Glenn Petherick • 4 min read
In Kansas City, Mo., the owner of three award-winning affordable multifamily rental properties is fighting an attempt by local officials to possibly condemn the buildings and take them by eminent domain on the grounds that they have caused social blight to the community.
Glenn Petherick • 5 min read
A comprehensive tax reform plan released on February 26 by House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) caused sighs of relief by some tax credit advocates and dismay by others. Yet the document, while keeping the topic of tax reform alive, faces an uncertain fate in the weeks and months ahead and may be preempted by action in the Senate on extenders legislation.
Glenn Petherick • 3 min read
The Obama Administration’s FY 2015 budget proposes tax law changes relating to federal low-income housing, new markets, and energy tax credits. Nearly all were in the White House’s FY 2014 budget request.
David A. Smith • 4 min read
In 1900, if you lived in a New York tenement, your bedroom was usually right below that of your upstairs neighbor. When he removed his heavy shoes late at night, you’d hear the two muffled thumps clearly through your ceiling – first one, then the second. Any delay between thumps might keep you awake, wondering what had happened above you.
Glenn Petherick • 20 min read
When it comes to green retrofits of existing affordable multifamily rental housing properties to reduce energy and water consumption and costs, the good news is there are well-established procedures on how to approach these jobs and numerous industry and governmental initiatives that promise significant further advances.
Glenn Petherick • 4 min read
The possibility that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac might dump a massive volume of existing low-income housing tax credit (LIHTC) investments into the market at some point in a fire sale is virtually non-existent now, even with their return to substantial profitability and various legislative proposals calling for phasing out the two mortgage companies.
Glenn Petherick • 8 min read
Owners and property managers are taking different approaches to incorporating energy and water efficiency features in affordable multi- family rental housing, particularly in retrofits of existing projects. A look at four organizations around the country illustrates this.
Glenn Petherick • 5 min read
An energy audit, an assessment of the energy needs and efficiency of a building or group of buildings, can be informative for an affordable multifamily rental housing development as well as provide a roadmap for the most cost-effective improvements to make.
Glenn Petherick • 5 min read
A demonstration project making major energy and water efficiency improvements at a 274-unit affordable multifamily rental housing development in southern California is a possible model for other similar “stand-alone” green retrofit jobs.
Glenn Petherick • 7 min read
In North Easton, Mass., 30 miles south of Boston, Beacon Communities LLC has created a unique mixed-income apartment community through the rehabilitation and adaptive re-use of eight historic buildings dating between 1852 and 1928 that were once part of the Ames Shovel Works factory complex.
Glenn Petherick • 6 min read
Water conservation improvements are generally the least expensive and most cost-effective retrofit improvements that owners can make at their existing affordable multifamily rental housing properties to cut utility usage and costs, according to sources. Moreover, sometimes improvements can be funded with no upfront cost to owners.
Brian Carnahan • 6 min read
In March 2013, the Housing Partnership Network released a set of proposed affordable housing reforms that included a recommendation to “create a rating system for affordable housing providers.”