New York, NY - May 9, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal District Court Judge Richard M. Berman today issued a decision and order approving a new five-year collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that provides a 16.6% wage and benefit increase for members over the life of the contract. Following the April ratification of the agreement by the District Council’s Delegate Body, Judge Berman’s consent was the last step needed before the contract could go into effect.

New York, NY - May 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Senate today passed bills that would continue to promote the construction of environmentally-friendly buildings and the cost-saving benefits of net metering for utility bills. Both bills are sponsored by Senator George D. Maziarz (R-C, Newfane), and would help reduce the consumption of limited natural resources, promote the use of renewable energy, and lower energy costs

Albany, NY - May 7, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced $91 million in awards for shovel-ready projects to build affordable housing across the state. The low-interest loans and tax credits will build and preserve 2,060 units of affordable housing and are expected to leverage more than $485 million in grants, loans and private resources.

rooklyn, NY - May 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The NYC Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), NYC Housing Development Corporation (HDC), joined The Hudson Companies, and CAMBA/CAMBA Housing Ventures today to celebrate the groundbreaking of the next phase of the energy- efficient, mixed-use, affordable housing Gateway Elton Street development in the Spring Creek section of Brooklyn. The new buildings will be located at 516 and 524 Vandalia Avenue, and 526 Schroeders Avenue.

NEW YORK, NY - May 1, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today applauded President Obama for nominating Mel Watt as the permanent head of Federal Housing and Finance Agency (FHFA), the agency that oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but called on him to take immediate action to replace acting FHFA Director Edward DeMarco with a new acting director who will allow principal relief for struggling homeowners

Albany, NY - April 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today unveiled the Community Reconstruction Zones (CRZ) program, a bottom-up, community driven initiative that will empower localities that were severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, or Tropical Storm Lee to develop comprehensive and innovative local rebuilding plans that will be funded by the state and federal government. The program will be funded by Federal Supplemental disaster aid fought for by Governor Cuomo and approved by Congress and signed by the President earlier this year.

WASHINGTON, DC - April 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced federal approval of New York State's recovery action plan to help homeowners and businesses following Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee. Funded through HUD's Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG - DR) program, New York State's recovery action plan calls for a combined $1.7 billion investment in a variety of housing, infrastructure and business recovery activities. Read New York State’s action plan.

New York, NY - April 29, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York City District Council of Carpenters’ Delegate Body ratified a new five-year collective bargaining agreement Thursday that provides a 16.6% wage and benefit increase over the life of the contract.

Albany, NY - April 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced federal approval of New York State’s recovery action plan to help struggling homeowners and businesses following Superstorm Sandy, Hurricane Irene, and Tropical Storm Lee. Funded through HUD's Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG – DR) program, New York State’s recovery action plan calls for a combined $1.7 billion investment in a variety of housing, infrastructure and business recovery activities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today called on the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to increase the Fair Market Rent (FMR) for victims of Superstorm Sandy on Long Island—one of the nation’s most expensive housing market. A wide variety of people use this program including homeless veterans and victims of domestic violence fleeing their abusers.

NEW YORK, NY - April 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced his office’s rollout of a new series of public service announcements aimed at highlighting free legal assistance and housing counseling available to New Yorkers who are struggling to fight foreclosure. The statewide advertisements are intended to publicize the Attorney General’s Homeowner Protection Program, a $60 million initiative to support housing counselors and legal services providers working with homeowners statewide.

New Windsor, NY - April 25, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC), New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), The New York State Common Retirement Fund (CRF), SONYMA, Orange County Trust, Riverside Bank, First Sterling Financial Inc., Jonah Mandelbaum, residents, and elected officials today celebrated the completion of Amber Grove, a newly constructed development featuring 84 state-of-the-art units of senior housing

Albany, NY - April 24, 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 a 28-day extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program beginning on May 1st, which was the deadline for the last extension granted earlier in April. This new extension allows eligible survivors from Superstorm Sandy who cannot return to their homes to stay in participating hotels or motels.

New York, N.Y. - April 16, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Museum of the City of New York, which recently opened Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers, will host a panel of urban planners and experts – including New York City Housing Commissioner Mathew Wambua – on Thursday, April 18, 2013.

New York, NY - April 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Museum of the City of New York, which recently opened Making Room: New Models for Housing New Yorkers, will host a panel of urban planners and experts – including New York City Housing Commissioner Mathew Wambua – on Thursday, April 18, 2013. The event will involve a discussion about the future of “micro-apartments” in the city. Recently, Mayor Bloomberg announced the winner of the city’s AdAPT design competition, an innovative structure of 55 micro-units to be built on East 27th Street in Manhattan. The panel will discuss the project, the larger goals of the adAPT initiative, and the strategies for providing small living spaces in New York City

EW YORK - April 15, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Disaster assistance to New York survivors of Hurricane Sandy has reached nearly $3.2 billion, including

New York, NY - April 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) today recognized Binghamton University of the State University of New York with a High Performance Building plaque for exceptionally high energy efficiency at its Engineering and Science Building. The building is rated to perform 44 percent above the energy code, and energy efficiency measures save $370,000 in costs annually.

New York, NY - April 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today revealed that there are over 1,100 dams considered “high” and “significant” hazards in Upstate New York, and more than three-quarters do not have an emergency action plan (EAP) to protect local homes, businesses and human life should dam breakage and subsequent flooding occur. Dams are a vital part of our nation’s aging infrastructure and provide enormous benefits to Upstate New Yorkers, including flood protection, drinking water, renewable hydroelectric power, navigation, irrigation, and recreation. Yet many of these hazardous dams are nearly a century old, and with the spring thaw fast-approaching, the risk to the surrounding community is too great to ignore

Albany, NY - April 11, 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 a 17-day extension to the Transitional Sheltering Assistance (TSA) program, which allows eligible survivors from Superstorm Sandy who cannot return to their homes to stay in participating hotels or motels

New York, NY - April 11, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of the New York City Housing Authority’s goal to enhance customer service, it has launched an online service tool for Public Housing and Section 8 Voucher applicants. The NYCHA Housing Application Self-Service Portal allows applicants to check the status of a current Public Housing or Section 8 Voucher application (the Section 8 list is currently closed and no new applications are being accepted). Also, New York City residents can now apply for public housing online.

Hauppauge, NY - April 8, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, County Executive Steven Bellone announced that applications for a competitive grant and loan program will be made available on April 5, 2013 for construction-ready municipal and private sewer infrastructure expansion projects within Suffolk County. With less than 25% of Suffolk County currently served by sewage treatment facilities, this program will assist in expanding sewers, protecting the drinking water supply and spurring economic development

BUFFALO, NY - April 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that a federal grand jury in Buffalo has returned an indictment charging 12 defendants with conspiracy to traffic 280 grams or more of cocaine base and 500 grams or more of cocaine within the Perry Housing Projects. The defendants are also accused of utilizing three apartments within the Perry Housing Projects and a juvenile to further their drug trafficking activities.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- New report from NYU's Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy finds New York City home prices rose two percent in the final quarter of 2012, while foreclosure activity increased 53 percent over the final quarter of 2011; The Bronx sees promising signs of renewed building activity

New York, NY - April 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Last week, we joined seven other state attorneys generals in calling on President Barack Obama to replace Edward DeMarco, the acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. We don’t have anything against DeMarco personally, but we believe that he is standing in the way of progress toward a full economic recovery and hurting families across the country. It is time for new leadership and a new direction at Fannie and Freddie

NEW YORK, NY - April 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today published an op-ed in Politico calling on President Obama to replace Edward DeMarco, the acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees mortgage institutions Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Co-authored by Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley, the op-ed notes that Acting Director DeMarco’s refusal to provide relief to struggling homeowners stands in the way of progress toward a full economic recovery, hurting families nationwide. The following are excerpts of the article