New York RealEstateRama

April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Darryl C. Towns was officially named Commissioner/CEO of NYS Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) as his selection was approved by the boards of the State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) and the Housing Finance Agency (HFA).

New York, NY - April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Access to conventional refinance loans in New York City sharply declined in communities of color between 2008 and 2009, at the same time that it significantly increased in predominantly white neighborhoods, according to a report released today by NEDAP and six partner organizations across the U.S.

New York, NY - April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Republicans today renewed their call for the Assembly to act on the Governor’s property tax cap legislation in light of new data showing New Yorkers pay the highest property taxes in the United States.

New York, NY - April 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer announced his push to aid Homes for Heroes as they seek to modify their current land lease agreement and secure a long-term land agreement that will improve their fundraising capability, allowing the group to provide new homes to even more of our disabled veterans. Currently, Homes for Heroes is in the middle of a short-term 5-year lease with the Health and Human Services Department that requires construction on homes for veterans to be completed after 3 years

Washington, DC - April 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Eliot Engel announced the awarding of $1,365,890 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Greyston Health Services. The grant allows GHS to continue providing permanent housing and supportive services to the homeless and marginally homeless youth with HIV/AIDS in the Yonkers

New York, NY - April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn and Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Mathew M. Wambua today announced an agreement that will improve what had become deplorable living conditions for the more than 1,000 residents of the former Milbank housing buildings in the Bronx

New York, NY - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Cushman & Wakefield Sonnenblick Goldman has arranged acquisition loans for affiliates of Castellan Real Estate Partners to fund their purchases of 295 West 150th Street and 2108 Amsterdam Avenue in Manhattan. The loans were provided by a New York-based savings bank.

New York, NY - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today launched a pilot to help the commercial building sector and multifamily buildings reduce their energy use, save on operating costs and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

NEW YORK, NY - April 22, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Comptroller John C. Liu issued the following statement regarding the NYC Pension Funds’ proposal that the bank’s board of directors launch an independent audit of its mortgage and foreclosure practices. The proposal is on the agenda at Citigroup’s annual meeting in New York City tomorrow:

New York, NY - April 20, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Much attention has been given to the recent foreclosure crisis, in particular to its causes and impacts on communities. Considerably less attention, however, has been given to the collateral costs on children, in particular on their educational experiences. As children around the country leave their homes due to foreclosures, we look at whether they leave their schools as well.

NEW YORK, NY - April 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced that Scott Vinett has joined the firm as a senior vice president with its New York operations. He will be responsible for tenant representation and agency leasing services, with a specific focus on the New York metropolitan area. Vinett has nearly a decade of experience in overseeing deals, lease restructurings and other complex real estate transactions. He focuses on serving the real estate needs of clients involved in a wide variety of industries including financial services, apparel, media, architecture and engineering.

NEW YORK, NY - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City¡¦s only comprehensive residential sales report released today found that home prices increased in the first quarter of 2011 over the same time last year, showing a continuing trend of rising home values. The number of transactions in the quarter, however, was relatively flat rising just two percent compared to fourth quarter 2010. The report was published by ResidentialNYC.com, the public real estate listings Web site of the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY).

April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- PREET BHARARA, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, announced that STEVEN BYERS, the former president and chief executive officer of the private equity firm WexTrust Capital, LLC (“WexTrust Capital”), was sentenced today to 160 months in prison on charges stemming from a fraud that raised more than $9 million from investors in private placement real estate offerings. BYERS, 48, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court by U.S. Court of Appeals Judge DENNY CHIN.

New York, NY - April 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- To help encourage the early adoption of New York City’s planned phase-out of #6 fuel oil, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced $6.5 million in incentives to help multifamily buildings with five or more units switch to cleaner fuels that will help provide a healthier, cleaner environment for residents and New York City.

New York, NY - April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos, Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb and representatives of business organizations today urged the Assembly Majority to act on a meaningful property tax cap bill. The Senate overwhelmingly passed Governor Cuomo’s property tax cap legislation with bipartisan support earlier this year.

Washington, DC - April 121, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) last week introduced the Flood Insurance Fairness Act of 2011 (FIFA) to assist property owners with new costs they face due to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) flood map modernization program. With thousands of families throughout New York facing a new requirement to purchase flood insurance as they are remapped into flood zones under FEMA's plan, the FIFA legislation would give property owners the option to delay the flood insurance purchase requirement for up to five years and require FEMA to cover certain costs associated with the flood hazard map appeals process. Similar legislation was introduced by Hinchey in the previous Congress.

April 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today joined the Long Island Housing Partnership (LIHP) in randomly selecting Nassau County families, who met income eligibility requirements, to buy affordable homes in the Inwood community. The forty-four hopefuls that submitted applications to be considered for the program are placed on the ranked lottery list. The deadline for applying was September 30

Kingston, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today announced Rural Ulster Preservation Company, Inc. (RUPCO) has been awarded a $91,650 grant from NeighborWorks America, a federally funded program aimed at supporting affordable housing and community development initiatives. The funding will be used to support RUPCO's HomeOwnership center, which offers a comprehensive range of services to help families achieve and sustain the American Dream of homeownership.

New York, NY - April 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fried Frank's renowned real estate practice has been shortlisted for The Chambers USA Awards for Excellence 2011. Chambers USA Awards for Excellence honor law firms and lawyers for their pre-eminence in key practice areas and the caliber of their achievements over the previous 12 months.

New York, NY - April 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver and Housing Committee Chair Vito Lopez today announced agreement on legislation to restore $6 million for the Neighborhood Preservation Program and the Rural Preservation Program. The agreement provides $8.4 million for the Neighborhood Preservation Program and $3.5 million for the Rural Preservation Program. These restorations bring both programs to their 2010-11 funding levels, preserving the vital work that they do in the areas of affordable housing, economic development and community renewal.

March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman John B. Rhea today announced the appointment of Emily Youssouf as Vice Chair of the NYCHA Board. Youssouf, who is currently a Clinical Professor at New York University’s Schack Institute ofNew York, NY - March 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman John B. Rhea today announced the appointment of Emily Youssouf as Vice Chair of the NYCHA Board. Youssouf, who is currently a Clinical Professor at New York University’s Schack Institute of Real Estate, will begin her five-year term on NYCHA’s Board on April 18th. She previously served as the President of the New York City Housing Development Corporation from 2003 to 2007. Real Estate, will begin her five-year term on NYCHA’s Board on April 18th. She previously served as the President of the New York City Housing Development Corporation from 2003 to 2007

New York, NY - March 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bronx apartment building workers late Thursday ratified a four-year agreement that provides a 6% wage increase over the life of the contract, fully employer-paid family health care coverage, pensions and protects all other benefits.

NEW YORK, NY - March 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jones Lang LaSalle today announced Eric Herlands, Jason Gold, Joseph Sitt and Stephen Shapiro have joined the firm in the last several months as part of the firm’s New York City Capital Markets business as its investment sales team expands. The foursome is working under the direction of Vice Chairmen Richard Baxter, Jon Caplan, Ron Cohen and Scott Latham. Eric Herlands joins the firm as a Senior Vice President, while Jason Gold, Joseph Sitt and Stephen Shapiro each take on the role of Vice President.

HAVERSTRAW, NY - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) --– Village, County and State officials joined today with representatives from The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), the Rockland Housing Action Coalition (RHAC) and invited guests to celebrate the completion of Murphy Manor Apartments, the first quality-built affordable housing for families in Haverstraw.

New York, NY - March 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today named Mathew M. Wambua Commissioner of the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Wambua will replace Rafael E. Cestero, who will leave public service at the end of March as previously announced. Wambua will become Commissioner on April 4th. Mayor Bloomberg made the announcement in the Blue Room of City Hall, where he was joined by Deputy Mayor for Economic Development Robert K. Steel, New York City Housing Development Corporation President Marc Jahr, Cestero and Wambua.