Draft 3 of the change memo was presented by consultant Don Elliott of Clarion Associates. “This is the last change memo you will see,” Mr. Elliott said. “Future edits will be made to the fully integrated draft of the code.” Consultants are working now to bring the three modules together...
Policy
ZCC Releases Module 3 Change Memo; Announces Fall Schedule
Thursday, August 12th, 2010The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness Releases “Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness”
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010The 19 member US Interagency Council to End Homelessness (USICH) has released the administration’s coordinated plan to end homelessness, “Opening Doors.” The plan has 10 objectives and 52 strategies for coordinating Federal, State, Local, as well as private sector resources to solve homelessness. An Excerpt from the Executive Summary: “HUD Secretary Shaun...
National Housing Trust Fund Stalls in Senate
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010The Senate adjourned on August 5 without approving funding for the National Housing Trust Fund (NHTF). Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had hoped to move an amendment, which included the NHTF and tax extenders, on H.R. 5297, the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010. However, the Senate was unable to...
Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania White Paper Focuses Gubernatorial Candidates on Housing Issues
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010The Housing Alliance released Homes Within Reach Gubernatorial White Paper 2010 on August 5 as a resource for Pennsylvania's gubernatorial candidates to use as they develop their policy agendas. The document examines the housing, homelessness and community development programs managed by the Commonwealth and evaluates what's working, what's...
FY2011 Transportation HUD Appropriations Bill Approved by House; Amendment Cutting HUD Programs Defeated
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010On July 29, the House of Representatives approved the fiscal year 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill (H.R. 5850), granting more than $49 billion in HUD funding. The bill includes: $2.2 billion for Homeless Assistance Grants; $677 million to ...
Street Furniture RFP Unsuccessful
Wednesday, August 11th, 2010The Mayor’s Office of Transportation has announced that the RFP they issued for street furniture received only 2 bids and neither was viable to meet the goals of the RFP. Consequently, the program is unable to move forward at this time. They instead plan to create a new contract for...
Zoning Code Commission Releases Module 3
Tuesday, August 10th, 2010The Zoning Code Commission (ZCC) recently released Module 3 - Development Standards, which contains new standards for form and design, open space, landscaping, parking, and tree planting and preservation, including Floor Area (i.e. density) Bonuses to encourage certain types of development and/or creation of specific...
Philadelphia Launches “Loan Modification Scam Alert” Campaign
Monday, August 9th, 2010Mayor Nutter launched a “Loan Modification Scam Alert” campaign for Philadelphia. The campaign will help homeowners avoid mortgage- and foreclosure-related scams and find legitimate foreclosure prevention assistance.
State Budget Approved
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010On July 6, 2010, Governor Rendell signed the FY2011 state budget agreed upon by the Legislature. The $28 billion budget does not raise taxes (though it includes a promise to pass a severance tax on natural gas drilling by October) and cuts spending in most departments across the board. The agreed...
Land Bank Bill Passes House
Tuesday, July 13th, 2010An amended version of anti-blight land banking legislation (HB 712) sponsored by State Representative John Taylor passed the House on June 29, 2010 by a majority vote of 190-8. The bill provides for the creation of land banks for the conversion of vacant or tax-delinquent properties into productive use. Land banks...
Find Your Lawmakers
Tell them what you think
