US Customs and Border Protection Ajo Housing Development ... - GSA
US Customs and Border Protection Ajo Housing Development ... - GSA
US Customs and Border Protection Ajo Housing Development ... - GSA
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Mr, Mr. Michael ODawson<br />
.....son<br />
Ae; Re: <strong>US</strong> Geoeral General Servlc Services<br />
.. Admlniltration:<br />
Administration: <strong>US</strong> <strong>Customs</strong><br />
CUltoml <strong>and</strong> <strong>Border</strong> <strong>Protection</strong> - <strong>Ajo</strong><br />
Ala Hauling <strong>Housing</strong><br />
Oevel~1<br />
<strong>Development</strong> Project<br />
May 10, 2010<br />
Page 2<br />
<strong>Ajo</strong> became a target<br />
larget community for Pima Coonty'l County's Community Developmant<br />
<strong>Development</strong> Block Grant<br />
program <strong>and</strong> .... was n<br />
designalad<br />
designated fadal'al federal "colonia" by Iha the <strong>US</strong> Departmants<br />
Departments of Agriculture <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>Housing</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong><br />
Urban<br />
<strong>Development</strong><br />
(HUD). A comprehenSive<br />
comprehensive needs assessment<br />
<strong>and</strong><br />
community study completed in 2002 resulted in the "<strong>Ajo</strong> ViSion Vision Plan."<br />
A centerpiecs<br />
centerpiece of the vision is the <strong>Ajo</strong> Townsite Historic<br />
HistoriC District,<br />
Dist.ict, which Pima County<br />
nominated to the National Register<br />
Ragiste. of Histo.ic Historic Places to facilitate &conomic economic reinvestment In in<br />
the community.<br />
There have been remarkable successes - most notably the <strong>Ajo</strong> Curley<br />
School<br />
project undertaken<br />
by<br />
the<br />
Intemetional<br />
International SOrlO.an Sonoran Desert<br />
Alliance (lSDA)<br />
<strong>US</strong>DA)<br />
that<br />
spea.headed<br />
spearheaded Ih" the .11 $11 million ."habilillltion<br />
rehabilitation of the<br />
th" historic school into affordable housing<br />
units.<br />
Former Governor 01 of Arizona Janet Napolitano, now <strong>US</strong> Secletary Secretary of Homer<strong>and</strong> Homel<strong>and</strong><br />
Security, presided at the 2006 ceremony in <strong>Ajo</strong> to<br />
10 celebrate the rehabilitation effort.<br />
With<br />
funding<br />
Irom from a variety<br />
of ledlll"al, federal, state,<br />
county<br />
<strong>and</strong> private<br />
sources, the<br />
tha ab<strong>and</strong>oned<br />
property was succsssfully<br />
successfully convlll'ted converted into 3D 30 affordabla affordable live/wo,k live/work rentals for artists<br />
srtists <strong>and</strong><br />
crsative creative home businesses.<br />
Upon completion in 2008, Ihis this project<br />
projecl received the national<br />
"HUD Secretary's Awerd Award for Excellenc"<br />
Excellence in Historic Preservation" a' at the National Trust<br />
T,ust for 'or<br />
tor<br />
HistoriC Historic Pre,ervation<br />
Preservation award ceremony <strong>and</strong> confer~nc.<br />
confer~nce in Tulsa,<br />
Tul,a, Oklahoma.<br />
Pima County <strong>and</strong> the community of AJo <strong>Ajo</strong> have "njoyed<br />
enjoyed con,iderable<br />
considerable successes in <strong>Ajo</strong>, <strong>and</strong><br />
tha the <strong>GSA</strong> project has great potential to further<br />
furthe, furthe' those successes.<br />
Our comments <strong>and</strong><br />
end<br />
questions a,e are intended 10 to ,aise raise issue. issues <strong>and</strong> concerns for<br />
'0' considaration<br />
consideration <strong>and</strong> to ansu.e ensure there is<br />
meaningful<br />
lui pa,ticipation<br />
participation in the NEPA 'eview review p.ocess process that will ,e.ult result in the preparation of<br />
Environmental Assenment<br />
Assessment (EAI (EA) by <strong>GSA</strong>.<br />
Pu,pose Purpose <strong>and</strong> Need.<br />
The <strong>GSA</strong> .coping scoping lel1e' letter states the,,, there ia is sa shortage of houaing housing available to accommodate<br />
CBP employees who work at the Lukevilfe Lukeville Port 0' of Entry <strong>and</strong> the<br />
Ihe <strong>Ajo</strong> Station<br />
Stalion In in Why.<br />
• Under wtlat what m<strong>and</strong>ate do".<br />
doe. does th"<br />
the CBP p,ovida provide housing<br />
tloosing to ill its emplovees'<br />
employees?<br />
• How mlll1y many CBP employe"s<br />
employees do you anticipate needing to<br />
10 accommodatel<br />
accommodate?<br />
• Plene Please provide any<br />
"ny />ousing housing "udin<br />
-,udin studies that<br />
ttlSI demonstrate<br />
demonatrllle this<br />
Ihis shortage.<br />
Agency <strong>and</strong> public partil:ipation<br />
participation in the planning process.<br />
p,ocus.<br />
Tha The <strong>GSA</strong> leue, letter suues states that the notice "is being offered to allow<br />
sllow n,l., u,IV early <strong>and</strong> meaningt,,1<br />
meaning,,,1<br />
meaningful<br />
participation in the<br />
Iha National Environmental<br />
Envjronmenlal Policy<br />
Polley Act lNEPA) (NEPA) review<br />
,,,view 01 of this proposed<br />
propo.ed<br />
housing davelopment<br />
development p,o;8
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