Monthly Archives: March 2012

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, foreclosure filings in the Philadelphia metropolitan area rose nearly 50 percent from last February. The numbers indicated that one in 828 homes had foreclosure filings, a 47.2 increase from last February. Mortgage defaults reportedly increased 35 percent over the same time period. The numbers are not surprising, as half of the largest metro areas in the United States reported increases in foreclosure activity over the last year.

An article published on Huffington Post earlier this month discussed a number of tips for debtors regarding tricks and secrets kept by creditors and debt collectors. These include, for example: meaningless threats and bogus deadlines; protection of debtors from being called at work; privacy regarding the debtor’s debt; the fact that some debts cannot be collected because they are too old, and so on.

Our Philadelphia readers have likely heard by now about the recent settlement agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and state governments over alleged foreclosure abuse. The agreement, which was reached last month, is still in the process of receiving approval. If it is approved, certain homeowners may be able to receive compensation, reduction in their principal, or refinancing of their loans.

Federal officials from the Environmental Protection Agency are currently conducting an investigation of claims that water supplies near the Marcellus Shale have been contaminated. The Marcellus Shale, as our readers know, has been cause for hope in terms of economic growth, but it has become a source of environmental concern as drilling continues.

Last week, City Council President Darrell Clarke proposed the creation of a Neighborhood Improvement District for the Temple University neighborhood in North Philadelphia. The bill was apparently introduced based on longtime complaints that developers have been short-dumping construction debris on the streets and in vacant lots, as well as that students routinely party and make loud noise late into the night.

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia City Planning Commission voted to approve a new master plan for development of the Delaware Riverfront, which will include the construction of more low-rise buildings, a waterfront trail, improved public access to the river, parks ever half-mile and extension of the street grid to the waterfront.

We have previous written about a bill-now law-that imposes a local impact fee on natural gas drillers across Pennsylvania. The law has caused a lot of controversy over its zoning provision, which effectively stripped the ability of local governments to control zoning of drilling. The law is, as we’ve noted, a response to the growing natural gas industry in Pennsylvania, which many see as in need of revitalization.

Development projects can sometimes run into problems, and on any number of levels, including site plan approvals, special use permits, and environmental and zoning obstacles, as well as contract complications. These can be frustrating issues, and ones that can slow down a project or bring it to a screeching halt.

Our Philadelphia readers may be aware of the new hockey arena to be built in Allentown. The new arena will reportedly be a multi-purpose complex, and is estimated that it will cost $160 million. The complex is set to open next year.

A Chester County Muslim congregation seeking to build a retirement community for aging members of its community recently received a blow to its efforts when a Chester County Court judge ruled against it in an ongoing zoning dispute with the East Fallowfield Township Board of Supervisors.