Watertown, NY, Mar 08, 2013 — The Watertown City Council has gotten a lot of pushback and even ridicule in the media recently for passing what's being referred to as a "roommate ban." Last month, in response to a neighbor dispute, the City Council removed language from the zoning code that allowed the renting out of rooms in single-family homes. But city planning officials say the regulatory change is completely unenforceable.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Jan 03, 2013 — Nearly all of Fort Drum's soldiers are at the post right now, not on deployments - and that's a first for the region since the installation's expansion in 2001. That has tightened the region's housing market, for soldiers, who have fewer choices, and for civilians, who don't receive housing assistance like soldiers do and are looking for affordable housing.  Go to full article

Binghamton, NY, Oct 05, 2012 — A recent study by the consulting firm McKinsey and Company concluded that the U.S. could, by the end of this decade, eliminate about $1.2 trillion in wasted energy every year.

But as the Innovation Trail's Matt Richmond reports, New York's attempts to get started on that goal, and support green jobs in the process, have shown that it won't be easy.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Aug 13, 2012 — New York officials say they're providing almost $16 million to 67 organizations around the state to help fight homelessness and provide housing.

Nearly $883,000 will go to groups in the North Country, including the Jefferson County Department of Social Services, ETC Housing Corporation in Clinton County, Massena Independent Living Center, and the Snow Belt Housing Company in Lewis County. Many of the grants are to renew funding for existing programs.  Go to full article

Washington, DC, Jan 25, 2012 — New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will lead a new mortgage crisis investigation unit, announced by President Obama in his state of the union last night.

The special unit will investigate wrongdoing by banks related to real estate lending, and how that contributed to the financial collapse and the mortgage crisis.  Go to full article

Tupper Lake, NY, Nov 21, 2011 — On Friday, the Adirondack Park Agency commission delved deep into the business plan for the proposed Adirondack Club and Resort. The APA will vote in January on whether to approve the massive project, which supporters hope will revitalize the economy in Tupper Lake. The development has been on the drawing table for years, with more than seven hundred condos and mansions, along with a marina, equestrian center and modern ski hill.

One part of the Park Agency's review involves determining whether the project will have negative economic impacts on the community. As Brian Mann reports, that effort is complicated by the fact that there are still a lot of unanswered questions about how the resort will be financed and built.  Go to full article

Watertown, NY, Jun 22, 2011 — The buildup of Fort Drum near Watertown has made Jefferson County one of the fastest growing places in Upstate New York. But it's also created a shortage of rental houses for military families and for civilians.

The problem hasn't come to a head yet because soldiers are constantly rotating in and out of Iraq and Afghanistan. But as the U.S. draws down troop presence in the Middle East, the military population around Fort Drum is expected to swell.

Officials have been leading a public-private effort to build more housing for years. Joanna Richards reports now is crunch time.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Jun 17, 2011 — Legislators in Albany passed a bill yesterday that would open more private land in the Adirondacks to affordable housing. Governor Cuomo is expected to sign the measure.

The bill was first drafted by the Adirondack Park Agency a couple of years ago and then sponsored by state Senator Betty Little; Brian Mann spoke to Nora Flaherty about it.  Go to full article

Rensselaer, NY, Jun 15, 2011 — There's just four full days left in the legislative session, and still no agreement on a property tax cap or the renewal of New York City's rent laws, two issues that state lawmakers have tied together. The rent laws expire at the end of the day Wednesday, and time is running out. Karen DeWitt reports.  Go to full article

Fort Drum, NY, Jun 07, 2011 — Thousands of soldiers will be back at Fort Drum over the next few months as they rotate out of Afghanistan.

The homecoming is welcome news for those soldiers and their families, but U.S. Congressman Bill Owens said any growth in the area could exacerbate area housing. Nora Flaherty reports.  Go to full article