The Bronx, NY - February 12, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman José E. Serrano applauded BronxWorks, an organization in his community that changes lives and assists those in need with a variety of services. Serrano recently helped BronxWorks with a federal grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development for their work, which will bring $1 million to the organization

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 10, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Preservation and Rehab of the United States Lace Curtain Mill factory has begun its first phase with environmental remediation. The project will create 55 units of affordable housing for artists in the City of Kingston and generate $18.3 million in regional economic activity, while retaining the unique architectural character of the building

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today highlighted the additional capital funding in the 2014-15 Executive Budget to make communities across the State more progressive by encouraging the creation of supportive housing for public assistance recipients and low-income households. The Executive Budget Proposal increases funding from the $30 million that was enacted in the 2013-14 Executive Budget to $63 million for the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP), which is administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).

Albany, NY - February 4, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today highlighted the additional capital funding in the 2014-15 Executive Budget to make communities across the State more progressive by encouraging the creation of supportive housing for public assistance recipients and low-income households. The Executive Budget Proposal increases funding from the $30 million that was enacted in the 2013-14 Executive Budget to $63 million for the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP), which is administered by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 29, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-12), Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE), released the following statement in reaction to President Obama’s call for housing finance reform in the 2014 State of the Union Address

Albany, NY - January 23, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced a partnership between the New York Power Authority (NYPA) and the State University of New York (SUNY) to undertake energy efficiency measures at 10 SUNY campuses that will save the university system $3.5 million each year and contribute to cleaner communities. The projects will reduce the university system’s peak energy use by approximately 3.6 megawatts (MW)—enough to power some 3,600 typical homes—and help to eliminate 21,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

New York, NY - January 22, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the New York City Housing and Development Corporation (HDC) and Preservation Development Partners announce the $41 million acquisition and financing for the rehabilitation of Albert Goodman Plaza, a four-building 252-unit complex in the Bronx. The property, which had fallen into disrepair under its previous owner, was acquired by Preservation Development Partners, a joint venture of developers Francine Kellman, Brian Raddock, Donald Capoccia, Joseph Ferrara, and Brandon Baron.

Commack, NY - January 21, 2014 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Steve Israel (D-Huntington) announced he’ll be introducing federal legislation, the Kerry Rose Fire Sprinkler Notification Act, to require improved notifications of fire-safety systems for students and their families as they pick campus-affiliated housing at colleges and universities across the country. He was joined by the Fitzsimons Family of Commack who lost their daughter, Kerry Rose, to a fire in the house she lived in at Marist College in 2012.

New York, NY - January 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York announced today the award of an $857,500 grant to the St. John Fruit Belt Development Corporation to help finance the St. John Townhomes II project, which will build 49 units of affordable housing in the Fruit Belt neighborhood of Buffalo; a $400,000 grant to the Lackawanna Housing Development Corporation to help finance the Lackawanna Homes project, which will build 48 single-family homes and a community building in a targeted revitalization neighborhood in Lackawanna; and a $163,800 grant to Niagara Community Action Program, Inc. to help finance the rehabilitation of 20 units of owner-occupied housing across Niagara County. Federal Home Loan Bank of New York members M&T Bank and First Niagara Bank submitted the applications for the funding.

Brooklyn, NY - January 14, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries (NY-8) and Assemblyman Nick Perry (AD-58) announced the addition of Canarise, Marine Park, Mill Basin, Bergen Beach and Georgetown to the NY Rising Community Reconstruction Program. The program provides funding for rebuilding and redevelopment assistance to communities that were crippled by Superstorm Sandy and Hurricanes Irene and Lee.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- In light of record low temperatures and extreme weather slamming Upstate New York, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today on a conference call urged the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to immediately release over $35 million in funds from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that are currently being held back and will go to New York residents upon release. As of November 2013, HHS only obligated $316 million of the $351 million that is available for New York this winter from the FY13 appropriations

Washington, D.C. - December 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The President signed into law today the VA Expiring Authorities Extension Act, which included a bill authored by Rep. Maloney to help address the Veterans Administration (VA)’s backlog of disability claims. Earlier this year, Representative Sean Patrick Maloney introduced the Disabled Veterans Red Tape Reduction Act, HR 1521, to allow veterans to have their medical examinations done by physicians outside the VA system to help process veterans’ disability claims faster.

New York, NY - December 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today urged the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to approve Suffolk County’s application for hazard mitigation grants that would help support the Northeast Branch Nissequogue River Restoration Project. The project will mitigate recurring groundwater flooding that impacts residents and businesses around Miller’s Pond and the Northeast Branch of the Nissequogue River. Over 900 homes have been identified as having experienced damaged related to the flood hazard in this area. Schumer today pushed for funding through FEMA’s hazard mitigation grant to improve the storm water infrastructure. Schumer also urged the New York State Office of Emergency Management to include this project in their final list of Hazard Mitigation Grant (HMGP) projects submitted to FEMA by late January

Albany, NY - December 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced 10 awards totaling $23.7 million to create or preserve high quality affordable housing and spur economic growth in regions around the state, awarded through New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR).

BRONX, NY - December 23, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Standing on the steps of the Bronx County Supreme Court, Senator Klein, joined by dozens of Bronx homeowners and Assemblyman Marcos Crespo (D-Bronx), announced that a lawsuit charging fraud, conspiracy, breach of contract and negligence had been filed against members of an elaborate scheme targeting first time, minority homeowners. Homeowners allege that the defendants, working in concert, (referenced to as the “Tota-Kash Group” in the complaint), bilked them for millions of dollars by inducing them to purchase homes in the Bronx without valid certificates of occupancy and with shoddy workmanship

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 20, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today announced the approval of an Industrial Development Agency (IDA) economic development compact that will allow Bedford Construction Group, a Valley Stream developer, to rescue an abandoned and incomplete affordable housing opportunities and retail space in New Cassel. The project, which began in 2005 and then was halted, is expected to be complete within six months. The project includes the completion of 12 apartments, seven affordable and five at market rate, in an underserved community

Albany, NY - December 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Empire State’s November housing market posted a 4.8-percent increase in closed sales compared to a year ago, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS. The strong buyer activity also drove a 9-percent growth in the median sales price compared to November 2012

New York, NY - December 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today announced that, after his significant push, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has agreed to provide $7.5 million to fund the New York City Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) plans to expand the Staten Island Bluebelt. New York City applied for funding created in the Schumer-sponsored Sandy Relief Bill through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) under the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

New York, NY - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced the completion of Whole Foods Market Third & 3rd in Brooklyn (214 3rd Street), which will employ 425, as a model of energy efficiency and commitment to protecting the environment. The 56,000-square-foot supermarket, the company’s flagship store in Brooklyn, is located in the Gowanus neighborhood and has been constructed following a significant brownfield clean-up by Whole Foods Market. Its grand opening was today.

WASHINGTON, DC - December 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Congresswoman Carolyn B. Maloney (NY-12) today criticized a Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) proposal that could result in reduced access to mortgages for middle-class families. Maloney, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises, says that reductions in conforming loan limits being considered by FHFA would cut thousands of families out of the housing market by forcing them to seek private mortgages, which typically require credit scores above 760 and average down payments of nearly 34 percent

Albany, NY - December 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today received an end of the year progress report on the NY Works Initiative showing investments of $1.6 billion in vital infrastructure projects statewide, including $1.2 billion to repair and rebuild roads and bridges, $265 million to improve parks, and $142 million to protect coasts from floods. NY Works projects have also supported tens of thousands of direct jobs around the state. Director of State Operations Howard Glaser presented the results of the report at the Governor’s cabinet meeting today.

New York, NY - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today officially opened Village Lofts, a 29-unit transit-oriented rental development in the Village of Hempstead. This new housing opportunities, located at 479 Front Street, contain 23 (80%) workforce housing units and 6 (20%) affordable housing units. Village Loft is one of several residential developments assisted by the Mangano administration. Other projects include Jefferson Plaza in Farmingdale (154 units – under construction), Landmark in Great Neck Plaza (93 units – now open), Mill Creek Residential in Mineola (311 units – under construction), Mineola Properties in Mineola (315 units – under construction) and MPA Owners in Westbury (6 units – under construction).

New York, NY - December 10, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called for federal Hurricane Sandy relief funds to be used to create a new dune flood-protection system in Breezy Point that would make its residents safer and enable the community to be better prepared to withstand subsequent storms. Similar dune protection systems are already under way across the rest of the Rockaway Peninsula, but not yet at the far-western end, which leaves this community exposed to future storms.

New York, NY - December 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, at the Frankfort Village Hall, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer launched a two-pronged plan to help ensure that veterans returning home to Herkimer County from Iraq and Afghanistan are receiving critical benefits that will allow them to afford a home and live stable civilian lives. Schumer said that nearly 6,000 veterans live in Herkimer but many have not applied for the property tax benefit for veterans that is available to them and worth hundreds of dollars a year

Riverhead, NY - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, County Executive Bellone was joined by Suffolk County Legislator Al Krupski, NYS Senator Ken LaValle, Riverhead Town Supervisor Sean Walter, the Long Island Housing Partnership, the Woolworth Revitalization LLC and a host of community members to announce support and the submission of legislation to provide $250,000 in capital funds to offset infrastructure costs associated with utility improvements, drainage and excavation for the rehabilitation of the old Woolworth building in downtown Riverhead.