Project Homekey – 506 N. Evergreen Ave., Los Angeles

Summary

SCH Number
2022020314
Public Agency
Los Angeles County Department of Public Works (DPW)
Document Title
Project Homekey – 506 N. Evergreen Ave., Los Angeles
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
2/14/2022
Document Description
The State's Homekey Program (Homekey), has made funding available for local jurisdictions to purchase hotels and other properties to be used as interim and permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) who are impacted by COVID-19. In September 2021, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) announced the availability of approximately $1.45 billion of Homekey grant funding through its Round 2 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA). In late October 2021, the County's Chief Executive Office (CEO) released a Request for Statement of Interest (RFSI) for the identification of nonprofit or for-profit entities (Corporations) to apply jointly with the County of Los Angeles (County) for the Homekey Round 2 NOFA. Selected Corporations would own and, in some cases, operate properties acquired through Homekey Round 2. The County received more than 30 responses to the RFSI, and identified 11 Corporations with whom to submit applications to HCD by January 31, 2022. Selected Corporations have performed due diligence on the properties to ensure the properties are appropriate for use as interim or permanent supportive housing for PEH, and to support a fair market purchase price for the properties. The State's Homekey Round 2 funds will be used to pay for the cost to acquire, develop, and/or rehabilitate each property. In some cases, a local match will be required to acquire, develop, and/or rehabilitate each property. On January 25, 2021, the County authorized applications for 19 proposed Homekey projects, and found the projects to be exempt from CEQA. This Project consists of a 40-unit former hotel that will be renovated for interim housing.

Contact Information

Name
Elizabeth Ben-Ishai
Agency Name
Chief Executive Office – Homeless Initiative
Job Title
Principal Analyst
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
Los Angeles
Counties
Los Angeles
Regions
Southern California
Cross Streets
Evergreen Ave and Folsom St
Zip
90033
Other Location Info
506 N. Evergreen Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90033

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Emergency Project
Type, Section or Code
Pub. Res. Code Sec. 21080(b)(4); Guidelines Sec. 15269(c)
Reasons for Exemption
The Project utilizes Homekey grant funds and other public funds and will provide housing units for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. The Project involves the complete interior rehabilitation of a former 40-unit hotel for interim housing. The rehabilitation work does not involve adding any additional units to the existing structure, so the room count will remain at 40-units. The existing structural envelope and frame will also not change. The only exterior work contemplated is cleaning, painting and sealing to give the exterior a facelift. The rehabilitation work has primarily been to the interior. The work has involved the complete installation of new plumbing, electrical, and interior walls and flooring to completely renovate the interior of the building. The interior work will ultimately result in 40 single-bedroom facilities with 25 rooms that have their own bathrooms, 15 that have shared bathrooms. The building will also have community laundry spaces on the basement and first floor, a community kitchen on the first floor, a lobby and community indoor spaces both on the basement level and interior open-air courtyard. No work is contemplated to the yard space in connection with this rehabilitation plan, as such, there are no earth disturbances. The Project is exempt from CEQA because it meets the requirements of Government Code Section 65660 et seq., as it will be a "low barrier navigation center", as defined therein, and Public Resources Code Section 21080.50, as it is an "interim motel housing project" as defined therein. Further, the Project is exempt pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.27, as it is an emergency shelter or supportive housing development within the City of Los Angeles, partially funded by the County of Los Angeles. The Project also is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 21080(b)(4) of the Public Resources Code and Section 15269(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines, which exempts specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency, the current homelessness crisis facing the County. The Project is categorically exempt pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), and 15332 (Infill Development) of the State CEQA Guidelines, and Class 1, of the County's Environmental Document Reporting Procedures and Guidelines, Appendix G, because the Project consists of the renovation of an existing hotel for interim housing purposes with negligible or no expansion of its existing or former use and is urban in-fill development that is consistent with the applicable general plan and zoning, is within in a city on a site of no more than five acres, has no value as habitat, will not result in significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality and will be adequately served by existing utilities and public services. In addition, based on the record of the Project, it will comply with all applicable regulations, and is not in a sensitive environment and there are no cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances, damage to scenic highways, listing on hazardous waste site lists compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, or indication that it may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource that would make the exemptions inapplicable.

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Class 1 Existing Facilities, CEQA Guidelines Sect 15301 and Class 32 Infill Development, CEQA Guidelines Sect 15332
Reasons for Exemption
The Project utilizes Homekey grant funds and other public funds and will provide housing units for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. The Project involves the complete interior rehabilitation of a former 40-unit hotel for interim housing. The rehabilitation work does not involve adding any additional units to the existing structure, so the room count will remain at 40-units. The existing structural envelope and frame will also not change. The only exterior work contemplated is cleaning, painting and sealing to give the exterior a facelift. The rehabilitation work has primarily been to the interior. The work has involved the complete installation of new plumbing, electrical, and interior walls and flooring to completely renovate the interior of the building. The interior work will ultimately result in 40 single-bedroom facilities with 25 rooms that have their own bathrooms, 15 that have shared bathrooms. The building will also have community laundry spaces on the basement and first floor, a community kitchen on the first floor, a lobby and community indoor spaces both on the basement level and interior open-air courtyard. No work is contemplated to the yard space in connection with this rehabilitation plan, as such, there are no earth disturbances. The Project is exempt from CEQA because it meets the requirements of Government Code Section 65660 et seq., as it will be a "low barrier navigation center", as defined therein, and Public Resources Code Section 21080.50, as it is an "interim motel housing project" as defined therein. Further, the Project is exempt pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.27, as it is an emergency shelter or supportive housing development within the City of Los Angeles, partially funded by the County of Los Angeles. The Project also is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 21080(b)(4) of the Public Resources Code and Section 15269(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines, which exempts specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency, the current homelessness crisis facing the County. The Project is categorically exempt pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), and 15332 (Infill Development) of the State CEQA Guidelines, and Class 1, of the County's Environmental Document Reporting Procedures and Guidelines, Appendix G, because the Project consists of the renovation of an existing hotel for interim housing purposes with negligible or no expansion of its existing or former use and is urban in-fill development that is consistent with the applicable general plan and zoning, is within in a city on a site of no more than five acres, has no value as habitat, will not result in significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality and will be adequately served by existing utilities and public services. In addition, based on the record of the Project, it will comply with all applicable regulations, and is not in a sensitive environment and there are no cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances, damage to scenic highways, listing on hazardous waste site lists compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, or indication that it may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource that would make the exemptions inapplicable.

Exempt Status
Statutory Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Gov. Code Sec. 65660, et seq., Pub. Res. Code Sec. 21080.27 & 21080.50
Reasons for Exemption
The Project utilizes Homekey grant funds and other public funds and will provide housing units for individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness or who are at risk of homelessness. The Project involves the complete interior rehabilitation of a former 40-unit hotel for interim housing. The rehabilitation work does not involve adding any additional units to the existing structure, so the room count will remain at 40-units. The existing structural envelope and frame will also not change. The only exterior work contemplated is cleaning, painting and sealing to give the exterior a facelift. The rehabilitation work has primarily been to the interior. The work has involved the complete installation of new plumbing, electrical, and interior walls and flooring to completely renovate the interior of the building. The interior work will ultimately result in 40 single-bedroom facilities with 25 rooms that have their own bathrooms, 15 that have shared bathrooms. The building will also have community laundry spaces on the basement and first floor, a community kitchen on the first floor, a lobby and community indoor spaces both on the basement level and interior open-air courtyard. No work is contemplated to the yard space in connection with this rehabilitation plan, as such, there are no earth disturbances. The Project is exempt from CEQA because it meets the requirements of Government Code Section 65660 et seq., as it will be a "low barrier navigation center", as defined therein, and Public Resources Code Section 21080.50, as it is an "interim motel housing project" as defined therein. Further, the Project is exempt pursuant to Public Resources Code Section 21080.27, as it is an emergency shelter or supportive housing development within the City of Los Angeles, partially funded by the County of Los Angeles. The Project also is exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 21080(b)(4) of the Public Resources Code and Section 15269(c) of the State CEQA Guidelines, which exempts specific actions necessary to prevent or mitigate an emergency, the current homelessness crisis facing the County. The Project is categorically exempt pursuant to Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), and 15332 (Infill Development) of the State CEQA Guidelines, and Class 1, of the County's Environmental Document Reporting Procedures and Guidelines, Appendix G, because the Project consists of the renovation of an existing hotel for interim housing purposes with negligible or no expansion of its existing or former use and is urban in-fill development that is consistent with the applicable general plan and zoning, is within in a city on a site of no more than five acres, has no value as habitat, will not result in significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality and will be adequately served by existing utilities and public services. In addition, based on the record of the Project, it will comply with all applicable regulations, and is not in a sensitive environment and there are no cumulative impacts, unusual circumstances, damage to scenic highways, listing on hazardous waste site lists compiled pursuant to Government Code Section 65962.5, or indication that it may cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource that would make the exemptions inapplicable.
County Clerk
Los Angeles

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