Final Notice and Public Explanation of a Proposed Activity
in a Federal Flood Risk Management
Standard Designated Floodplain

May 6, 2026

To: All interested Agencies, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, the State of Maryland, City of Baltimore, Groups and Individuals

This posting is to give notice that the City of Baltimore, as the Responsible Entity under 24 CFR Part 58, has conducted an evaluation as required by Executive Order 11988, as amended by Executive Order 13690 and/or Executive Order 11990, in accordance with HUD regulations at 24 CFR 55.20 in Subpart C Procedures for Making Determinations on Floodplain Management and Protection of Wetlands.

The following proposed action under US Department of Urban Development’s HOME ARP program and Project-based Housing Voucher Program is located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain. The proposed project is located at 221 N Gay Street, Baltimore, MD 21202, which will be the consolidation of 221 N Gay Street Baltimore, MD 21202; and 300, 320, 332 N. Front Street, Baltimore, MD 21202. The site currently contains two buildings and a surface parking lot. The extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using a 0.2 percent flood approach.

The proposed project, Sojourner Place at the Falls, is a non-age restricted 136,000 square foot multifamily building. The work includes construction of 117 one and two-bedroom apartments arranged across two buildings. One building is the adaptive reuse and renovation of an existing seven-story historic bank at 221 N Gay Street, previously converted into a hotel. There, hotel rooms will be combined to create (21) one-bedroom and (9) two-bedroom units. The other building will be demolished to allow for construction of a new four-story structure featuring (70) one-bedroom and (17) two-bedroom apartments.

The project proposes to use HOME ARP funding as a capital source for the development of the project and 92 Project-based Housing Vouchers in a FFRMS floodplain. The project site is currently 100% paved and impervious without natural and beneficial functions of an undisturbed floodplain. The total area of floodplain potentially impacted is .98 acres. No wetlands were identified on the proposed site.

The Responsible Entity has considered the following alternatives and mitigation measures to minimize adverse impacts, and to restore and preserve natural and beneficial functions and values of the existing FFRMS floodplain:

  • No Action Alternative: The no action alternative is not practicable and would cause a significant impediment to the City’s housing goals as well as its efforts to address chronic homelessness. The proposed site is owned by the City of Baltimore, and the condition of the existing structures is not suitable for permanent housing, as they do not comply with current floodplain standards. Additionally, the undeveloped portion of the properties (the surface parking lot) is an underutilized City resource that, if developed, could provide many additional homes for those in need.
  • Alternative 1: Locate the project outside the floodplain. Locating the project outside of the floodplain would not be feasible. Development of 117 housing units on market-rate land elsewhere in the city would be cost prohibitive. In addition, if the existing site is not revitalized, it will continue in a substandard condition as an underutilized City-owned asset.
  • Alternative 2: Use alternative methods to serve the identical project objective. Given that the properties are fully within the floodplain, design alternatives that would reduce potential impacts to the floodplain are not available. Since the site is currently 100% developed and impervious to rainfall, the project will improve existing conditions through the installation of landscaping features, including trees and shrubs, and by enhancing and updating the site’s drainage infrastructure.
  • Preferred Alternative: The Preferred Alternative is to continue with the project and provide all feasible floodplain mitigation strategies. The project will be designed so that all habitable areas are elevated to 2-feet above Base Flood Elevation, as required by the FFRMS. The historic designation of the building at 221 N Gay Street will be retained, preserving its historic character while ensuring full compliance with floodplain requirements and improving its resilience to flood impacts. Additionally, the project will comply with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements and with the Baltimore City Floodplain Code, to ensure that future residents, staff, and the proposed new and renovated structures are resilient and reasonably safe from flooding.

The Responsible Entity has reevaluated alternatives to locating the proposed project in the FFRMS floodplain and has determined that it has no practicable alternative to FFRMS floodplain development. Environmental files documenting compliance with Executive Order 11988, as amended by Executive Order 13690, and/or Executive Order 11990, are available for public inspection, review and copying upon request at the times and location delineated in the last paragraph of this notice for receipt of comments.

There are three primary purposes for this notice:

  • First, people who may be affected by activities in a floodplain and those who have an interest in the protection of the natural environment should be given an opportunity to express their concerns and provide information about these areas. Commenters are encouraged to offer alternative sites outside of the floodplain, alternative methods to serve the same project purpose, and methods to minimize and mitigate project impacts on the wetland.
  • Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about floodplains can facilitate and enhance Federal efforts to reduce the risks and impacts associated with the occupancy and modification of these special areas.
  • Third, as a matter of fairness, when the Federal government determines it will participate in actions taking place in floodplains, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.

Written comments must be received by the Responsible Entity at the following address on or before May 22, 2026: City of Baltimore, Department of Housing and Community Development, 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 1101, Baltimore, MD 21202. Phone number: 410-396-1228. Attention: Joseph P. Connor, Director of Environmental Policy. A full description of the project may also be reviewed by appointment from 9:00am – 4:00pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 417 E. Fayette Street, Room 1101, Baltimore, MD 21202. Comments may also be submitted via email at Joseph.Connor@baltimorecity.gov.

Notice of Finding of No Significant Impact and
Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds

April 29, 2026

City of Baltimore – Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD)
417 East Fayette Street, Suite 1101
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-396-1228

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) and the City of Baltimore Department of Housing and Community Development.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about May 15, 2026, the City of Baltimore will submit a request to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development for the release of HOME Investment Partnerships (ARP) funds under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended, and the City of Baltimore will authorize the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) to submit a request to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development - Public and Indian Housing for the release of Project-based Housing Voucher funds under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, as amended. The Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC) will submit a request to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the release of funds to undertake the creation of seventeen (17) units of affordable housing supported by PIH/ HABC Project-based Housing Vouchers (PBVs) at the proposed Mutual at Franklin Apartments, 407-413 West Franklin Street (Assembled Parcels), Baltimore, MD 21201. The HUD funding for the project is as follows: PIH/HABC Project-based Housing Vouchers – six (6) PBVs, City of Baltimore HOME Investment Partnerships Division support of the undertaking with HOME American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds in the amount of $1,500,000.00. The total project cost is approximately $6,485,719.00 from all Federal, State, Local and private sources.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

The City of Baltimore – (DHCD) has 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 City of Baltimore – (DHCD), Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) office, 417 East Fayette Street, Suite 1101, Baltimore, MD 21202. All inquiries should be emailed to Joseph.Connor@baltimorecity.gov or via the above phone number.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the project may submit written comments to the City of Baltimore – (DHCD) at the address listed above. All comments received by May 14, 2026, will be considered by the City of Baltimore – (DHCD) prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of funds. Commentators should specify which Notice they are addressing.

RELEASE OF FUNDS

The City of Baltimore – (DHCD) certifies to HUD that Mr. Tim Keane in his capacity as the Acting Commissioner of the City of Baltimore – (DHCD) 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 the Housing Authority of Baltimore City (HABC), the City of Baltimore and Bridges Community Development Corporation to use the referenced funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and the City of Baltimore – (DHCD) 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 Baltimore – (DHCD); (b) the City of Baltimore – (DHCD) 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 via email in accordance with the required procedures (24 CFR Part 58 Sec.58.76), and may be addressed to HUD as follows: Ms. Ebony M. Madyun, Director, Community Planning and Development Division, Ebony.M.Madyun@hud.gov for HOME, and or Ms. Laurel Davis, Director, Public and Indian Housing, for PIH, Laurel.l.Davis@hud.gov. Objectors should contact HUD at the aforementioned email addresses to verify the actual last day of the objection period or contact HUD at 410-209-6515, to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

Tim Keane
Acting Commissioner - The City of Baltimore – (DHCD