Author Archives: ipgocorp

Nonprofit buys hotel in Richmond's Scott Addition for redevelopment project

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(RECAP: A nonprofit developer has bought a hotel most recently known as a Quality Inn for a redevelopment project in the rapidly changing Scott’s Addition area of Richmond.
In a competitive bidding process, the Better Housing Coalition plans to invest a minimum of $30 million to transform the six-tale building at 3200 W. Broad St. and the entire block into a mixed-income apartment complex for families — with commercial space on the first floor fronting Broad Street. The Better Housing Coalition plans to turn the hotel into a family property and offer one-, two- and three-bedroom units, unlike many of the efficiency apartments that have opened in recent years in Scott’s Addition.)

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HUD Finalizes New Fair Housing Rule for Quid Pro Quo, Hostile Environment Harassment

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(RECAP: HUD has issued a final rule that makes liability for housing providers for occurrences of “quid pro quo harassment” or “hostile environment harassment.” The new rule, “Quid Pro Quo and Hostile Environment Harassment and Liability for Discriminatory Housing Practices Under the Honest Housing Act,” takes effect on October 14, 2016. Perhaps the most significant impact of the new rule is the imposition of direct liability for the conduct of third parties—housing providers could be liable for behavior among tenants. This liability hinges on whether the housing provider “knew or should have known of the discriminatory conduct and had the power to right it.” The rule neither defines what steps a housing provider must take nor how far it must go in mediating tenant-on-tenant harassment disputes.)

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Best Mid-Sized Cities for Public Transit Ranking List Released Utilizing Redfin’s Transit Score Index

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SEATTLE, WA – Cambridge, Massachusetts is the best mid-sized U.S. city for public transit, according to the latest ranking by Redfin, the next-generation real estate brokerage. With a Transit Score of 72.3 out of 100, Cambridge is considered to have “brilliant transportation,” based on its Transit Score rating, meaning that public transit is convenient for most trips.

Walk Score, a Redfin company, made the Transit Score to rate locations and cities by the usefulness of their public transportation options. Jersey City, New Jersey, which took second place with a score of 70, also falls into the “brilliant” category. The remaining eight cities all have scores within the 50 to 69 point range, which Walk Score designates as areas that have “excellent transit with many nearby public transportation options.

With the exception of Buffalo, all of the cities highlighted in the report are connected to the public transportation system(s) of major cities nearby.

Typically it’s America’s largest cities that are known for having the best access to public transit, but Redfin chief economist Nela Richardson points out that often times commuter cities have fantastic transportation too and they tend to be more affordable. Living in these areas can provide residents with most of the amenities they’d get living in a major city.

“It’s not uncommon for folks to commute to nearby major cities via public transit, which tend to be areas with the most economic opportunity. Having ample public transportation that can get you to where you need to go in your own city, as well as other larger cities nearby, is vital for sustainable urban growth across America,” said Richardson.

See the full list at RedFin.com

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