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City Program Expands, More Buildings to Improve Energy Efficiency

Seattle, WA - November 21, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Seattle is sending letters to the owners of 8,000 buildings this week informing them of its new building energy-efficiency program. The program aims to help building owners and managers reduce their energy costs through benchmarking – or measuring and rating a building’s energy performance. By benchmarking, owners get insight into how their building uses – and wastes – energy and can begin identifying opportunities to improve energy efficiency and increase savings.

City awards $27 million to construct affordable permanent housing

SEATTLE, WA - November 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Mike McGinn today announced more than $27 million in capital funding for the construction of seven new apartment buildings that will serve homeless individuals, low-income families and seniors. The investment, primarily Seattle Housing Levy funds, will help create 476 new permanent apartments, including some set-aside to serve veterans.

HUD CHARGES WASHINGTON STATE PROPERTY OWNER WITH DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION

WASHINGTON, DC - September 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today announced that it has charged the owner and manager of a Lakewood, Washington trailer park with discriminating on the basis of disability. HUD brings the charge on behalf of the Fair Housing Center of Washington, alleging that Deidra Miller, the owner of Terrace Trailers, and property manager Claudia Welch refused to make a reasonable accommodation to their “no pets” policy for testers posing as applicants with disabilities who needed service dogs.

Author China Mieville, Housing Executive Sharon Lee, Humorist Roy Blunt, Jr., Open Spaces Magazine...

Seattle, WA - July 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) Seattle Voices with Eric Liu Low Income Housing Institute’s Sharon Lee Premieres Tues., July 19, 7 p.m. Sharon Lee is the Executive Director of the Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI), a non-profit organization based in Seattle. LIHI develops and operates housing for low-income and homeless people, and also provides a range of support services to assist tenants in maintaining stable housing and increasing self-sufficiency. Lee oversees a staff of 100 engaged in housing development, management, advocacy and support services.

News Releases HOMELESS VETERANS: Senator Murray Announces Funding for Public Housing Authorities in Washington...

Washington, D.C. - July 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chairman of the Senate Housing Appropriations Subcommittee and the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced that a total of 175 housing vouchers worth $1,072,950 will be allocated to public housing authorities in Washington state to help local veterans secure stable housing. The vouchers are part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH program)

Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee to tour “Nickelsville” homeless encampment

Seattle, WA - July 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Join the Seattle City Council's Housing, Human Services, Health, and Culture Committee on Thursday, July 7 for a walking tour of the "Nickelsville" homeless person's encampment. This tour will continue the work surrounding Resolution 31292 and homeless individuals not currently served within the existing system of shelters.

Report concludes backyard cottages positive addition to urban housing options

SEATTLE, WA - May 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- City Council's Committee on the Built Environment today reviews a report on backyard cottage development in Seattle over the past 18 months. In November 2009, Council adopted legislation allowing construction of backyard cottages on eligible lots in single-family zones throughout the City. Fifty-seven units have been permitted since.

City Rolls Out New Program to Boost Building Energy Efficiency

Seattle, WA - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Seattle sent letters to more than 800 large commercial property owners and managers today informing them about a new citywide program designed to help owners and managers assess and improve building energy efficiency and spur the market for building energy retrofits.

Watch It Tonight: Housing the Poor and Homeless

May 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- How are neighborhoods responding to an influx of low-income and homeless housing? On Friday, May 6, 7 p.m., Cable 21, City Inside/Out with C.R. Douglas examines what is happening as services and housing for the poor spread out from downtown. We discuss the issues with representatives of a business association, property owners and housing and human-services providers.

HUD SECRETARY DONOVAN ANNOUNCES $2.2 MILLION IN NEW GRANTS FOR THREE HOMELESS PROJECTS IN...

SEATTLE, WA - April 28, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today awarded $2,199,963 to 11 new homeless programs in Washington state.

Clark County Building Safety program to receive national award

Vancouver, WA - April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- International Code Council recently selected Clark County’s Building Safety program as winner of the group’s 2011 Raising the Profile Award in conjunction with Building Safety Month in May. The national award recognizes efforts to raise public awareness about work to improve public safety in the built environment

Executive and Mayor reach long-term agreement for housing of City inmates at the King...

Seattle, WA - April 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn today announced a long-term agreement in principle for use of the King County Jail as the primary provider of bed space for the City's misdemeanor inmates over the next two decades."With the County jail next door to the City's courts, it just makes sense for us to provide space for City inmates awaiting trial," said Executive Constantine.

Bellingham Housing Authority and Enterprise Celebrate the Grand Opening of Walton Place Two

SEATTLE, WA - March 23, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Bellingham Whatcom Housing Authorities, Representative Rick Larsen (WA-2), Beacon Development, Enterprise and residents today celebrated the grand opening of Walton Place Two, the second and final phase of a newly constructed mixed-use workforce housing community in downtown Bellingham. Located at 1511 North State Street, Walton Place Two has 2300 square feet of commercial retail space available on the ground floor and 40 green affordable apartments for larger families and families with special needs on the upper levels.

Democrats Stand with Veterans Advocates To Oppose Republicans’ Extreme Plan That Would Deny Housing...

Washington, DC - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. Senators from across the country stood with advocates for homeless veterans to oppose a provision in Republicans’ reckless spending proposal that would cut 10,000 housing vouchers that would keep homeless veterans off the streets next year

City of Seattle Hosts Open House on Building Energy Rating and Reporting Ordinance

Seattle, WA - March 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Seattle Department of Planning and Development is hosting an open house this Thursday, March 17, for building owners and others interested in learning more about the City’s building energy benchmarking and reporting ordinance. Partner organizations will be on hand to share resources available to help building owners lower energy use and costs.

Mayor appoints Rick Hooper as director for Office of Housing

SEATTLE, WA - March 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today Mayor Mike McGinn announced he is appointing Rick Hooper as the director for the Office of Housing. Hooper was previously serving as the interim director. Hooper's appointment is subject to Council confirmation.

Senator Murray’s Statement on VA-HUD Assessment of Veteran Homelessness

Washington, D.C. - February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman, Senator Patty Murray, released the following statement on the Department of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development’s joint report on veterans homelessness which was released today.

City awards nearly $23 million to create and preserve affordable rental housing for seniors,...

SEATTLE, WA - January 19, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Office of Housing today announced nearly $23 million in capital funding, divvied up amongst eight nonprofit housing developers, to create and preserve affordable apartments. The investment will help create 375 new units for seniors, homeless individuals and low-income working families, plus rehabilitate another 291 apartments currently home to seniors and people with disabilities

Kennedy Wilson Refinances 400-Unit Apartment Building Located in Redmond, WA

BEVERLY HILLS, CA - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- International real estate investment and services firm Kennedy Wilson (NYSE: KW) today announced that the company has refinanced The Onyx Apartments, a 400-unit multifamily community in Redmond, Washington. The Onyx is owned in a partnership with the LeFrak Organization. The partnership, which is a 50/50 venture between Kennedy Wilson and the LeFrak Organization, includes a total of 2,912 apartment units, all of which were purchased in 2010. The $42.5 million Onyx financing has a seven-year term and carries a fixed interest rate of 4.67%. Wells Fargo Multifamily Capital, through its Fannie Mae DUS lending program, served as the lender on the transaction

More Than 100 Washington Homeowners Are Receiving A Total Of $650,000 From Countywide Home...

Olympia, WA - December 24, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) is pleased to announce a settlement has been reached in a consumer protection case regarding Countrywide Home Loans (CHL) that has been ongoing for more than two years

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KCHA spearheads successful effort to preserve nine subdized apartment complexes in...

WASHINGTON, D.C. - December 3, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- When a portfolio of nine privately owned Section 8-assisted housing complexes located in five counties scattered across Washington state was offered for sale last spring, the King County Housing Authority spearheaded a collaborative effort to purchase it. The housing authorities of Bremerton, Grays Harbor County, Yakima, and Chelan County and the City of Wenatchee participated in assuring the preservation of a total of 337 homes within the various communities.

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Calmwater Capital Originates $7.6 Million Loan for WSU Student Housing

Calmwater Capital, a leading national direct real estate lender, has provided $7.6 million in senior debt to Nelson Brothers Professional Real Estate, LLC to acquire and upgrade a student housing complex near Washington State University. The 184-bed property, known as College Crest Apartments, is located at 1555 NE Merman Drive in Pullman, Washington.