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Week of February 28, 2005

Front Page

* DOE Study Confirms Wall Insulation Requirements Don’t Deliver Enough Bang for the Buck
* Watch for a New Look for Nation's Building News
* Supreme Court Looks at Economic Development as Justification for Taking Private Property
* Housing Snapshot

President's Message

* NAHB Is Your Business Partner

Housing and Economics

* Housing Demand Solid Despite Snow-Related Sales Decline in January
* Buffalo-Niagara Falls, N.Y., Most Affordable Housing Market
* Eye on the Economy

Business Management

* Increase Profitability by Streamlining Your Operations

Seniors

* What Visitors Don’t See on Your Web Site Could Generate More Sales

Multifamily

* HUD Recognizes 2003 IBC Code as Safe Harbor for Accessibility Compliance

Green Building

* Arbor Day Foundation Seeks Presenters for Upcoming Conference

Regulation

* Storm Water Exemptions for Oil and Gas Exploration Should Also Apply to Construction
* Philadelphia Builders Peg Revitalization Efforts on Streamlining City’s Zoning and Permit System
* New HUD Awards Recognize Efforts to Remove Affordable Housing Barriers

Legal Issues

* Legal Test for Takings Liability an Issue in Supreme Court Case
* Information About Current Use of Arbitration Requested

Small Builders and Remodelers

* Index Finds Slight Remodeling Slowdown in Fourth Quarter
* How to Deal With an Emotional Home Owner

Workforce Housing

* Salinas Development Provides Affordable Housing for Farm Workers

Labor

* Leaders in Mississippi Meet to Plan Future of State’s Project CRAFT Program

Building Products

* New Large Angle Grinders Reduce Vibration By 60%

Builder's Engineer

* Honey, I Shrunk the Lots

Building News Coast To Coast

Association News & Events

* Get GM Discount Pricing on More Than 80 GM Vehicles
* Help Tsunami Survivors Rebuild Their Homes
* Robson Seeks Office of NAHB Vice President and Secretary
* Subscribe Your Employees to NBN Online and a Digital Camera Could Be Yours
* Calendar of Events

NBN Back Issues

 

New HUD Awards Recognize Efforts to Remove Affordable Housing Barriers

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a new national awards program — the Affordable Community Awards — will recognize the efforts of local governments that reduce regulatory barriers to affordable housing.

The deadline for nominations is March 15.

Interested individuals or groups may nominate either a state or local government that has demonstrated extraordinary achievement in eliminating regulatory barriers to housing affordability. State and local governments may also nominate themselves or other local units of government for awards. Submissions will be evaluated and selected by a diverse group of senior-level HUD staff in the department’s Affordable Communities Initiative Team.

"It's important to recognize and reward communities that assume a leadership role to encourage the production of affordable housing," said HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson. "Across this great nation, local communities are removing barriers to affordable housing and opening more doors to homeownership for hard working families."


National Association of Home Builders

Regulatory barriers include public statutes, ordinances, regulations, fees, processes and procedures that significantly restrict the development of affordable housing without providing a commensurate health or safety benefit. These barriers can effectively exclude working individuals such as teachers, police officers, firefighters, nurses and returning veterans from living in the communities where they work.

In addition, senior citizens often find it extremely difficult to find suitable housing near their adult children while young families likewise face difficulties in finding a home in the communities where they were raised.

Local communities interested in sharing innovative strategies to overcome regulatory barriers to affordable housing can click here to visit HUD’s Regulatory Barriers Clearinghouse.

“The National Association of Home Builders strongly supports HUD’s efforts to remove excessive and redundant regulatory barriers that push up the cost of housing,” said NAHB President David Wilson. “I think the Affordable Communities Awards are an excellent way to recognize the efforts of local governments to develop regulatory policies that make it possible to produce housing that is affordable to working families.”

To download an application for the 2005 awards, click here. Applications must be postmarked no later than March 15.

For a detailed description of the nomination and selection process, click here.


Register Now for the 2005 NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference

The NAHB Multifamily Pillars of the Industry Conference & Awards Gala is the premier industry event for the multifamily industry. Join NAHB Multifamily and Pillars Conference Chairman Ron Terwilliger for the best networking and educational opportunity the industry has to offer. Click here for more information on this event. To register now for this event, click here.
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