Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact and Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds - Allston Senior Housing on the Hill: September 17, 2025

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and on behalf of the Boston Housing Authority (BHA).

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about October 7, 2025, the City of Boston Mayor's Office of Housing (MOH) and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Livable Communities (EOHLC) will each submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of federal HOME Program 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, to undertake a project known as Allston Senior Housing on the Hill (the “Project”), located at 279-283 North Harvard St. in the Allston neighborhood of Boston.

The Project is to be developed in two phases: Phase 1 will stabilize the existing envelope of the onsite Hill Memorial Baptist Church, while Phase 2 will fit out the interior of the church and construct a new 41,994 sf, four-story residential building containing 49 affordable housing units for seniors 62+. The project also includes demolition of a vacant 1,072 sf, two-story, single-family home on the site that is in below average condition. The Project design includes parking for 15 vehicles, two elevators for accessibility, and outdoor community space. The Project will connect residents to supportive services offered in the adaptive reuse of the Hill Memorial Baptist Church. All 49 units will receive long-term rental subsidies to make this senior housing available to extremely low-income individuals, with 13 units at 30% area median income (AMI), 9 units at 50% AMI, and 27 units at 60% AMI. The renovated church will feature shared amenities, including a community room, fitness room, kitchen, library, counseling suites, and offices for staff. The total project cost is estimated at $18,872,343, including $3,00,000 in federal HOME funds from the City of Boston.

In addition, the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) will submit to HUD one or more Requests for the Release of Funds for the Project in connection with the HUD Restore Rebuild Initiative.  The Project will include the construction of 49 new federal public housing units to convert to federal project based operating subsidy through HUD’s Restore Rebuild Initiative to support building operations, resident services, and future capital improvements.

The estimated cost of the HUD federal project based operating subsidy over the 20-year Housing Assistance Payment contract period is $27,209,760. 

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City of Boston has determined and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts concurs 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) and can be made available for review electronically by submitting a request via email to the City of Boston at erresponses@boston.gov or to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at Dan.Tobyne@mass.gov.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the Environmental Review Record to the MOH Compliance Unit of the City of Boston at james.quealy@boston.gov, or to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at Dan.Tobyne@mass.gov.  All comments received by October 6, 2025 will be considered by the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts 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 Boston certifies to HUD that Michelle Wu, as Mayor, and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts certifies to HUD that Catherine Racer, in her official capacity as Undersecretary, 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 and HUD’s approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities, and allows the project  to use HUD program funds for the purpose specified.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' 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 the City of Boston or the Commonwealth of MA;

(b) the City of Boston or the Commonwealth of MA 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 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 email in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58, Sec. 58.76) and shall be addressed to the Office of CPD-HUD at bosenvironmental@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact the HUD office via email to verify the actual last day of the objection period.