Lansing Housing Commission – Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed Activity in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Designated Floodplain
Early Notice and Public Review of a Proposed
Activity in a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard Designated Floodplain
To: All interested Agencies, Groups and Individuals
This is to give notice that the City of Lansing has determined that the following proposed action utilizing 50 Project Based Vouchers (PBVs) from the Lansing Housing Commission (LHC) under the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Housing Choice Voucher (HVC) program is located in the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (FFRMS) floodplain. The City of Lansing will be identifying and evaluating practicable alternatives to locating the action within the floodplain and the potential impacts on the floodplain from the proposed action, as required by Executive Order 11988, as amended by Executive Order 13690, 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 proposed project [Washington Apartments] is located at 927 S. Washington Avenue in the City of Lansing, Ingham County. The site is developed with an approximately 43,920-square-foot, 50-unit, six-stories with garden level, brick building, with a carport and parking to the east of the building. The building was constructed in 1922 to house factory workers for the former Reo Motor Car Company Plant and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places; it has been vacant since 2019.
The LHC proposes to acquire and rehabilitate the Property for rental units for very low and low-income senior households at or below 60 percent AMI. The garden level/basement will be renovated and will contain the lobby/mail room, laundry, offices, community space, maintenance supply area, trash room, and storage. No residential units will be located in the lowest floor of the building.
The extent of the FFRMS floodplain was determined using the 0.2% flood approach. The Property is located within Zone AE [riverine], as indicated on the FEMA Preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Map 26065C0131D (effective 8/16/2011). The 1% annual floodplain elevation for the Property is identified at 831.3’ NAVD88; the 0.2% annual floodplain elevation is approximately 829’ NAVD88. The elevation of the lowest finished floor of the property building is 831.90’ NAVD88, approximately 0.6 feet above the 1% and approximately 2.9 feet above the 0.2% FFRMS.
Proposed impacts to the FFRMS include the construction of a new [stretcher compliant] dry-floodproofed elevator with entry vestibule to the rear of the building proximate to the parking lot. LHC plans to expand and re-pave the parking lot to create a total of 58 parking spaces to support residents and improve ingress/egress from the property by adding a drive from the parking lot to Grand Avenue to the east. Improvements to the site for parking and access will require some tree removal and extending paved areas into the grassy area to the north of the existing parking lot and to the east into the small woodlot; net fill to the Property is estimated to be between 140 cubic yards (CYD), not to exceed 300 CYD to keep impacts close to existing grade, maintain the floodplain capacity of the Property, meet Part R 323.1316 minor permit eligibility requirements for floodplain impacts while bringing a vacant and blighted structure back into residential use.
There are three primary purposes for this notice. First, people who may be affected by activities in 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 [floodplain/wetland]. Second, an adequate public notice program can be an important public educational tool. The dissemination of information and request for public comment about floodplain 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 floodplain, it must inform those who may be put at greater or continued risk.
Written comments must be received by the City of Lansing at the following address on or before October 13, 2026. City of Lansing EDP Admin Office – 316 N. Capitol Avenue, Suite D-1, Lansing, MI 48933, Attention: Doris Witherspoon, Senior Planner. A full description of the project may also be reviewed Monday through Friday 8am – 4:30pm at the City of Lansing EDP Admin Office at 316 N Capitol Avenue, Suite D-1 in Lansing. Comments may also be submitted via email at doris.witherspoon@lansingmi.gov or via telephone at 517-483-4063.
Date: September 23, 2026
CP#26-356