Housing & Development

March 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) announces that Michigan Public Service Commissioner Monica Martinez will be speaking at the Urban Green Summit, hosted by the Highland Park NAACP, University of Phoenix, and Rainbow PUSH Detroit. The Summit will focus on empowering urban communities through green education and employment.

March 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Department of Energy, Labor & Economic Growth (DELEG) announces that Michigan Public Service Commissioner Monica Martinez will be speaking at the Urban Green Summit, hosted by the Highland Park NAACP, University of Phoenix, and Rainbow PUSH Detroit. The Summit will focus on empowering urban communities through green education and employment.

New York, NY - March 25, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new report released today by NYU’s Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy provides an in-depth look at the City’s recent building boom. The report, the State of New York City’s Housing and Neighborhoods 2009, also examines the state of mortgage lending in the City, highlights the state of immigrant New Yorkers and immigrant neighborhoods, and provides detailed data on housing and demographic trends in each of the City’s 59 community districts.

SACRAMENTO, CA - March 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Total housing starts in California continued to rise in February, but a downturn in single-family permits signaled that a housing recovery has yet to materialize and prompted industry officials to applaud lawmakers for quickly passing a new homebuyer tax credit program, the California Building Industry Association announced today

ELLICOTT CITY, MD - March 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Howard County Housing will host the “Come Home to Howard County” Housing Fair on Saturday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Long Reach High School, 6101 Old Dobbin Lane in Columbia. The event is free and open to the public.

March 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) today announced $250 million in bonds are available for affordable home loans, which includes a set aside of 10 % (up to $25 million) for new construction home purchases.

ATLANTA, AZ - March 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms announced today that the 114-room Holiday Inn & Suites Phoenix Airport plans to open this month.

March 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Thomas M. Menino today joined city officials and community members in celebrating the new home of local after-school music education organization, ZUMIX, in a newly renovated firehouse at 260 Sumner Street in East Boston. The new 9,000-square-foot facility benefitted from $4.6 million in renovations over the past five years, and boasts a performance stage, several soundproof rehearsal rooms, a recording studio, and a radio station. The renovated firehouse, which was vacant for more than 30 years, replaces former ZUMIX headquarters on nearby Maverick Street.

March 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett today joined County Councilmember George Leventhal, chair of the Council’s Health and Human Services Committee; Montgomery County Coalition for the Homeless (MCCH) Executive Director Sharan London and others to welcome new residents to the Lockney Avenue Apartments, a Takoma Park property purchased by Coalition Homes (part of MCCH) to provide permanent supportive housing for formerly homeless families.

WASHINGTON, DC. - March 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) today addressed Missouri and national advocates for better neighborhoods and moderate- and low-income housing at the National NeighborWorks Association’s (NNA) Annual Legislative Day. During the event, Bond stressed the importance of the work done by organizations like NeighborWorks, particularly during the housing crisis, to help families find affordable housing and save their homes from foreclosure through services like counseling.

Washington, DC - March 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Obama Administration to increase funding for fiscal year 2011 for the Section 202 Housing for the Elderly program. In a letter to Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Shaun Donovan, Schumer noted that in fiscal year 2010, Congress appropriated $825 million for Section 202 programmatic funding.

Trenton, NJ - March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Christie today issued the following statement on the status of the Housing Opportunity Task Force created by Executive Order 12:

SEATTLE, WA - March 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- - Mayor Mike McGinn has named Rick Hooper as the new interim director of the city's Office of Housing, citing Hooper's 30 years of experience with the city and his success implementing the Seattle Housing Levy.

ORLANDO, FL - March 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Florida’s existing home sales rose in January, marking 17 months that sales activity has increased in the year-to-year comparison, according to the latest housing data released by Florida Realtors®.Existing home sales increased 24 percent last month with a total of 10,465 homes sold statewide compared to 8,444 homes sold in January 2009, according to Florida Realtors. January’s statewide sales of existing condos rose 81 percent compared to the previous year’s sales figure

PRE-CLOSINGS BEGIN AND IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY AVAILABLE AT BEACON TOWERS IN HARLEM. With Only 15 Units Remaining, Beacon Towers is Over 70% Sold. NEW YORK, NY - March 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Beacon Towers today announced that pre-closings have begun at the new cooperative building in Central Harlem and immediate occupancy is available.

COLUMBIA, MD - March 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Enterprise commends the United States Senate for passing the Tax Extenders Act (H.R. 4213) on March 10. The bill, which will now return to the House for a final vote, includes legislation critical to the affordable housing industry

March 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Delaware State Housing Authority (DSHA) today announced $250 million in bonds are available for affordable home loans, which includes a set aside of 10 % (up to $25 million) for new construction home purchases.

FORSYTH, GA - March 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- As spring arrives, backyard gardeners and landscapers begin the yearly task of beautifying their outdoor environments. The Georgia Wildlife Resources Division recommends that amateur and professional gardeners, regardless of their yard’s size, consider building a place for wildlife while planning for spring gardens.

Philadelphia, PA - March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Philadelphia Housing Authority received an overwhelming 54,000 applications over a two-week period for the agency’s Housing Choice Voucher Program, 61% coming on-line through the PHA website.

BOSTON, MA - March 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- A survey of home improvement contractors (HIC) conducted by the Patrick-Murray Administration's Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation found that 85 percent of the contractors checked did not follow state laws requiring the listing of registration numbers on displays and other advertising.Since taking over the HIC program last July, the Office of Consumer Affairs has focused on ensuring contractors know the law regarding registration numbers and understand the importance of displaying the numbers. For consumers, being able to easily find and check a registration number is important as homeowners go through the process of considering a contractor. Hiring a registered contractor affords some protections and possible compensation from the state’s Guaranty Fund that would not be available if a consumer uses an unregistered contractor

ANSTED, WV - March 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Four southern West Virginia communities will receive $500,000 in federal Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) funds to buy blighted residential properties and demolish or redevelop them into new homes for sale as part of Fayette County’s program to broaden affordable housing opportunities

BOISE, ID - March 22, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fair housing can be complex for housing professionals, service providers, and local communities. The Idaho Fair Housing Forum, in partnership with the Idaho Affordable Housing Management Association, will host a conference focusing on rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act. “Fair Housing 2010 – More than a Black and White Issue,” will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 19 at the Doubletree Hotel Boise Riverside. Registration is required and begins at 8 a.m. A $10 registration fee includes lunch and conference materials.

Washington, DC - March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced that Community Development Corporation of Long Island, Inc. (CDC), a member of the national NeighborWorks network, has been awarded $383,400 in funding from NeighborWorks America.

Albany, NY - March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor David A. Paterson has signed into law legislation authorizing the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to restructure the ownership of 21 public housing developments as part of a comprehensive rehabilitations plan.

March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Working to bring affordable housing options and needed jobs to Kankakee, Rep. Debbie Halvorson (IL-11) joined State Senator Toi Hutchinson, State Representative Lisa Dugan, Mayor Samuel Payton, and other local officials and community members at the ground breaking of Sandstone Hills, a single-family rent-to-own community of 29 homes made possible by federal Recovery Act funding."A critical part of the American Dream is the opportunity to have a home our families can call their own," said Halvorson. "The funding provided by the Recovery Act I voted for will offer an opportunity for families to purchase homes they can afford, at a time when they need help the most."

ANCHORAGE, AK - March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Friday, March 19, 2010 – Additional south Anchorage housing will soon be available for seniors. The Board of Directors for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation this week approved an $846,000 mortgage loan to Lumen Park Associates for a 20-unit low- to moderate- income independent senior housing project to be located on the east side of Lake Otis Parkway, near the southeast corner of Abbott Road and Lake Otis intersection.

ANCHORAGE, AK - March 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Friday, March 19, 2010 – The Board of Directors for Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Tuesday approved $1.9 million in mortgage loans for Cook Inlet Housing Authority (CIHA) to finance the development of the fourth phase of the Mountain View Village low-income family housing development. A total of 34 housing units will be built at three different locations, consisting of one- to four-bedroom units, renting for between $700 and $1,100 per month to qualified families.

Roofing, waterproofing and exterior wall system experts share newest sustainable building design and industry practices. 25th RCI International Convention & Trade Show offers top-notch educational programs for the building envelope and the construction community. Orlando, FL - March 18, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The growing popularity of rooftop energy production systems, sustainable and vegetated roofs, and the impact of climate, fire and drainage on overall design standards are just a few topics to be explored during a 5-day, intensive, educational program taught by today’s leading authorities within the building envelope industry.

WASHINGTON, DC - March 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today announced that three New Mexico organizations have been awarded federal grants to support efforts to revitalize and sustain community development and promote and preserve affordable housing for New Mexico residents.

COLUMBUS, OH - March 17, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the Ohio Housing Finance Agency (OHFA) Board approved over $19.3 million in funding for seven affordable housing developments. Approximately $11.5 million of funds approved were provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).