Washington RealEstateRama

Olympia, WA - June 17, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Washington State Department of Commerce today announced that King, Pierce, Snohomish and Spokane Counties will receive a total of more than $4.8 million in grants to help purchase and redevelop foreclosed and abandoned homes, putting them back into productive use.

Washington, D.C. - June 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) applauded an announcement made by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) Eric K. Shinseki that a supportive housing project for homeless veterans and their families will be developed in Spokane and Vancouver. Through the Building Utilization Review and Repurposing (BURR) initiative, the VA was able to identify unused and underused buildings at VA properties in Spokane and Vancouver that will be developed into new housing opportunities for veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan and homeless veterans and their families.

Seattle, WA - May 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and City Councilmembers Nick Licata and Mike O'Brien today announced two new steps in the City's efforts to better support those living without permanent shelter in Seattle:

SEATTLE, WA - May 12, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- City Council's Committee on the Built Environment today reviews a report on backyard cottage development in Seattle over the past 18 months. In November 2009, Council adopted legislation allowing construction of backyard cottages on eligible lots in single-family zones throughout the City. Fifty-seven units have been permitted since.

Seattle, WA - May 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The City of Seattle sent letters to more than 800 large commercial property owners and managers today informing them about a new citywide program designed to help owners and managers assess and improve building energy efficiency and spur the market for building energy retrofits.

Seattle, WA - May 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- One year has passed since the City Council adopted legislation to allow backyard cottages in all single family zones. Join Councilmembers, architects, and backyard cottage owners as they discuss and review how many cottages have been built, what they look like, their scale, and where they're appearing.

May 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- How are neighborhoods responding to an influx of low-income and homeless housing? On Friday, May 6, 7 p.m., Cable 21, City Inside/Out with C.R. Douglas examines what is happening as services and housing for the poor spread out from downtown. We discuss the issues with representatives of a business association, property owners and housing and human-services providers.

SEATTLE, WA - May 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Seattle City Light is expanding an energy use tracking service that helped about 18,000 customers save $477,000 on their energy bills last year.