Boca Raton: Recusal order affirmed
‘Clear bias’ against beach home puts key figures off case A year after verbally ordering Boca Raton to reconsider its 2019 denial of a permit to build a four-story home on the beach, a federal judge has put his decision in writing. “It is hereby declared” that plaintiff Natural Lands LLC “has the right to […]
‘This is our history’: Fight to preserve historic Black cemetery heats up in Pompano Beach
Westview Community Cemetery is home to the final resting places of some of Broward County’s most influential and pioneering African American families. A fight to preserve an important piece of Black history is heating up in Pompano Beach. NBC6’s Lorena Inclan reports A fight to preserve an important piece of Black history is heating up […]
New state law could allow developers to demolish historic buildings
A newly enacted state law will make it easier for developers to demolish some historic structures in coastal areas, a Fort Lauderdale land use attorney told the Business Journal. Keith Poliakoff, co-founder of Government Law Group, said the bill will enable developers to demolish old buildings that weren’t registered with the National Register of Historic […]
Top Real Estate Issues Tackled By Fla. Lawmakers In 2024
Real estate matters remained a high priority for the Florida Legislature during its 2024 session, which wrapped up Friday with lawmakers making revisions to a landmark housing bill, imposing statewide vacation rental regulations, and taking further steps to shore up condominiums and community associations. Here’s a look at some of the most notable changes lawmakers […]
Real Estate Transactions: Keith Poliakoff, Government Law Group
Check out the professionals who are finalists in the Real Estate Transactions category as part of the Florida Legal Awards. Keith Poliakoff, with Government Law Group, is a finalist for the Daily Business Review’s 2024 Real Estate Transactions award. What are some of your most significant achievements of the past year? Some of my most […]
Debt-Stricken Homeowners Fight Back After High Court Ruling
Alan DiPietro merely wanted more land for his alpacas. It was 2014, and the Massachusetts engineer had been raising a herd of the camelid mammals for half a dozen years and selling their fleece. Looking for more space for his alpacas to roam, he bought 34 acres in the contiguous towns of Bolton and Stow […]
Florida legislature passes bill allowing demo of aging coastal buildings
Though some structures, including those on National Register, are protected, legislation opens the door to new waterfront construction Florida lawmakers approved a controversial bill that would make it easier to demolish some coastal buildings, many of which are aging, and redevelop the sites. The proposed legislation pitted property owners and developers against preservationists who decried […]
Florida Lawmakers Update Live Local Act But Leave 1-Mile Radius Intact
Glitch bill strengthens the law, while adding some protections for single-family neighborhoods Florida lawmakers have passed a bill updating last year’s Live Local Act, offering some concessions to single-family neighborhoods while ultimately expanding the law’s purview even further. The original Live Local Act was designed to increase workforce housing development, and its main provision allowed developers to bypass […]
Revisions Show Fla.’s Dedication To Affordable Housing Law
With the approval of significant revisions to a landmark affordable housing law they passed in 2023, Florida state lawmakers have reinforced their commitment to incentivizing an increase in much-needed housing supply, real estate attorneys and developers said. The revised version of the Live Local Act passed 112-1 in the House on Wednesday following an earlier […]
Florida residents are in court over a cemetery’s future
Every morning, Elijah Wooten walks through the Westview Community Cemetery. On this particular morning, he’s wearing a loose polo shirt, slacks and a Korean War Veteran cap pulled down over his gray hair. The hair spills out from underneath the hat and runs down as sideburns. He walks across the unkempt field of the cemetery, […]
Live Local Act Changes ‘Favorable To Developers’ Approved, But Battles Likely To Rage On
The Florida Legislature passed broad changes to its year-old affordable housing law, closing what many developers and land use attorneys saw as loopholes that allowed local governments to block projects while adding more rules that municipalities could potentially leverage to hold back projects. The Florida House of Representatives passed the changes by a 112-1 vote […]
“Beneficial to developers”: Florida Legislature approves tweaks to Live Local Act
Amendments loosen floor area ratio restrictions for projects with affordable rentals Florida lawmakers approved changes to the Live Local Act that are expected to benefit developers planning affordable housing projects. The state House on Wednesday passed a slew of tweaks with a 112-1 vote, three weeks after the Senate first approved the changes. The legislation won’t […]
Newly amended Live Local Act bill heads to state Senate for a vote
Among the proposed amendments are tax abatements for landlords and parking breaks for projects near train stations. Tax abatements for landlords and parking breaks for projects near train stations are among the provisions of an amended Live Local Act bill headed to the Florida Senate for a vote. The SB 328 bill was proposed by […]
Florida’s Live Local Act Has People Picking Sides
Developers love the affordable housing law — the first of its kind in the nation — for the same reasons that local officials are starting to loathe it. Even its critics think Florida’s Live Local Act is working. In fact, they think it’s working too well. Local politicians are concerned that the new state law […]
Tall Tower Tussles
Florida’s new law promotes affordable housing. Local leaders hate it. South Florida’s got an affordable housing shortage. And why wouldn’t it? An unprecedented migration of wealth and business has flowed into the state, sending demand for homes and rentals soaring — as well as prices. Developers are exuberant, building ever more lavish and pricey units […]
A Texas Win In Takings Dispute ‘Could Have A Chilling Effect’
While U.S. Supreme Court justices may very well overturn a lower court ruling in a Texas takings dispute, a decision in favor of the state could open the floodgates for states across the country to avoid making payments in alleged takings disputes, experts say. Justices earlier this week heard oral arguments in Devillier v. Texas, […]
Developers Clamor to Build Along South Florida’s Passenger Rail Lines
‘We’re still seeing a lot of demand to be close to a Brightline station.’ South Florida’s intercity passenger train service was barely two years old when the COVID-19 pandemic suspended operations for 20 months. That pause in Brightline service hasn’t derailed developers determined to build projects near train stations. “We’ve sold several sites that are […]
Proposed Live Local Act amendments would remove industrial, restrict height bonuses
The Live Local Act has been hailed by some developers and economists as a means of encouraging the development of more affordable housing. A Miami-Dade state senator has proposed a series of amendments, some of which will limit or restrict developers’ ability to utilize the zoning benefits of the Live Local Act. State Senator Alexis […]
Workforce housing units coming to Delray Beach
Flo will have 116 units with 23 designated to workforce housing A new multi-family development is in the works in Delray Beach that will provide workforce housing units. It’s called the Flo and will have a total of 116 units with 23 designated to workforce housing. DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — A new multi-family development is […]
What They’re Saying About South Florida Real Estate
Law360 (December 21, 2023, 5:58 PM EST) — As the year closes, Law360 Real Estate Authority checked in with attorneys, developers, brokers and other professionals for their views on what 2023 meant for the South Florida market and what they are anticipating for 2024. The region was not spared economic headwinds that swept the nation, […]