Previous Events & CLE Programs
March 21, 2008
Committee Meeting
Report of the MA Commission to End Homelessness
RSVPJoin Tina Brooks, Undersecretary of the Department of Housing and Community Development, and Donna Haig Friedman, Director of the Center for Social Policy at UMass-Boston, as the discuss the report of the Commission to End Homelessness . The Commission was co-chaired by Ms. Brooks, and State Representative Byron Rushing, and recently issued its report analyzing the state’s homeless population and setting out an implementation plan to end homelessness within the Commonwealth by 2013.
March 6, 2008
Committee Meeting
DiLiddo v. Oxford Street Realty, Inc. and MGL c.151B: The Scope of Protection for Tenants Receiving Public Rental Assistance
Join Zaheer Samee, Frisoli Associates, who represented the successful plaintiff in DiLiddo v. Oxford Street Realty, Inc., as he discusses his work on the case and the issues that were – and were not – addressed by the SJC in its opinion. Under MGL c.151B, §4(10), tenants receiving public rental assistance are protected against discrimination by landlords. The Supreme Judicial Court interpreted the scope of that statutory protection for the first time in twenty years in the recent case DiLiddo v. Oxford Street Realty, Inc. In that case, DHCD regulations applicable to a prospective tenant's rental voucher required that leases with a voucher holder include a limited 30-day termination right. The landlord's agent, a property management company, argued that the economic hardship imposed by such a termination right was a legitimate, nondiscriminatory basis for a refusal to rent. Join us as we discuss this case.
January 17, 2008
Committee Meeting
Smart Growth Recent Developments Under MGL Chapter 40R
Sponsors
Affordable Housing Committee
Title & Conveyancing Committee
Kathleen O’Donnell of Kopelman and Paige, P.C. and Bert Rodiger of RSM McGladrey Inc. will provide an overview of the issues relevant to projects being developed under Chapter 40R, the Smarth Growth Zoning statute, and they will discuss their experiences with some of the first projects to be developed under this new statutory framework.
December 6, 2007
Committee Meeting
The Massachusetts Community Preservation Act: Who Benefits, Who Pays?
Robin Sherman, Donahue Institute, University of Massachusetts, and David Luberoff, Rappaport Institute for Greater Boston, Harvard University, will disucss their findings in their recently published report entitled, "The Massachusetts Community Preservation Act: Who Benefits, Who Pays?". This report offers a thought-provoking analysis of the distribution and uses of state CPA revenues since the Act was first adopted by Massachusetts communities in 2001. Ms. Sherman and Mr. Luberoff will also discuss their suggestions for making CPA funding more efficient and more equitable across the Commonwealth.
To obtain an advanced copy of the report, please visit: http://www.ksg.harvard.edu/rappaport/research/cpa.htm.
October 4, 2007
Committee Meeting
Current Legislative Initiatives for Promoting Affordable Housing
State Senator Susan C. Tucker, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, will discuss current legislative initiatives pertaining to affordable housing in Massachusetts.Topics may include:
- increased funding for affordable housing under the Housing Bond Bill;
- the promotion of home ownership in Massachusetts’ middle cities;
- and legislative responses to the expiring affordability restrictions and the mortgage foreclosure crisis.
September 6, 2007
Committee Meeting
Current Topics in Municipal Affordable Housing
Kathleen M. O'Donnell, of Kopelman and Paige, P.C., and Daniel C. Hill of Anderson & Kreiger LLP will lead a discussion on current topics of interest for municipalities in providing affordable housing.
June 7, 2007
Committee Meeting
Susan Cohen, general counsel to the Brookline and Cambridge Housing Authorities and Hollis Young, in-house general counsel to the Boston Housing Authority, will discuss recent issues and trends in public housing.
May 3, 2007
Committee Meeting
Fair Housing Issues
Henry Korman will review civil rights laws applicable in the affordable housing context and a discuss "hot topic" examples of special population housing and selection preference issues.
Prior to opening his own law office, Mr. Korman served as associate general counsel to Community Builders, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing. He is the author of a CHAPA (Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association) publication, Meeting Local Housing Needs: A Practice Guide for Implementing Selection Preferences and Civil Rights Requirements in Affordable Housing Programs.
March 15, 2007
Committee Meeting
Proposed Statutory Affordable Housing Covenants
Sponsors
Affordable Housing Committee
Title & Conveyancing Committee
Peter B. Farrow will introduce and discuss the proposed Statutory Housing Covenants, Statutory Housing Condition, and Statutory Power to Sell. If enacted, these covenants and conditions would be available to developers of affordable housing much like the statutory mortgage covenants and conditions are currently available to lenders. This will be an opportunity to learn and discuss the effect such a proposal will have on owners, lenders, developers and others with an interest in title.
March 8, 2007
CLE Program
An Overview of Bond Financing for Affordable Housing Projects
This seminar will provide an overview of the important role bond financing plays in the development and financing of affordable housing projects. Panelists will explain how bonds work and the role of issuers, underwriters, rating agencies and other parties.& Attendees will learn the differences between taxable and tax-exempt bonds and the issues that determine which type of bond financing is appropriate for a given project. As tax credits are a typical funding source in bond-financed projects, the seminar will also give an overview of the two types of tax credits available.
February 1, 2007
Committee Meeting
Preservation of Affordable Housing: End of Tax-Credit Compliance Issues
Warren A. Kirshenbaum of Tarlow, Breed, Hart & Rodgers, P.C. will discuss strategies for preserving affordable housing. As rental housing complexes built post-1960s are reaching the end of their tax credit compliance periods, their affordability restrictions will soon be expiring. In addition, much of the region’s public housing stock requires additional investment to preserve its functionality and extend its life. Join us as we discuss various approaches in light of these circumstances.
December 7, 2006
Committee Meeting
After the Closing on an Affordable Housing Project: Preparing for a Lender’s Compliance Audit
Elaine Nickerson of OKM Associates, Inc., who conducts compliance monitoring visits for DHCD’s HSF and HOME programs and CEDAC’s HIF and FCF programs, will describe what to expect in a compliance monitoring visit, what documentation borrowers need to have available, and the process for correcting any problems identified in the monitoring visit. Karen Kelley, the Director of Finance and Operations at CEDAC, will discuss what borrowers can do to streamline the process, as well as common issues and problems that arise.
November 2, 2006
Committee Meeting
Condominium Percentage Interest for Mixed-Income Developments with Affordable Units
Edward Rainen, Rackemann, Sawyer & Brewster and Peter Farrow, Co-Chair of the Real Estate Public Policy Committee, will review recent legislation to revise how the condominium percentage interest is determined in mixed-income developments with affordable units. They will also discuss the issues of fairness and other policy considerations -- both pro and con -- that are intertwined with this legislation.
October 5, 2006
Committee Meeting
New Developments in Housing Appeals
Werner Lohe, Chairman of the Housing Appeals Committee, will discuss new developments and recent trends in housing appeals.
For over 30 years, Massachusetts has been a leader in the development of affordable housing through its comprehensive permit law, M.G.L. chapter 40B. An integral part of this law is the Housing Appeals Committee, which hears state-wide appeals of permit denials for affordable housing construction.
September 7, 2006
Committee Meeting
The MassDocs Initiative
Join us for a discussion of the MassDocs initiative and new MassDocs loan documents. The panelists will summarize changes from the lenders’ existing loan documents and demonstrate the interactive software that will be used to generate the MassDocs loan documents.
Panelists:
About MassDocs Initiative:
The MassDocs Initiative was created to simplify and streamline the closing process for affordable housing projects with funding from multiple public loan programs. The Commonwealth’s Department of Housing and Community Development has joined efforts with other public lenders to create the new MassDocs program. Under this initiative, the participating public lenders can coordinate their loans for a project under a single, shared set of loan documents, with a single attorney jointly representing those lenders.
June 7, 2006
Forum
The Future of Public Housing in Massachusetts
Massachusetts public housing is facing enormous challenges. Home to approximately 85,000 low income households, state and federal public housing has experienced significant funding shortfalls and unprecedented regulatory changes. New federal rules will require property-based asset management and are likely to lead to major changes in operating subsidy levels.
Despite these challenges, local housing authority officials and residents have come together to seek adequate funding and policy changes to improve public housing. New state regulations are expected to stimulate new public-private partnerships for the development and renovation of public housing. And, Massachusetts legislative leaders are expected to release a report on state public housing in the near future, calling for greater funding levels and reforms.
How can local housing authorities balance the housing needs of very low income households and the lack of state and federal funding? What steps must be taken to ensure that residents have their concerns addressed? What program initiatives have been successful? What innovative strategies and reforms should be undertaken by the next administration?
Moderator
Thomas Connelly, Jr.
Executive Director, MassNAHRO
Panelists
Jack Cooper
Executive Director, Mass. Union of Public Housing Tenants
Honorable Robert Fennell
State Representative, 10th Essex District
Sandra Henriquez
Executive Director, Boston Housing Authority and President, Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
Marc Slotnick
Associate Director, Division of Public Housing and Rental Assistance, Mass. Department of Housing and Community Development
Cost: $15 for CHAPA members and BBA members, $20 for non-members (includes continental breakfast).
Space is limited and you must register by June 2, 2006. No refunds will be provided to those who register but do not attend the forum.
You may register by phone, fax or e-mail:
Phone (617) 742-0820
Fax (617) 742-3953
E-mail Jmissick@chapa.org
June 5, 2006
Committee Meeting
Affordable Housing Covenants and the Secondary Market
Colleen Duffy, Director of Massachusetts Community Business Center for Fannie Mae, and Phyllis Zinicola, Manager of Comprehensive Permit Programs for MassHousing, will discuss the new guidelines adopted by Fannie Mae for purchasing mortgage loans subject to affordability restrictions. They will also review the sample form of affordable housing covenants which complies with the new guidelines. These guidelines may have a significant impact on the supply of affordable home ownership units in Massachusetts.
May 1, 2006
Committee Meeting
Green Building Initiatives for Affordable Housing
Brad Swing, the Director of Energy Policy for the City of Boston, will discuss current green building initiatives for affordable housing. The city is seeking to initiate a funding program to incorporate renewable energy, energy efficiency, and green design into affordable housing developments. The program will build on the Mayor’s leadership in encouraging green design and the city’s announcement of green building standards.
March 6, 2006
Committee Meeting
Proposed Legislation to Create a Statutory Housing Covenant
Peter B. Farrow, Co-Chair of the BBA Real Estate Legislation Committee, will discuss the proposed legislation to create an estate in residential property limiting the use of the premises as affordable owner-occupied housing with statutory obligations. It is anticipated that this legislation, prepared by a working group of affordable housing advocates and attorneys, will be filed in the State Legislature in the Fall of 2006.
Come learn about the need for this legislation, what it will accomplish, and expectations for its reception.
February 1, 2006
CLE Program
Affordable Housing Deals: What Makes Them Unique
Full Program Description
Affordable housing deals present unique issues relating to public policy concerns, regulatory matters, and the relationship between multiple public and private funding sources. Attendees will learn how to approach these issues in order to ensure efficient and effective closings.
January 6, 2006
Committee Meeting
A Conversation with Director Jane Wallis Gumble on Current Developments at DHCD
Jane Wallis Gumble, Director of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, and Sarah Young, Deputy Director for Policy at DHCD, will discuss recent developments in housing policy in Massachusetts.
Topics to include:
- New Chapter 40B Guidelines
- Smart Growth Criteria
- New Asset Limits
There will also be an opportunity to ask your questions on any topic relating to affordable housing in Massachusetts.
December 5, 2005
Committee Meeting
Employer Assisted Housing
With the high cost of housing in Massachusetts, employers are finding it difficult to attract and retain workers. Some companies have initiated employer assisted housing programs to meet the affordable housing needs of their workers. Some legislators have responded by proposing legislation to provide incentives for employer assisted housing.
Julie Connelly, Senior Vice President of Community Investments at Citizens Bank, will speak about the Bank's employer assisted housing program to help meet the affordable housing needs of its workers. Mary Tittmann, Chief of Staff for State Senator Jarrett T. Barrios, will describe and give an update about pending legislation to provide incentives for employer assisted housing programs. Senator Barrios, a lead sponsor of the legislation, will also give remarks.
November 7, 2005
Committee Meeting
The Public Housing Experience with Mixed-Finance, Mixed-Income Redevelopments
Hollis Young, General Counsel, and Deborah Morse, Director of Real Estate Development, both at the Boston Housing Authority will discuss the public housing experience with mixed-finance and mixed-income redevelopments.
In recent years, the BHA and other public housing authorities have redeveloped some of their older properties using funds from mixed public and private sources. The redevelopment process has been challenging, not least because of the mixed-finance arrangement and bringing together disparate entities, including public agencies, developers, lenders, etc. In addition, the mixed-income populations affect not only the redevelopment process, but also the success of the resulting housing and how different residents live together.
Ms. Young and Ms. Morse will discuss how the BHA has dealt with these challenges, how the developments are operating now, and the outlook for future mixed-finance, mixed-income redevelopments.
October 3, 2005
Committee Meeting
Potentially Abusive Tactics by Town and Neighbors in Appeals of 40B Decisions
Paul D.Wilson of Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky and Popeo P.C. will discuss potentially abusive tactics by municipalities and neighbors in appeals of 40B decisions, and how to respond to them. We look forward to an interesting discussion with a variety of viewpoints.
September 12, 2005
Section Meeting
Join us on September 12th to learn about the Affordable Housing Committee, meet your colleagues and provide input on the upcoming program year. We will be discussing topics for brownbag lunches, special projects and initiatives (including a potential statutory proposal concerning affordable housing restrictions), and our CLE program for this year. If you’re a member of the Committee or are interested in the Committee please join us.
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