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VHC News Clips, volume 2009-38 (March 25, 2010)
Franklin Summit Ready for Growth
Tidewater News, Wednesday, March 24
(RECAP: Franklin Summit, a condominium development on College Drive , is an exercise in patience. “We knew going into this that Franklin and Southampton County needed quality, affordable housing that at the same time required zero maintenance,” Rowe said. “We feel that's where the market is.)Growth Explodes in Inner, Outer D.C. Suburbs
The Washington Examiner, March 24
(RECAP: People flocked to the Washington area in the last decade, lured by both a robust job market and an increasingly vibrant region. The availability of affordable housing and the growth of the Hispanic population contributed to the growth in the outer suburbs, said Qian Cai, director of the Demographics and Workforce Group at the University of Virginia's Cooper Center.)N.Y. Firm Wants to Buy, Fix Low-Income Portsmouth Housing
The Virginian-Pilot, March 23
(RECAP: A New York company wants to buy one of the city's most visible low-income housing complexes and rehabilitate it with help from federal tax credits. The tentative deal involves the sale of London Oaks, a cluster of brown low-rise buildings with 296 units between downtown and Midtown.)City Council Approves Senior Affordable Housing Project
Falls Church Times, March 22
(RECAP: Tonight the Falls Church City Council approved three measures to advance the construction of The Wilden senior affordable housing project at 350 South Washington Street . All passed by 6-1 vote with Councilman Nader Baroukh the lone dissenter.)Fannie, Freddie Messy Government Tie Tough to Cut
Portfolio.com, March 22
(RECAP: - With the housing sector still on the ropes, the Obama administration on Tuesday will begin to sketch out plans for the market's two biggest financing pillars, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.)Millions In Energy Rebates Now Available To Virginians
WHSV.com, March 22
(RECAP: Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling, announced on behalf of Governor Bob McDonnell that effective March 22, 2010, $10 million in rebates will be available to help home owners and small businesses reduce their energy costs and harness energy from the wind and the sun. This is a continuation of the energy efficiency and renewable energy rebates made available last October.)Trailers to Go, but Residents Will Return
Charlottesville Daily Progress, March 21
(RECAP: The 16 trailers in Sunrise will soon be moved as construction crews go to work on the 2-acre property, building more than 40 affordable-income housing units under the auspices of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville. Current residents will have a place set aside just for them.)Groups to Restore House
Inside NoVA, March 21
(RECAP: Two local nonprofit organizations are teaming up to repair a Dumfries town home that will be sold to a low-income family whose hopes and dreams of owning a home will also be restored. )Arlington Affordable Housing Dispute Morphs into Test of Church-State Separation
The Washington Post, March 21
(RECAP: The First Baptist Church of Clarendon, its pews emptying, needed cash. Arlington County , its red-hot Metrorail corridor pushing up real estate prices, needed affordable housing.)Housing Agency Files Complaints about Ads Called Discriminatory
Richmond Times-Dispatch, March 20
(RECAP: Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia Inc. has filed 20 housing discrimination complaints against people who posted online ads that may violate fair-housing laws.)Va. Nonprofit Recognized for Conservation Efforts
GoDanRiver.com, March 19
(RECAP: The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development plans to recognize Community Housing Partners on Wednesday at the state Capitol.)Frank Introduces Preservation Legislation
NLIHC's Memo to Members, March 19
(RECAP: Representative Barney Frank, chair of the House Committee on Financial Services, introduced on March 17 his long-anticipated bill to preserve subsidized low income housing. H.R.4868, titled the ‘‘Housing Preservation and Tenant Protection Act of 2010,'' represents extensive work by Chairman Frank to develop comprehensive legislation to prevent the loss of affordable housing dwelling units.)HUD, NLIHC, Others Testify at Choice Neighborhoods Hearing
NLIHC's Memo to Members, March 19
(RECAP: The House Committee on Financial Services held a hearing on HUD's proposal to authorize the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative on March 17. CNI would expand HOPE VI's redevelopment footprint to include redevelopment of public housing, assisted housing, and private housing in order to achieve comprehensive neighborhood revitalization efforts.)Treasury Seeks Input on Capital Magnet Fund
NLIHC's Memo to Members, March 19
(RECAP: The Department of the Treasury has announced a proposed rulemaking and a notice of funding availability in connection with the newly funded Capital Magnet Fund. By statute, the CMF is to provide grants to Community Development Financial Institutions or nonprofits that have as at least one of their purposes the development or management of affordable housing. Grant recipients may use the grants to invest in the development, preservation, rehabilitation, or purchase of affordable housing for low income families. COMMENTS DUE MAY 14 th )Jury sets $2.2 million Value for Disputed Reserve Avenue Land
The Roanoke Times, March 19
(RECAP: Jay and Stephanie Burkholder will be paid $2.2 million for 3 acres of land they own that the government is taking.)Great Need for Disabled Housing
WSET.com ABC13, March 18
(RECAP: A developer plans to bring housing for disabled people to Lynchburg , and the need is as great as ever. Rush Lifetime Homes is working to break ground on Victoria Ridge next month.)Getting Past Denials: Creation of Fair Housing Group Could Help Solve Problems
Alexandria Town Talk, March 17
(RECAP: Only 17 fair housing complaints from Alexandria have been recorded in the past 10 years in contrast with 1,210 total complaints statewide, a consultant said Tuesday.)More Multigenerational Families Living Together, HFR, US
Fredericksburg Star, March 17
(RECAP: Driven partly by job losses, more multigenerational families are choosing to live together as "boomerang kids" flock home and people help care for grandchildren or aging parents.)2010 Real Estate Industry Legislative Summary
Lexology.com, March 16 2010
(RECAP: The 2010 Regular Session of the Virginia General Assembly convened on Jan. 13, 2010 and adjourned March 14, 2010. The following summary provides an update on some of the bills affecting the real estate industry that were considered during the 2010 legislative session.)COMMUNITY COMMENT: Economic Considerations Needed for Housing Project
Falls Church Time, March 15
(RECAP: A decision to move the Wilden project forward at this time would do an economic disservice to the City and calls into question the true motivation of this set of actions.)Obama in No Rush to Reform Fannie, Freddie
The Washington Post, March 11
(RECAP: The federal government has spent the past half year seeking to roll back its emergency efforts at propping up the financial markets -- with the notable exception of its involvement in mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. As the government has pledged more and more money to cover the companies' losses, it has assured the public that planning was underway for overhauling the firms so the bailouts would end. But where's the plan?)‘People Get Tired, Worn Out' as They Try to Obtain Loan Modifications
Star Exponent, March 10
(RECAP: Donna McCartney made phone call after phone call and wrote letters about her family's deteriorating financial predicament and their inability to make their mortgage payments. They are six months behind in their mortgage payment.)The Dark Side of Home Subsidies
The New York Times, March 8
(RECAP: Home ownership in the United States ranks up there with motherhood and apple pie. The government has championed it for decades through tax breaks, mortgage guarantees and, most recently, the herculean task of keeping Americans in their homes after the housing market collapse. But government subsidies of the American Dream also have a darker side: when things head south, taxpayers end up stuck with the costs.)News Clips Archives
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