Housing & Development

The Multifamily Production Index (MPI), released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), increased one point to a level of 56 for the third quarter of 2015. This is the 15th consecutive quarter with a reading of 50 or above.

Should retiring rental property owners be forced to pay millions of dollars to solve a city’s affordable housing problem, merely for the right to close their business? That is the question confronted by a major constitutional case filed today in federal court against the City of Palo Alto by the Jisser family, owners of the Buena Vista Mobilehome Park.

The City of Atlanta announced today that Mayor Kasim Reed participated in McKinsey & Company’s Global Infrastructure Initiative (GII) in San Francisco. The Global Infrastructure Initiative was created as a vehicle to help unlock the recurring infrastructure bottlenecks, explore new frontiers, and drive change in the industry

The Energy and Commerce Committee today unanimously passed S. 611, the Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act – companion legislation to H.R. 2853, a bill introduced by Environment and the Economy Subcommittee Vice Chairman Gregg Harper (R-Miss). The legislation helps smaller and rural communities across the country deal with the technical and financial challenges of regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Often, smaller and rural communities face significant hurdles when it comes to maintaining, replacing, and upgrading their aging drinking and wastewater infrastructure

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) has announced the finalists for its 2016 Best of 55+ Housing Awards, the premier design and marketing competition for the 55+ housing industry. A total of 87 entries were chosen as finalists and are eligible for either a gold or silver award from NAHB's 55+ Housing Industry Council, which will be announced at an awards ceremony on Jan. 19, 2016, during the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Las Vegas

The rise of apartment living is changing communities, driving new development and raising the expectations for the amenities and services offered to the 38 million people in the U.S. who call an apartment home. From walkable neighborhoods to on-site fitness classes, package pick-up solutions to online rent payments and more, new data from the largest-ever survey of apartment residents gives a detailed picture of what apartment residents want—and even what they’d expect to pay for it.

The Tennessee Housing Development Agency, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Memphis and Habitat for Humanity International announced a major challenge grant to kick off the fundraising effort for Habitat’s 2016 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Memphis. THDA will match the first $1 million in donations for the project.

Analysts at the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) are providing, for the first time, a method for measuring the economic potential of renewable energy across the United States.

The NAIOP Research Foundation has appointed officers for 2015-2016. The officers lead the Board of Trustees for the Foundation, whose mission is to build better communities through practical research and education that advances the quality and makes evident the benefits of commercial real estate development across North America

The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against the owners and manager of three Michigan apartment complexes – Parkside East Apartments, in East Lansing, Michigan, Holt Manor Apartments in Holt, Michigan, and Kelly Manor Apartments in Owosso, Michigan – for discriminating against families with children.

Congressman Bob Latta (R-Bowling Green) received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) release of their initial strategic plan to assess risks associated with algal toxins in public drinking water as required under legislation authored by Rep. Latta, H.R. 212, The Drinking Water Protection Act:

The PTC Elimination Act this week received its 50th cosponsor. The bill, authored by U.S. Congressmen Kenny Marchant (TX-24) and Mike Pompeo (KS-04), would make the tax code simpler, fairer and more competitive through a phase-out and repeal of the renewable energy Production Tax Credit, or PTC.

Mayor de Blasio today announced a new plan to create 15,000 units of supportive housing over the next 15 years. The sweeping plan will target even more New Yorkers in need than previous plans, including homeless veterans, survivors of domestic violence, and street homeless individuals

U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Julián Castro today announced HUD’s latest national one-night estimate of homelessness, highlighting a continuing decline across the nation. The results are based on HUD’s ‘point-in-time’ estimates, which seek to measure the scope of homelessness on a single night in January each year.

U.S. Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-5) today announced a $145,101 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (VASH) Project Based Voucher grant for the Housing Authority of the City of Napa. The grant will provide 17 Section 8 VASH vouchers for the Valley View Senior Homes

U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i) introduced legislation to help prevent youth homelessness, improve support services and housing for youth and families, and help ensure children are raised in supportive, stable households.

Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05) today testified before a meeting of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Drinking Water Advisory Council (NDWAC) about the Flint water crisis and changes to federal policy that can be made to promote transparency and accountability for city residents.

The House Natural Resources Committee held a legislative hearing on the Protecting America’s Recreation and Conservation Act, a bill that proposes extensive and dismantling changes to the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). Rep. Tsongas has championed the LWCF and has been one of the leading voices calling for its reauthorization.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act

The House of Representatives today passed H.R. 1210, the Portfolio Lending and Mortgage Access Act introduced by Congressman Andy Barr (KY-6) in a bipartisan vote of 255 to 174.  The bill promotes affordable home financing and discourages the practice of securitizing and selling of mortgages that led to the 2008 financial crisis and the resulting taxpayer bailouts of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and large systemically important financial institutions.