Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

The U.S. Departments of Transportation (DOT) and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) have announced that they will join forces to award up to $75 million in funding ““ $35 million in TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) II Planning Grants and $40 million in Sustainable Community Challenge Grants for localized planning activities that ultimately lead to projects that integrate transportation, housing and economic development.

Governor Bob McDonnell this week announced a major initiative by his Administration aimed at expanding affordable housing in Virginia, including the establishment of the state’s first executive housing policy framework to help guide the development of a housing policy.

The National Housing Conference (NHC) has issued two new reports on coordinating housing, transportation and workforce policies.

HUD has issued a notice announcing its intention to offer funding through a competition made available as a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) under its Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Program (Program). HUD is also seeking comments on the Program through this Advance Notice. The goal of the Program is to support multi-jurisdictional regional planning efforts that integrate housing, economic development, and transportation decision-making in a manner that empowers jurisdictions to consider the interdependent challenges of economic growth, social equity and environmental impact simultaneously.

A new AARP report co-authored by the National Housing Trust and Reconnecting America has found that more than 250,000 privately-owned, federally subsidized apartments exist within walking distance to quality transit in 20 metro areas.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report that addresses the need to establish and implement a plan to expand linkages between affordable housing and transit-oriented development.

NH&RA pleased to announce we will be returning to the Taj Hotel (formerly the Ritz-Carlton) for our Annual Boston Fall Developers Forum November 2-3, 2009. This is a can’t miss event for developers and affordable housing professionals looking to get the latest updates on state-of-the-art transactions and breaking news from the Congress, HUD and HFAs.
Online registration is now open and the hotel is taking reservations at our group rate. Click here to register online.

Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT), along with fellow Committee members Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Dan Akaka (D-HI) and Charles Schumer (D-NY), introduced legislation to help areas across the country plan and implement development projects that better integrate their community’s needs for transportation, housing, land use, and economic development.

The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program has published on its website a new series of resources titled “Implementing ARRA” which tracks the implementation work of metropolitan leaders, assessing their progress and struggles, and extracting from the innovators’ experiences ideas for short- and long-term federal policy reforms.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has announced that Shelley Poticha has been appointed Senior Advisor for Sustainable Housing and Communities. HUD is working with Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) on legislation that seeks to create the Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities at HUD. Poticha will direct the office if the bill becomes law.

Leaders of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of Transportation and Environmental Protection Agency collectively announced a joint Partnership for Sustainable Communities to help improve access to affordable housing, create more transportation options, and lower transportation costs while also improving the energy efficiency of communities nationwide.

The National Housing & Rehabilitation Association has made available the PowerPoint presentations displayed during the recent 2009 Spring Developers Forum: A Time of Opportunity, held May 11-12, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles, California.