(Washington Post) — A federal audit has questioned more than $10 million in spending by the District’s housing agency, prompting the return of $1.6 million of Housing and Urban Development grant funds. In a report released Dec. 23 after examining the city’s financing of a long-delayed affordable housing project, its use of federal funds for […]
(Crain’s) — Monthly common charges and maintenance fees at 450 residential buildings across the city will continue to increase next year, and in some cases may rise as much as 7.5% from 2010 levels, according to an analysis conducted by the buildings’ property manager, Cooper Square Realty Inc. The increases are in line with the […]
(Washington Post) — For decades, Chicago’s Cabrini-Green high-rises – with their fenced-in balconies and horrific high-profile crimes – were a symbol of the failure of public housing in the United States. Their closure this month marks the end of an ugly era. The Cabrini high-rises were, to some, towering testaments to how Chicago public housing […]
(Chicago Tribune) — A key City Council committee voted Monday to set aside about $100 million a year from special taxing districts to build or preserve affordable housing, even though Mayor Richard Daley opposes the idea. The plan backed by affordable-housing advocates was approved by the Finance Committee on a 13-8 vote but needs at least […]
by Charing Ball California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee has penned an op-ed piece urging the Obama administration to issue a national moratorium on housing foreclosure. According to her piece, Lee is frustrated with the apparent rubber-stamping of foreclosure documents by mortgage lending and the alleged predatory practices happening with the government’s modifications program. Moreover, because there […]
(WSJ) — Gov. David Paterson vetoed legislation late Saturday night that would have capped the percentage of income that people on public assistance who are infected with HIV pay for rent, eliciting a strong rebuke from AIDS advocates. The governor said the veto allows him to keep his promise not to impose unfunded mandates on […]
(AJC) — Georgia investigators started arresting about 80 people around the state Wednesday for allegedly lying their way into federally funded Section 8 housing. Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Vernon Keenan said 63 people were arrested by Wednesday evening and more will follow in coming weeks. The announcement of further arrests was intended as a […]
(Washington Business Journal) — The D.C. Housing Finance Agency has closed on the second of three rounds of bond financing that will give the go-ahead to $130 million worth of development in the city, including the construction of a highly-visible Capitol Riverfront project by Forest City Enterprises Inc. The bonds issued Thursday will help developers start […]
(NYT) — It was envisioned as a way to help more homeless families leave shelters behind for good. But a signature anti-poverty program of theBloomberg administration is stumbling because of lax oversight, according to an audit by the city comptroller, John C. Liu. The report, to be released Monday, criticizes the Department of Homeless Services for its management […]
(NYT) — “Bronx portfolio,” the Web posting read. “These distressed properties fetches prices that are much below its market value.” The grammatically sloppy advertisement for 10 troubled buildings in the Bronx appeared this spring on eBay classifieds, not a forum known for attracting the kinds of investors who can afford to rescue the properties, which are […]