Monthly Archives: August 2015

A casino development hits a snag, but for once it’s not Revel p2

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Land Use & Zoning on Aug 28, 2015.

We are talking about Philadelphia’s second casino and the problems that developer Stadium Casino L.L.C. have run into since November. It was in mid-November that the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board chose Live! Hotel and Casino above a handful of competitors for the city’s second and last casino license.

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Roadblocks from planning division not unheard of

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Aug 28, 2015.

As a developer, you may have a great idea for a project in Philadelphia. Maybe you are envisioning a new condominium or a great mixed-use space. However, as any developer knows, going from a permit to actual occupancy involves a lot of work. Of the governmental players you will need to work with, the Development Planning Division of the Philadelphia City Planning Commission is a department you will no doubt become very familiar with as you navigate the waters of making your vision a reality. 

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A casino development hits a snag, but for once it’s not Revel

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Land Use & Zoning on Aug 26, 2015.

There may be no project moving more slowly than the development of the Philadelphia’s second casino. In August 2013, we posted about the six proposals that developers submitted to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, but the process had been underway for some time. After much deliberation, the board made its decision in November 2014, naming Live! Hotel & Casino the winner.

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Could a newly constructed home contain asbestos?

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Construction on Aug 21, 2015.

Part of the reason why many people hire the contractors they do is because they believe that the individual will complete the construction project at hand in accordance with the law. This means abiding by all state and federal construction and zoning laws as well as building safety codes.

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The Whole Foods Effect may be a myth, says RealtyTrac

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Aug 16, 2015.

Last December and January, we posted about artist James Dupree’s argument with the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority over plans to pull down his studio to make way for a grocery store. The neighborhood, Mantua, did not have a grocery store, and everyone agreed that a successful revitalization of the area called for a grocery store within walking distance of most residents.

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The Whole Foods Effect may be a myth, says RealtyTrac p2

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Development on Aug 14, 2015.

We are still talking about home values in neighborhoods with Trader Joe’s markets and Whole Foods markets. The online real estate research company RealtyTrac recently reported that while Whole Foods neighborhoods did see an overall 34 percent increase in value, Trader Joe’s neighborhoods fared better with an overall increase of 40 percent. The researchers measured the increase from the date of purchase to the date of the study.

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The Fair Housing Act in the US and Pennsylvania p2

On behalf of Kaplin Stewart Meloff Reiter & Stein, P.C. posted in Real Estate Law on Aug 7, 2015.

We are wrapping up our discussion of both federal and state fair housing laws. The Fair Housing Act bars discrimination in all housing-related transactions, including renting, leasing and lending. In our last couple of posts, we have reviewed who is protected by the Act as well as what discrimination in housing looks like.

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