Affordable housing projects receiving funding from the Georgia Department of Community Affairs (GA DCA) must undergo an enhanced level of environmental due diligence as part of the funding application. This process includes a standard Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) as well as additional GA DCA environmental review items, such as those that fall under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). These can include reviews for aquatic resources (e.g., wetlands, state waters, floodplains, etc.), threatened and endangered species evaluations, noise assessment and attenuation studies, and cultural and historical resource surveys. For projects involving existing affordable housing, due diligence requirements can also include evaluations for asbestos-containing materials, radon, and potentially lead-based paint.
Braun Intertec has been completing GA DCA environmental due diligence projects for clients for many years. Recently, our environmental professionals assisted three clients in completing the necessary enhanced environmental due diligence described previously on nine projects to be submitted for GA DCA funding in fall 2022. Because two of the projects were existing affordable housing properties, Braun Intertec included asbestos inspections and short-term radon testing in the scope of services. Despite tight timelines on each of these projects, Braun Intertec delivered the required due diligence items to the client on time, so they could submit their funding applications with the enhanced environmental due diligence packages by the GA DCA deadline.
Existing affordable housing project in the Macon, Georgia area. It is anticipated that the property will undergo renovation to update finishes throughout.
To close out these projects successfully, the Braun Intertec team included experienced staff with diverse environmental specialties, including scientists, natural resource experts, and history and archeological professionals. This effort demonstrated the firm’s commitment to being the Consultant of Choice for clients, and the value of the experience and expertise that Braun Intertec provides.
