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Week of June 9, 2008
along with other important tax measures to boost the faltering housing market and economy, NAHB First Vice President Joe Robson testified before the House Small Business Committee on June 5. [more]
AD&C credit has tightened since last year, [more]
Policies that state and local governments can pursue [more]
Info to prepare you for the EPA's new lead paint rule [more]
The EPA's newly proposed Construction General Permit [more]
News from the Building for Boomers & Beyond Symposium: [more]
Now it's Murphy facing challenge
By Larry King , Inquirer Staff Writer
In 2006, Patrick Murphy was the wet-eared political greenhorn running earnestly for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. While many respected the young lawyer's military service in Iraq, few thought Murphy could oust a well-known freshman Republican whose party long had dominated Pennsylvania's Eighth Congressional District.Two years after Murphy's paper-thin upset of Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick, the tables have turned.Murphy, 34, now finds himself the favored freshman incumbent under attack by a political novice also linked, indelibly, to the Iraq war.Tom Manion, 54, a Marine-turned-pharmaceutical-executive, was sadly dragged into the limelight last year when his son, Marine First Lt. Travis Manion, was killed in action in Iraq. Announcing his candidacy in January, Manion said his son had "given me a wake-up call that my service to this country is not over."
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On the House: A time to sweat the small stuff
By Al Heavens , Inquirer Real Estate Columnist
A reader recently asked where he could find someone to repair a porch column. He said he had contacted several contractors, who didn't return his calls. I suggested finding a carpenter to do the work. I recalled that the hardware store in his neighborhood posted a list of carpenters, masons, painters and others on a bulletin board in the paint department, and that it might be a good place to start. In boom times, being unable to get a contractor to return your call is not unusual, especially if the job you want done is small. In times like these, a small job is better than none, so I'm surprised by the lack of response to this reader's calls. I'm getting mixed messages about the remodeling industry these days. The National Kitchen & Bath Association, in an e-mail I received a few minutes before I started writing this column, was projecting that $118 billion would be spent on kitchen and bath remodeling in 2008. Though the nation's remodelers see business improving, National Association of Home Builders chief economist David Seiders said the market "continues to show weakness, following the downturn in the overall housing market."
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Pa. House votes to limit use of independent contractors
By Mark Scolforo,The Associated Press
Employers in the construction industry who cut costs by misclassifying workers as independent contractors would face criminal penalties under a bill approved Monday by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.The Construction Industry Independent Contractor Act passed 122-76 despite opposition from lawmakers who argued that its penalties were too severe and that it would hurt the state's economy."I can't believe that we want to create an environment where we make Pennsylvania business people who try to legitimately follow the rules that aren't real clear ... criminals," said Rep. Scott Boyd, R-Lancaster.Supporters said the practice is unfair to competitors, deprives the state unemployment and worker's compensation funds of income and shortchanges workers in pay and benefits.
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Age-restricted development would complement Pine Run
By Annie Tasker, The Intelligencer
Plans are coming along for a 50-unit, age-restricted development at the corner of Old Iron Hill and Ferry roads that would serve as a sister campus to the Pine Run retirement community.The development would be a higher-luxury option for people who want to live in Pine Run, the Doylestown Hospital-owned continuing care community, but are looking for more spacious accommodations, said developer William Messick. Homes would be grouped into architecturally distinct clusters, with themes including “equestrian” and “orchard,” according to land development plans presented Monday. There are 94 parking spaced planned, including street parking for 16 cars — 33 units would include two parking spaces and 12 would have one space. Supervisors discussed setting land aside for additional parking if the age-restricted use changes in the future and more parking becomes necessary. The development would be set back 100 feet from Ferry Road.
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Growth plan OK'd
By Theresa Hegel, The Intelligencer
Bedminster has a new vision for its future.Supervisors on Wednesday night approved a revised comprehensive plan that focused on “smart growth” and “sustainability.”Its last plan was created about 12 years ago, and members of the township's planning commission have been crafting revisions for the past year and a half.“It's not a very sexy subject, but it's very important,” said Eric Schaffhausen, supervisor chairman.The plan allows for residential growth on a crescent of land surrounding Dublin. Population in the township is projected to nearly double by 2020 — to about 10,480 people — and the allotted zoning provides space for such growth.However, Schaffhausen noted that it's the supervisors' intention to keep the township an “agricultural culture.”That philosophy carries down to what the township does with its open space, he said.
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