Public notice regarding funding release for McLain School rehabilitation project.

NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT NOTICE OF FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT AND 
NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST RELEASE OF FUNDS

May 5, 2026

Maine State Housing Authority				   Tel: 207-626-4600 (voice)
26 Edison Drive		  			   1-800-452-4668 (voice in-state only)
Augusta, Maine 04330			                                         Maine Relay 711

These notices shall satisfy two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by Maine State Housing Authority.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS

On or about May 21, 2026, Maine State Housing Authority will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)for the release of Section 8 Project-based Voucher Program funds under Section 8(o)(13) of the United States Housing Act of 1937 and, HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME Program) funds under Title II of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990, as amended, to undertake a project known as McLain School, Rockland, Maine. 

The Site is comprised of two parcels, totaling approximately 0.7 acres identified as lots D2 and D3 on City of Rockland Tax Map 22. The Site is improved with one building, constructed in 1894, McLain Grammar School. The Site is currently vacant. 

The McLain Grammar School is a certified historic structure in the Rockland Residential Historic District. 

This is a combined new construction and rehabilitation project. The McLain School will be rehabilitated and adapted into seventeen affordable rental apartments, preserving the integrity of the historic structure while abating hazardous building materials and transforming the interior to meet contemporary residential needs. The abutting vacant lot (82 Summer Street) will become a newly constructed 2.5 story, 12-unit apartment building. In total, the Project will contain twenty-nine units with associated parking, utilities, stormwater infrastructure, and landscaping improvements. There will be thirty-seven parking spaces.

The Project is designed to serve a multigenerational tenant population and is not age restricted. All units will be income restricted. Eighteen units, comprising 62% of the total, will be income-restricted to households earning 50% AMI or less. The remaining eleven units (38%) will be income-restricted to households earning 60% AMI or less.

Maine State Housing Authority proposes to issue HUD Section 8 project-based vouchers for up to 6 units. Estimated sources of funds for the project are as follows: Maine State Housing Authority: Federal Sources: Federal HOME $600,000, Annual Low-Income Housing Tax Credits of $870,000 (generating tax credit equity of $6,975,825). MaineHousing State Sources: $1,410,266 Interest Bearing Loan, $240,000 Deferred 0% loan. Federal Historic Credit of $1,383,521 (generating tax credit equity of $1,123,029), State Historic Credit of $3,112,922 (generating tax credit equity of $2,428,079), CDBG: $500,000.

FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT

Maine State Housing Authority 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). The ERR will be made available to the public for review either electronically or by U.S. mail. Please submit your request by U.S mail to the Environmental Review Coordinator, Maine State Housing Authority, 26 Edison Drive, Augusta, Maine, 04330 or by email to EnvironmentalReview@MaineHousing.org.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Any individual, group, or agency may submit written comments on the ERR to Maine State Housing Authority, 26 Edison Drive, Augusta, Maine 04330, Attention: Environmental Review Coordinator. All comments received by May 20, 2026, will be considered by Maine State Housing Authority prior to authorizing submission of a request for release of the HUD Section 8 project-based vouchers and HOME Investment Partnership Program funds.  Comments should specify which Notice they are addressing.

ENVIRONMENTAL CERTIFICATION

Maine State Housing Authority certifies to HUD that Daniel Brennan in his capacity as Director of Maine State Housing Authority 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 Maine State Housing Authority to use HUD Section 8 project-based vouchers and HOME Program Funds.

OBJECTIONS TO RELEASE OF FUNDS

HUD will accept objections to its release of funds and Maine State Housing Authority's 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 Maine State Housing Authority; (b) Maine State Housing Authority 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. Regarding Project Based Voucher: 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 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Public Housing, 10 Causeway Street, Boston MA 0222-1092. Potential objectors should contact the HUD Office of Public Housing via mail to verify the actual last day of the objection period for PBV objections. HOME objections shall be addressed to the office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Community Planning and Development at CPDRROFBOS@HUD.gov . Potential objectors should contact the HUD Office of Community Planning and Development via email to verify the actual last day of the objection period for HOME objections via mail.

Daniel Brennan, Director
Maine State Housing Authority