Notice of Finding of No Signficant Impact

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNFICANT IMPACT AND NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS August 7, 2025 City of Atlanta, GA Department of Grants and Community Development 55 Trinity Avenue, SW Suite #3500 Atlanta, GA 30303 404-658-7820 These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia. REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS On or about August 23, 2025, the City of Atlanta will authorize The Housing Authority of the City of Atlanta, Georgia ("AH") to submit a request to the HUD Atlanta Regional Office for the release of Moving to Work ("MTW") and Choice Neighborhoods funds under the Housing Act of 1937, as amended, to support the The Bowen Gateway project. The Bowen Gateway project will create a new gateway and image for the redeveloped Bowen, blending it more seamlessly with the neighborhood around it, providing community amenities and a sense of place, and activating a long-blighted location on the Hollowell corridor. The project accomplishes better connectivity to the currently under construction Bowen residential from Donald Lee Hollowell, brownfield remediation, placemaking, and economic development. The scope of this phase of the project includes: 1. Acquisition of blighted commercial property flanking the entrance to the Bowen site at Hollowell and Yates Drive. AH is proposing to acquire three parcels (approximately 1.5 acres in total) and demolish the vacant building located at 2779 Donald Lee Hollowell, Atlanta, Georgia. 2. Intersection Realignment: Acquiring the three parcels east of Yates Drive allows for the necessary realignment of the street to accommodate housing and the creation of the new gateway into Bowen with community amenities that benefit the significant investment that AH, the City, and its partners are making on the site. 3. Gateway Placemaking: Acquiring the land and improving the intersection will expand the Bowen Gateway and create space for visible placemaking improvements that create more of a presence for the Bowen site on Hollowell. The City's Public Space Studio, a placemaking team in the Department of City Planning, will develop a placemaking plan. Potential improvements might include banners, murals, sidewalk enhancements, development of design guidelines for new and redevelopment, enhancements to the MARTA bus stop; and a small public gathering space or "parklet." The environmental assessment identified regulated asbestos-containing material, specifically black roofing tar, at the building. The material will need to be removed by a licensed abatement contractor. In addition, universal waste and any remaining hazardous substances identified must be removed by qualified contractors prior to demolition. These costs will be accounted for in the overall demolition budget. AH is proposing to utilize $4,100,000 of MTW funds and $2,300,000 of Choice Neighborhood funs to support the project. The project cost is likely to change once the design process advances. FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT The City of Atlanta has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment if the condition for Contamination and Toxic Substances is followed. 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). The ERR will be made available to the public for review electronically. Please submit your request by email to gmenvironmentalreview@atlantaga.gov and to environmental@atlantahousing.org. PUBLIC COMMENTS Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the City of Atlanta, Department of Grants and Community Development, Office of Entitlement and Competitive Compliance by email at gmenvironmentalreview@atlantaga.gov. All comments received by August 22, 2025 will be considered by the City of Atlanta prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing. ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION The City of Atlanta certifies to HUD that Deborah B. Lonon in her capacity as Commissioner 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 AH to use Program funds. OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Atlanta'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 Atlanta; (b) the City of Atlanta 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 development process have committed funds, incurred costs or undertaken activities 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, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to Tosha LeSure at Tosha.R.LeSure@hud.gov or 77 Forsyth Street SW, Atlanta, GA 30303. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period. Deborah B. Lonon Commissioner, Department of Grants and Community Development City of Atlanta, GA 8-7-25