FHLBNY Announces Board of Director Election Results: Jay M. Ford, Thomas M. O’Brien, and George Strayton Reelected

The Federal Home Loan Bank of New York announced that Jay M. Ford, Thomas M. O’Brien, and George Strayton were each reelected by the Bank’s members to serve as Member Directors on the Board of Directors of the Bank commencing on January 1, 2009. The terms of Mr. Ford and Mr. O’Brien will each be for four years; Mr. Strayton’s term will be for three years. (All of the Reelected Directors currently serve on the Board; their current... 

Patagonia Opens First Texas Store in Historic Building in Austin

Outdoor clothing manufacturer Patagonia has set up shop in downtown Austin with the opening of its 25th retail store and its first location in Texas. The new 7,000-square-foot Patagonia store at 316 North Congress is located in a historic building that began life as the W.B. Smith dry goods store in 1884, four years before the state capitol down the street was completed. The store carries Patagonia-branded outdoor sports and lifestyle products tailored... 

“New” 2009 Conforming Loan Limit Unchanged From $417,000; High-Cost Areas Now Max Out at $625,500

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that the “new” conforming loan limit for 2009 will remain at $417,000 for most areas in the U.S., unchanged since 2006. Loan limits for high-cost areas, including California, are capped at $625,500, down from the previous $729,750 limit. Loan limits for many areas of the state do not reach this lower threshold and are dramatically reduced from 2008. “Although price declines mean that the total... 

Congressional Solar Energy Tax Credit Bill Creates Affordable Renewable Energy Systems for Homeowners

A part of the bailout package recently passed by the U.S. government included a generous solar energy tax credit bill which will dramatically reduce the cost and hasten the payback to homeowners for installing residential solar energy systems. A full 30% federal tax credit is now available for solar PV and thermal installations starting January 1, 2009. The Renewable Energy Division of S+H Construction, Inc. of Cambridge, Massachusetts, one of the... 

Cubellis’ Thomas P. Baglivo, AIA, NCARB, Appointed National Peer to U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)

Cubellis, an international architecture, interior design and engineering firm, announce that Thomas Baglivo, AIA, NCARB, Principal, Architecture and Interior Design has been appointed by GSA’s Commissioner of Public Buildings to serve on its National Register of Peer Professionals for the Design Excellence Program. GSA commissions architects and engineers to design new buildings and to modernize existing facilities for civilian federal agencies... 

Great Cities Speakers Series Presents Doug Farr Discussing “Sustainable Urbanism”

Doug Farr, author of Sustainable Urbanism: Urban Design with Nature and chair, U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Neighborhood Development, will be featured at the 2008 Great Cities Speakers Series, 6-7 p.m., Monday, October 20, at the San Jose Repertory Theatre, 101 Paseo De San Antonio. A reception will follow at 7 p.m. to encourage further discussion. This presentation and reception are free to the public. However, reservations are strongly... 

LandAmerica Participates in U.S. Treasury Department’s $700 Billion Rescue Program

LandAmerica Financial Group, Inc. announced that it is competing for the opportunity to serve as a contractor with the U.S. Department of the Treasury in providing whole loan asset management services for portfolios of troubled mortgage-related assets. Whole loan asset management is one of three categories of specialized service providers the Treasury Department is seeking in order to facilitate the $700 billion rescue plan recently approved by the... 

Mortgage Loan Applicants Are Welcomed at Family First Federal Credit Union

Turmoil in Congress and on Wall Street has had minimal impact on Family First Federal Credit Union and its ability and willingness to make loans to its members. The issues that are facing the big banks are not the same at the credit union level due to the strong saving habits of its members. Consumers have been led to believe that there is no money available for lending and the tightening of the requirements have made it impossible to be approved,... 

Many Save on Utility Bills Indoors, but Not with Their Yard, Lawn, or Garden

While most (96 percent) of U.S. adults have personally adopted sustainable or energy efficient practices at home, comparatively fewer (58 percent) use energy or water saving techniques in their yard, lawn, or garden, according to a new national survey about sustainability. Conducted online by Harris Interactive® on behalf of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the results were presented at the ASLA Annual Meeting and EXPO in Philadelphia. Of... 

California Receives More Than a Half Billion Dollars to Rejuvenate Neighborhoods Hit Hardest by Foreclosures

California received $529 million from the federal Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Department to help renovate and rehabilitate foreclosed homes, eliminate blight and reinvigorate and stabilize the affected neighborhoods. Of those funds, the California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) will administer $145 million to local jurisdictions who do not get money directly from HUD. “This money will rejuvenate neighborhoods and communities...