Thom Amdur Author Archives

U.S. Representatives Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Richard Neal (D-MA) introduced legislation to make permanent the temporary minimum credit rate for the low-income housing tax credit program (LIHTC). The bill proposes to set the minimum LITHC rate for new construction at 9% and set it at 4% for existing properties.

A new online resource will provide housing industry participants practical information on building and improving housing that serves broader community needs, such as public health, economic development, and education. How Housing Matters is a product of collaboration between the Urban Land Institute and John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

HUD announced a series of clarifications that are effective immediately and will be reflected in a revised Multifamily Accelerated Processing (MAP) Guide. They focus on equal pay-in, bridge loans, identity of interest, subordinate debt, vacancy rates, and developer fees.

Jerome “Jerry” Breed, Partner at Bryan Cave in the Washington, DC office, was recently elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Housing & Rehabilitation Association (NH&RA) at its Annual Meeting in Key Largo, Florida.

Representatives from more than 100 of the nation’s top affordable housing organizations gathered at the Ocean Reef Club in Key Largo, FL, last week for the 2015 NH&RA Annual Meeting. The event’s panel sessions created dialogues on what’s challenging – and exciting – affordable housing developers, illuminated the products and people who will shape the tax credit transactions in upcoming year, offered options to properties approaching year 15, and surveyed key changes to tax credit programs and legislation.

NH&RA’s first-ever Public Housing Joint Venture Symposium offered attendees a unique opportunity to gain insight into the progress and updates to key HUD programs. More than 100 developers, syndicators, lenders, and other members of the affordable housing community gathered to voice their concerns and questions to HUD representatives, as well as connect with peer organizations who are working on similar issues.

WinnCompanies named Gilbert Winn as its new Chief Executive Officer. Gilbert succeeds former CEO Samuel Ross, who after 21 years of dedicated and valuable work at WinnCompanies announced his retirement at the end of 2014. Gilbert is the son of Albert Winn, Principal and Founder of WinnCompanies.

Nixon Peabody LLP elected three partners to its Tax Credit Finance & Syndication practice. The new partners are Nathan Bernard, Christopher Perkowski, and Katie Tenney.

Boston Capital is investing in the rehabilitation of San Diego Square, a 156-unit development for seniors located in downtown San Diego, CA. The development will be rehabilitated with tax credit equity from the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program. Boston Capital’s investment in the development adds 156 units of affordable housing to its apartment portfolio. To date, Boston Capital has invested in more than 13,200 units of affordable housing in California.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a notice in the Federal Register announcing its plan to implement changes made to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program in the 2015 HUD Appropriations Act.

President Obama’s Better Buildings Challenge welcomed six new multifamily housing authority and owners. AHEAD, Inc (Littleton, NH), Gragg Cardona Partners (Washington, DC), Housing Authority of the Birmingham District (Birmingham, AL), Newark Housing Authority (Newark, NJ), The DeBruler Co. (Libertyville, IL), and Windsor Locks Housing Authority (Windsor Locks, CT) all announced they are joining the Challenge.

U.S. Department of Housing Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro and California Governor Jerry Brown announced a plan to expand financing for energy efficiency and solar energy in multifamily housing. Their plan includes unlocking property-assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for multifamily housing in California, establishing the California Master-Metered Multifamily Finance Pilot Project, and engaging philanthropy and the financial sector in supporting renewable energy in affordable housing.