24 CFR Part 58 is the Federal regulation that outlines the environmental review procedures for entities assuming U.S. Department of Housing and Development (HUD) environmental responsibilities. In the City of Los Angeles, the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) serves as the responsible entity. Compliance under this regulation will fulfill the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), additional Federal regulations required by HUD, and a few state/local environmental requirements.
Historic Preservation Section 106 Review
All projects must adhere to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, also known as 36 CFR 800. During the environmental review, all projects are evaluated for their potential impact on properties designated as historic, eligible for historic status, or located within a historic district. This evaluation process is commonly referred to as the Section 106 Review.
Projects that may impact historic properties must be reviewed to guarantee that project plans will meet the U.S. Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation and the California Historic Building Code. If necessary, CIFD will outline a set of conditions for the project proponent to follow, in addition to conducting a walkthrough at 50% and 100% completion to verify compliance.
Estimated Review Time
The complexity of each review may vary, depending on a project’s scope of work and the proposed project site’s existing environmental conditions. The estimated review time for most common projects undertaken by CIFD ranges from 5 to 60 days.
Public Notice Dissemination
NEPA guidelines require that a combined Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI)/ Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds (NOI/RROF), stating that there is no significant environmental impact as a result of the proposed project, as well as the intention to request federal funding for the project, must be disseminated for public review for 15 days if published in a general circulation newspaper or on a government website that is accessible to individuals with disabilities and provides meaningful access for individuals with Limited English Proficiency or, if no publication, 18 days when mailing and posting. These requirements are subject to change pending current HUD guidance.
Current Documents for Public Review
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS
Wednesday April 9, 2025
Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD)
444 S. Flower St., 14th floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
cifd-environmental@lacity.org
This notice satisfies the procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD) of the City of Los Angeles.
REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS
On or about April 18, 2025, CIFD will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Project Funding (CPF) approved under the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-42) (the FY2024 Act), by the U.S. Congress, as listed in the explanatory statement printed in the Senate section of the Congressional Record on March 5, 2024 [CREC-2024-3-5-pt2-PgS1197.pdf and CREC-2024-3-5-p1-PgS1105.pdf (congress.gov)] identified by Grant Number B-24-CP-CA-0239 to undertake the following project.
PROJECT: The SoLa Technology and Entrepreneurship Center
PURPOSE: The Proposed Project, “the SoLa Technology and Entrepreneurship Center” (Technology Center) a.k.a. “The SoLa Tech & Entertainment Center Powered by Live Nation,” consists of a community technology center to be constructed and operated by the SoLa I CAN Foundation (SoLa Foundation). The Technology Center will be a state-of-the-art, 10,000 square foot facility occupying commercial space on the ground floor of Crenshaw Lofts, a new 195-unit residential apartment development located in the historic Leimert Park neighborhood of the City of Los Angeles. The SoLa Foundation will utilize both private funding and Community Project Funding (CPF) to perform the tenant improvements necessary to build the Technology Center within the building’s interior commercial shell and to install areas, such as a creative lab, recording studio, music production studio, maker space, meeting rooms, offices, kitchen, and bathrooms. Funding may pay for pre-construction, construction and build-out items, such as design, technical studies, construction, renovation, technology, IT, furnishings, equipment, contractual services, staff, administration, and other allowable items/expenses related to preparing the space for usage. The project's goal is to close the digital divide in South Los Angeles by providing career training in technology, media and emerging technologies. The space will serve upwards of one-thousand (1,000) students (ages 8-24) annually.
LOCATION: 4611 Crenshaw Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90043
FUNDING: Community Project Funding (CPF) in the amount of $1,000,000.00 (Grant Number: B-24-CP-CA-0239) will pay for all tenant improvements/renovations. The estimated total project cost is $2,000,000.00.
LEVEL OF ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW CITATION
The activities proposed are categorically excluded under HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58 from National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements per 24 CFR 58.35(a)(3) and subject to the laws and authorities at §58.5 for the above mentioned project. CIFD has determined that this 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). The ERR is on file at the Community Investment for Families Department, 444 S. Flower St., 14th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071. The ERR will be made available to the public for review electronically. Please submit your request by email to the Community Investment for Families Department, Environmental Services Unit, Attn: Ann Zald at cifd-environmental@lacity.org or access at https://cpd.hud.gov/cpd-public/environmental-reviews.
PUBLIC COMMENTS
Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to CIFD. All comments received by April 16, 2025, will be considered by CIFD prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Comments should specify which notice and which project they are addressing.
ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION
CIFD certifies to HUD that Abigail R. Marquez, Certifying Officer, in her capacity as General Manager of Community Investment for Families Department 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 CIFD to use HUD program funds.
OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE FUNDS
HUD will accept objections to the Responsible Entity’s (RE) Request for Release of Funds and Environmental 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 RE; (b) the RE 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 HUD Los Angeles Field Office at 300 North Los Angeles Street, Suite 4054, Los Angeles, CA 90012 or by email to CPDLA@hud.gov. Potential objectors should contact the HUD Los Angeles Office of Community Planning and Development Department via email to verify the actual last day of the objection period.
ASSISTANCE AND ACCOMMODATIONS
Reasonable language assistance and disability-related accommodations are available at no cost. Submit your request to cifd-environmental@lacity.org.
Abigail R. Marquez, General Manager, Certifying Officer
Community Investment for Families Department
1200 West Seventh Street, 9th floor, Los Angeles, California 90017