Creative Reuse: The Opportunities and Challenges of Converting Office Space to Residential
The Massachusetts Affordable Homes Act (H. 4977), signed into law on August 6, 2024, includes provisions intended to promote residential housing construction. These provisions: (1) require municipalities to permit accessory...more
In June, Mayor Wu announced the extension of the City of Boston's Office to Residential Conversion Program with $15 million in additional funding from the state. The program, which formally launched in October of 2023, aims...more
On July 12, 2024, a bipartisan bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives titled the “Revitalizing Downtowns and Main Streets Act” (H.R. 9002) (the “Bill”), which, if enacted, will provide an investment tax...more
The U.S. Supreme Court in April 2024 issued a unanimous decision in Sheetz v. County of El Dorado, California (144 S. Ct. 893), concluding that the "Takings Clause" in the Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution applies to...more
Legislature Gives Local Governments Right of First Refusal on Affordable Housing and Right of First Offer on Certain Market Rate Multifamily Properties - On the final day of the legislative session, the state legislature...more
New York state has enacted changes in the housing laws that will have a significant impact on the development and operation of multifamily housing in New York City and the state, and will also ameliorate the effects of...more
As covered in prior PSH Client Alerts on June 26, 2023, August 22, 2023, and November 27, 2023, this past year included numerous major reforms to the Rhode Island zoning and land development statutes, all aimed at spurring...more
The Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development (DMPED) for the District of Columbia issued draft regulations effectuating the Housing in Downtown Tax Abatement (Abatement) on Jan. 26, 2024. The draft...more
Historically, the United Kingdom has lagged behind the likes of Dubai, South Florida, New York, Hong Kong SAR and Singapore in the branded residences space, as us Brits have tended to prefer traditional house living. However,...more
The Colorado state legislature recently approved a bill that would prohibit “governmental entities” from enforcing existing or enacting new local anti-growth laws that would limit housing supply, development applications or...more
As work habits continue to transition from office space to work from home, sparsely populated downtown office towers are proving to be a barrier to the City’s goal of repopulating the traditional financial district. Enter the...more
In SEQRA litigation, there is an oft-quoted proposition that the Lead Agency may not abdicate or defer its responsibilities under SEQRA to another agency. See Riverkeeper, Inc. v. Planning Bd. of Town of Se., 9 N.Y.3d 219,...more
In September 2019, Baltimore county will kick off the Comprehensive Zoning Map Process (“CZMP”). The CZMP is the quadrennial process through which Baltimore County redraws its zoning maps. Every four years, the Baltimore...more
In Berkeley Hills Watershed Coalition v. City of Berkeley (2019) 31 Cal.App.5th 880 [certified for partial publication], the Court of the Appeal for the First District affirmed that the construction of three new single-family...more
Residential developers should take note of the potential increases in school impact fees for new developments in Orange County (the “County”)....more
This blog examines the complexities of Agent of Change cases from our experience acting for developers and venues alike and, in particular, considers the concept and use of noise easements to resolve and manage noise issues...more
After six years and vigorous public comment, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has adopted substantive amendments to the implementing regulations of the State Environmental Quality Review Act...more
The New Jersey Legislature amended the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) in 2011 to replace the former “time of decision rule” with what is commonly referred to as the “time of application rule” (the TOA Rule). N.J.S.A....more
Many developers must remove existing trees in order to build new homes or buildings. Some cities have required developers to pay fees, known as tree mitigation fees, as a condition for permitting the removal of the trees....more
On Tuesday, July 11, 2017, the Santa Barbara City Council will consider a new zoning ordinance for the city. If the council votes to introduce and subsequently adopt the new zoning ordinance (NZO), it will be effective 30...more
Local governments may not rely on zoning rules to prohibit renters in multi-family housing developments. Many local governments (and residents) prefer property owners living in their communities rather than tenants. This...more
In its recent decision in Taylor v. Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank Commission, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) put the brakes on a trend toward eliminating bright lines in the enforcement of easement rights. The Facts - ...more