3/13/2025 - Lagrange Lofts, Worcester, MA
NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
March 13, 2025
Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities
100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300
Boston, Massachusetts02114
Telephone # 617-573-1300
Executive Office of Economic Development, Housing Division
455 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Telephone # 508-799-1400
These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) and the City of Worcester.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about March 31, 2025, EOHLC and the City of Worcester will submit requests to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of HOME funds available through the HOME Investment Partnerships Act, under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act, 42 U.S.C. 12701 et. Seq. as amended; and the release of Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP) funds under Section 8, The Housing Act of 1937, as amended, for the purpose of attaching project-based vouchers to be utilized in a project known as Lagrange Lofts. Worcester Lagrange LLC proposes the adaptive re-use of four contiguous historical mill buildings on Lagrange Street (35, 42, 47 & 50 Lagrange Street) into 63 units of mixed-income family rental housing. The Project will transform a two-block area by creating an integrated four-building project that also incorporates best practices of urban design in order to integrate into the existing fabric of the Main South neighborhood. Of the 63 units, six (6) will be studios, sixteen (16) will be one-bedroom units, thirty-four (34) will be two-bedroom units, and seven (7) will be three-bedroom units. Forty (40) units will be deed restricted for occupancy by low-income households, with 31 units affordable at <60% of the area median income (AMI), and nine (9) units affordable at <30% AMI. The primary beneficiaries of the Project will be tenants who will range from single individuals to small- to mid-sized families throughout a range of incomes, with a focus on low-income residents. The site will also have eight project-based vouchers from the Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP).
The project will use an estimated $1,000,000 in City HOME funds, $2,000,000 of City Affordable Housing Trust Funds from the ARPA program, and the following other sources of funds: Federal LIHTC, State LIHTC, AHTF, HSF & Developer’s loaned overhead/fee. The project sponsor is Worcester Lagrange LLC. The total estimated project cost is approximately $50,245,189. It is estimated that there will be eleven (11) City HOME units restricted (30% AMI and below).
FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Both agencies have 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 at the Executive Office of Economic Development, Division of Housing in City Hall, 455 Main St.4th Floor Worcester, MA 01608 or at EOHLC, 100 Cambridge Street, Suite 300, Boston, MA 02114 and may be examined or copied during normal business hours; at the City of Worcester: Mon-Fri 9 AM to 5 PM or at EOHLC: Mon-Fri 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on this activity may submit written comments to EOHLC or to the City of Worcester at the respective addresses indicated above. All comments received by March 28, 2025, will be considered by these agencies prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which notice they are addressing.
RELEASE OF FUNDS
EOHLC certifies to HUD that Catherine Racer in her capacity as Certifying Officer, and the City of Worcester certifies to HUD that James Brooks, in his capacity as Director of Housing Development, consent 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 both agencies to use Program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS
HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and this 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 Worcester or EOHLC; (b) the City of Worcester or EOHLC 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 sent to CPDRROFBOS@hud.govor addressed to Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Building, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), 10 Causeway Street, 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02222, Attn: CPD Environmental Review Officer. Potential objectors should contact HUD to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
James Brooks, Director of Housing Development
For Executive Office of Economic Development, Division of Housing, City of Worcester
Catherine Racer, Undersecretary
For EOHLC
| Date published: | March 13, 2025 |
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