Intent to Request Release of Funds: Whitmarsh Interior Rehabilitation

Portland Housing Bureau
1900 SW 4th Ave, Suite 7007
Portland, OR 97201
(503) 823-2802

This Notice shall satisfy two separate but related procedural notification requirements for activities to be undertaken by the City of Portland, Oregon.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about June 5, 2026, the Portland Housing Bureau will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funds under and authorized by Title 1 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974, as amended, and Public Law 93-383, as amended, to undertake a project known as Whitmarsh Interior Rehabilitation for the purposes of rehabilitation. See scope of work below.

WHITMARSH INTERIOR REHABILITATION

Whitmarsh Building is an existing 100% affordable housing community in NW Portland featuring 43 efficiency apartments, six one-bedroom apartments and six two-bedroom apartments at 60% Area Median Income as well as five efficiency apartments at 50% Area Medium Income or less.

The Whitmarsh Building is a seven-story, 60-unit, interior corridor apartment building with ground level retail space and a fully finished basement. The building was constructed in 1912 and extensively renovated in 1994. The building was seismically upgraded with X-frames as part of the 1994 renovation. It is a concrete structure with brick masonry exterior and a low slope wood and asphalt roof system. In 1994, Innovative Housing, Inc. purchased the property to provide low-income housing targeted at entry level workers into the downtown area. Innovative Housing, Inc. currently manages the limited Resident Services along with an on-site food pantry stocked by LIFT UP. Pilina Property management manages the Whitmarsh Building.

Project scope of work includes the following: Sidewalk Vault Repairs Mandated by the City of Portland, roof replacement which includes extra layers of insulation and seismic upgrades, window replacement in the lightwell window well, HVAC systems upgrades and replacement, replacing old light fixtures with new efficient new LED fixtures and replacing old plumbing fixtures with more efficient low-flow fixtures.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City of Portland has determined that this project will have no significant impact on the human environment. An Environmental Review Record (ERR) that documents the environmental determinations for this project is on file at the City of Portland Housing Bureau, 1900 SW 4th Avenue, Suite 7007, Portland, OR 97201 and may be examined or copied Tuesdays through Thursdays, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. by sending a request to anna.shook@portlandoregon.gov. During the comment period, this review is also available at https://cpd.hud.gov/cpd-public/environmental-reviews.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to the Portland Housing Bureau. All comments received by 5:00 pm on June 4, 2026 will be considered by the Portland Housing Bureau prior to authorizing submission of a Request for Release of Funds and Environmental Certification to HUD. Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing. Please send written comments or email comments to anna.shook@portlandoregon.gov.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

The City of Portland certifies to HUD that Anna Shook, in her official capacity as the Certifying Officer for the City of Portland, 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/Portland's approval of the certification satisfies its responsibilities under NEPA and related laws and authorities and allows the City of Portland to utilize HUD program funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will consider objections to its release of funds and the City of Portland's certification for a period of fifteen days following either the anticipated submission date (cited above) or HUD's actual receipt of the request (whichever is later) only if the objections are on one of the following bases:

1. that the Certification was not executed by the Certifying Officer of the City of Portland;
2. the City of Portland has omitted a step or failed to make a decision or finding required by HUD regulations at 24 CFR Part 58;
3. the City of Portland has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD;
4. 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 addressed to the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

Potential objectors should contact HUD directly at Portland_RROF@hud.gov to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Anna Shook, Analyst II
Certifying Officer Designee
Anna.Shook@portlandoregon.gov