (FONSI) are published simultaneously with the submission of a Request for the provision of funds (RROF). These funds are provided by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) under the Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program to cover the necessary costs associated with disaster relief, long-term rehabilitation of infrastructure and housing, as well as economic revitalization in areas most affected by Hurricane Sandy, as required by the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of January 29, 2013 (Public Law 113-2) These federal funds are needed urgently to deal with the effects of the disaster. Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other relevant rules and regulations.
Fund Request
Around July 15, 2020, New York City (City) will submit a request to the HUD for the allocation of CDBG-DR funds for the Build It Back: Disposition and Redevelopment of Single-Family Housing (proposed project). This Environmental Assessment (EA) is an additional analysis to the earlier EA for NYC Build It Back (BIB): Single Family Houses (1-4 unit), for which Authority to Use Grant Funds (AUGF) was received on August 3, 2013. Then, $ 2,210,000,000 from CDBG-DR funds were allocated to the BIB Single Family Houses program (1-4 unit). No additional funding is provided for the activities described in this EA. The proposed project will consist in the rehabilitation or reconstruction of facilities previously acquired under the BIB Acquisition for Redevelopment (AFR) program to increase resilience and reduce the risk of floods in the future.
This is the first step in a two-phase analysis process. The addresses of all sites have not yet been established. In this regard, in accordance with 24 CFR Part 58.15 (Tiering) and 24 CFR Part 58.32 (Project Aggregation), OMB will take a phased approach and, as the plots are identified, conduct analysis in accordance with the instructions in the Tier 1 Review. Work will only be started on all levels of environmental assessment and on conclusions on its compliance with the requirements. The first stage of the study addresses environmental factors, regardless of the location of specific sites. Thus, their verification will not be required in the second stage, when all sections will be identified.
Notification and public clarification of proposed activities in the floodplain zone
This notice is required by Executive Order (EO) 11988 and HUD 24 CFR 55.20. The city is offering rehabilitation and rebuilding facilities previously acquired under the BIB AFR program to increase resilience and reduce future flood risk in approximately 62 proposed sites in Kings, Queens and Richmond counties in New York. About 4.04 acres of sites are part of the Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) (100-year floodplain, AE Zone), which follows from preliminary Floodplain Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) compiled by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Additional sites that have not yet been identified will be selected from BIB Single-Family Houses (1-4 unit) in Kings, Queens and Richmond counties in New York. Approximately 1.013 acres of BIB Single-Family Houses (1-4 unit) plots are located in the floodplain zone:
l Kings County - about 167.58 acres;
l Queens County - about 668.62 acres;
l Richmond County - about 129.76 acres.
The city has studied the following alternatives and measures to reduce damage to the floodplain zone and restore its natural value.
Lack of action. This alternative means that all proposed sites acquired by Project Rebuild, Inc. (PRI) in accordance with the BIB program, they will remain vacant or single-family houses built there will not be repaired. An alternative does not protect lives and property. In this case, the conditions will only worsen, and the plots will remain vacant in areas where the City hopes to accelerate recovery. In addition, new affordable housing will not appear in Kings, Queens, and Richmond counties, and existing housing will not be strengthened.
Redemption of objects. In accordance with this alternative, demolition of constructed facilities, improvement and planting of green spaces will be carried out in all areas acquired under the BIB program. The study of conditions, plans, land management and zoning in the designated areas allowed the alternative to be unacceptable. Although it will allow you to get rid of objects that need repair, save lives and protect the remaining property, increasing the effectiveness of floodplain zones, no affordable housing will be created in the areas of Kings, Queens and Richmond counties.
Proposed Project. It consists in the rehabilitation or reconstruction of facilities acquired under the BIB AFR program in Kings, Queens and Richmond counties, increasing resilience and reducing the risk of floods in the future. These properties, located mainly in SFHA, will be sold to developers for the construction of high-quality housing made of waterproof materials, using energy efficiency measures and increasing the level of equipment in accordance with FEMA standards. All houses will be located above the BFE specified in pFIRMS, in accordance with Appendix G to the NYC Building Code. Upon completion, some homes should be sold to low- and middle-income people to increase affordability in New York City. The density of residence in the rebuilt houses can be increased in comparison with that recorded before the hurricane, but they should not have more than 4 apartments (according to the HUD definition, a single-family house consists of 1-4 apartments), and the work must be carried out in accordance with all zoning rules .
In addition, the proposed project will lead to the emergence of new homes in Kings, Queens and Richmond counties that are sustainable in the event of flooding, which will protect lives and property, as well as provide affordable housing.
The city re-examined the alternatives of the proposed activity in the floodplain zone and came to the conclusion that the proposed project is optimal. In accordance with the 8-stage decision-making process on activities in the floodplain zone, the City determined that the implementation of the proposed project will not increase the risk of floods in or near the sites themselves. The project will protect lives and property by creating new, flood-resistant and affordable housing. Thus, the City decided that the proposed project meets the requirements of EO 11988 and 44 CFR 60.3 (a) (4-6). Environmental study materials confirming compliance with steps 3-6 of EO 11988 are available for public study as follows.
No Significant Exposure Notice (FONSI)
NYCOMB determined that the project will not have a significant impact on living conditions. As a result, the Environmental Impact Statement provided by the NEPA is not required. For more information about the project, see the Environmental Review Record (ERR), which is available electronically. Please send an application to the email address [email protected] . ERR can be studied online at http://www1.nyc.gov/site/cdbgdr/documents/environmental-records.page
Public Commenting
All interested individuals, organizations and agencies may send written comments by e-mail to [email protected] . All comments received before the end of the business day on July 14, 2020 will be reviewed by NYCOMB before applying for funds. The comments should indicate which part of this notice they relate to.
Provision of funds
NYCOMB testifies to HUD that Melanie Hartsog, as a certification officer for the CDBG-DR program, recognizes the jurisdiction of federal courts if action is taken to fulfill the responsibilities associated with the environmental assessment process. HUD approval is provided by the NEPA, relevant laws and regulations, and allows the City to use the CDBG-DR funds.
Objections to the provision of funds
The HUD will consider objections to the provision of funds and NYCOMB certification within fifteen (15) days of the submission of the application, only on the following grounds: (a) the certification was not performed by a NYCOMB certification officer; (b) NYCOMB missed the stage or failed to make a decision binding under HUD 24 CFR Part 58; (c) the recipient of the grant or other project participants received funds or included expenses not provided for in 24 CFR Part 58, before the HUD made a decision on the allocation of funds; or (d) another federal agency, acting in accordance with 40 CFR Part 1504, has submitted written conclusions that the project does not comply with environmental standards. Objections must be prepared and sent by e-mail subject to the procedural requirements (24 CFR Part 58.76) and must be addressed to HUD, Disaster Recovery and Special Issues Division, Office of Block Grant Assistant, at [email protected] . You must contact HUD by email to confirm the objection deadline.
Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York City
Melanie Hartsog, Director of Management and Budget Office
Date: June 26, 2020