Oneonta, N.Y. - August 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Hampshire Companies, a full-service, private real estate investment firm with equity in assets valued at over $2.5 billion, has announced the sale of a 12,000-square-foot retail building located at 99 Chestnut Street in Oneonta, New York, to QB Associates, LP. The building is fully leased to Walgreens, the largest drug retailing chain in the United States.

New York, NY - August 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Over 100 people, including workers in buildings along the High Line—the elevated park with scenic views and pricey artisanal treats at a once down-and-out area of the city—and their supporters will march for fairness and higher standards at the park’s luxury apartments. While developers hike prices to take advantage of the now-desirable real estate, porters and concierges who work in the buildings that buttress the High Line say they are not sharing in the good times

NEW YORK, NY - August 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced the resolution of an investigation into Masonry Services, Inc. (“MSI”) and its owners, James S. Herrera and Jaime T. Herrera, for underpaying masonry workers on the St. Marks Project. Developed under the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the St. Marks Project was a publicly funded affordable housing facility for seniors in the Brownsville neighborhood of Brooklyn. The Attorney General’s agreement requires MSI to pay back wages totaling $575,000 as well as $25,000 in costs.

Albany, NY - August 6, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), at the request of the State of New York, has approved an extension in two phases to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program.

New York, NY - August 5, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Two individuals, Donald Torriero and Julius DeSimone, were sentenced in federal court in Utica, N.Y., for illegally dumping thousands of tons of asbestos-contaminated construction debris on a 28-acre piece of property on the Mohawk River in upstate New York, the Justice Department announced.

Washington, DC - July 31, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, a member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, and Charles E. Schumer announced that the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) agency revised its regulations to allow New York City to expedite reimbursement for home repairs and rehabilitation for hundreds of Sandy homeowners currently deemed ineligible. Previously, HUD regulations blocked the City from conducting environmental reviews for Sandy victims’ homes that were “substantially damaged,” which is defined as losses greater than half the value of their home.

New York, NY - July 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The State University of New York (SUNY) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today announced that SUNY will save more than $1.2 million annually in energy costs throughout its 64 campuses by incorporating energy-efficient information technology and related facility improvements. The energy-saving projects, which are expected to be completed in 2014, support Governor Cuomo’s Build Smart NY initiative, which aims to increase energy efficiency in state buildings by 20 percent in seven years

NEW YORK, N.Y. - July 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- City Comptroller John C. Liu today called on the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) to open its operations to the public as well as reject a plan to raise $750 million in a new bond issue, amid grave concerns over a deepening crisis that threatens the Authority’s finances and operations

Albany, NY - July 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State housing market posted strong numbers through the first six months of 2013 with expansions in closed sales, median sales price and pending sales compared to a year ago, according to the housing market report released today by the New York State Association of REALTORS.

Albany, NY - July 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced the state is launching the $16 million Mohawk Valley and 2013 Upstate Flood Recovery Program to assist homeowners, small businesses and farms in areas of the State hardest hit by recent flooding. The NYS Flood Recovery Program is intended to provide immediate recovery assistance to victims of these floods and to address gaps in coverage for impacted homeowners, business owners and farmers in Herkimer, Madison, Montgomery, Niagara and Oneida Counties

New York, NY - July 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor Linda I. Gibbs, Department of Design and Construction Commissioner David Burney and Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Thomas A. Farley today announced a series of first-in-the-nation anti-obesity initiatives that will promote physical activity through the design of buildings and public spaces. These include the creation of the Center for Active Design, a non-profit organization that promotes changes to the built environment to fight obesity and related chronic diseases and an Executive Order requiring all City agencies to use active design strategies when performing all new construction and major renovation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 17, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to relocate six residences along Eighteenmile Creek in Lockport that are routinely impacted by flood waters from the contaminated creek. Eighteenmile Creek is an EPA Superfund site that has been plagued by hazardous waste contamination, which is now threatening the health and safety of half a dozen homeowners and their families along Water Street. Currently, the EPA is reviewing two options for remediation, either relocation of the homeowners or a temporary soil cap on the contamination.

New York, N.Y. - July 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is providing a total of $1,465,000 to Nassau and Niagara counties and the city of Ogdensburg to clean up abandoned and contaminated properties. The funding is being awarded under the EPA’s brownfields program, which helps communities assess, clean up, redevelop and reuse properties at which moderate contamination threatens environmental quality and public health and can interfere with redevelopment.

Albany, NY - July 12, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today signed legislation that will allow Breezy Point residents to expedite repairs to homes damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The new law will allow homeowners in Breezy Point to bypass time-consuming permitting requirements so they can begin to repair and restore their houses and lives

New York, NY - July 2, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) is leading New York City’s entire Congressional delegation today in urging Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan to cut bureaucratic tape within the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program that hinders the City from providing Sandy recovery aid to businesses, homeowners, and displaced residents who desperately need relief but are currently ruled ineligible for aid

Albany, NY - July 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today advised New Yorkers to be vigilant when seeking the services of home contractors, especially those looking to repair and rebuild their homes in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, and report any illegal activity to the New York State Division of Consumer Protection at 1-800-697-1220

NEW YORK, NY - June 28, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Small Business Administration have approved more than $7.6 billion in direct assistance to homeowners, renters, businesses, government agencies and nonprofits that were affected by Hurricane Sandy

Brooklyn, NY - June 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- CPC Resources, Inc. (CPCR), East Brooklyn Congregations (EBC), Common Ground Community HDFC (Common Ground), St. Paul Community Baptist Church, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), and partners celebrated today the groundbreaking of Redwood Senior Living in the East New York section of Brooklyn. Located at the intersection of Wortman and Schenck Avenues, the energy-efficient development will provide 80 units of affordable housing with social services for underserved elderly residents when completed in 2014.

New York. NY - June 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Mathew M. Wambua, New York City Housing Development Corporation (HDC) President Marc Jahr, City Council Speaker Christine C. Quinn, Workforce Housing Advisors (WFHA), Morgan Stanley, JP Morgan Chase and partners today announced the beginning of what will be a substantial renovation of four of the most physically distressed multi-family buildings in the City. The buildings, which are located at 2239, 2241, 2323 and 2333 Creston Avenue in the University Heights section of the Bronx have a combined 120 apartments.

SYRACUSE - June 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that up to $20 million over two years – obtained in last year’s settlement with the nation’s largest banks – will be made available to communities to rebuild and restore neighborhoods hit hard by the housing crisis. Following the collapse of the housing market, the New York State Legislature passed legislation in 2011 establishing “land banks” that could acquire vacant, abandoned, or foreclosed properties, and choose to rebuild, demolish, or redesign them

WASHINGTON, DC - June 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee, issued the following statement upon today’s introduction of the “Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2013” by Sens. Robert Corker (R-TN) and Mark Warner (D-VA).

WASHINGTON, DC - June 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), the top Democrat on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice, along with Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI), introduced the Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) Act in order to extend critical federal civil rights protections to individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or familial status, disability, or source of income. Today, many in the LGBT community, many people paying rent with government housing vouchers, and numerous others routinely experience housing discrimination by landlords, banks, and real estate professionals.

STATEN ISLAND, NY - June 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Rep. Michael G. Grimm (R-S.I./Brooklyn) joined Staten Island constituents for a press conference calling on the City to waive water fees for Sandy survivors who have used little or no water in their damaged homes. Even if a home uses no water during a billing period, homeowners are subject to a minimum charge from the City of $1.19 per day. The City is just starting to send out “suspended” bills now, and residents are outraged to find they owe hundreds of dollars (over $300 in some cases) for water they never used at a house they are currently unable to live in. At a time when Staten Islanders are waiting in limbo – whether it be for buyouts, flood maps, or more federal assistance – Rep. Grimm is calling on the city to waive these ludicrous fees until homeowners get back in their homes

New York, N.Y. - June 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Mathew M. Wambua today announced the latest housing development to offer preference to income-eligible New Yorkers displaced from their homes by Hurricane Sandy. Harlem River Point South will add a total of 139 affordable housing rental apartments to the East Harlem neighborhood of Manhattan. Fifteen percent of the 139 affordable units will be subject to the Sandy preference. These units will be filled through a lottery managed by the developer and overseen by HPD and the City’s Housing Development Corporation (HDC).

New York, NY - June 19, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs and New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) Chairman John B. Rhea today launched the Red Hook Urban Farm, a 1-acre urban agriculture installation and the first-ever large-scale community farm on NYCHA property. The model farm will serve as a source of fresh produce for the community while also providing a center for education, job training, and community engagement for residents.