Blogs

Construction

Economics and Sustainability Meet – Walmart’s Progress Update

Improving sustainability does not mean just increasing costs. Indeed, the best thinkers in the sustainability dialogue understand and embrace the need to include economics and profitability into the equation. This is particularly true in the current economic environment.

May 17, 2010

Construction

Bean Kinney Receives a Green “Best Business” Award

We were very pleased to be recognized Thursday by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce at their 24th annual Best Business Awards, the ABBIES. Bean Kinney received a Green Business Award for our efforts in green building projects, lecturing and writing, and development of our sustainability policy. As quoted from the event by our friends at…

May 14, 2010

Construction

To Arbitrate or Not To Arbitrate

I regularly face the question of whether arbitration is “good or bad”, “better than court”, or best for a particular client. I always give that most lawyerly of all answers: It depends. Arbitration is presented as a means of streamlining disputes, cutting down expenses, and providing the parties with a more informed decision maker to…

May 10, 2010

Construction

Subordination, Non-disturbance and Attornment Agreements

Given the current commercial real estate market and the difficulties faced by many lenders, it is no surprise that many tenants are more concerned than ever about their landlord’s financing. In particular, even if the property is mostly leased and producing a steady income stream, tenants are concerned that highly leveraged landlords will have difficulty…

May 7, 2010

Construction

Buildings and Uses: Section 15.2-2282’s uniformity requirement in Schefer v. City Council of the City of Falls Church

Back to another of the cases highlighted in Case Watch: Upcoming Virginia Supreme Court Opinions. In Schefer v. City County of the City of Falls Church, the Virginia Supreme Court was confronted with a 2006 amendment to a Falls Church ordinance that specified different building height requirements for one-family dwellings in the same zoning district.

May 5, 2010

Construction

Virginia and MWAA Issuing Transportation Bonds

This week we have announcement of two significant bond offerings to cover transportation funding. According to ENR, Governor Bob McDonnell announced last Friday that Virginia will sell $500 million in bonds for transportation projects in the Commonwealth. This will be the first in a wave of bond offerings contemplated by Virginia which will total $2.2…

May 3, 2010

Construction

Lead Paint Regulations Changing: Owner Exception Going Away, Commercial Structures Coming Soon??

The EPA’s new lead regulations officially went into effect on April 22. As expected, EPA has promptly issued notice that it intends to change the regulations to remove the “opt out” provision. The opt-out created an exemption from the regulations where a home owner certified that no child under 6 or pregnant woman occupied the…

April 30, 2010

Construction

No Funding Available Yet for Virginia’s Chinese Drywall Remediation Fund

Back on April 14th I blogged about the creation and anticipated operation of the Virginia Defective Drywall Correction and Restoration Assistance Fund (the “DDCRAF”) via two new provisions to the Code of Virginia patroned by Delegate Oder this session. If you read that posting you’ll recall that the purpose of the DDCRAF is to create…

April 28, 2010

Construction

Public Service, Professionalism & Social Media

Public service is a core value in my life. Part of the fun of social media is that it gives the chance to show the wizard behind the curtain a bit and exhibit the personality and values that drive you. This is a little oblique to construction law, but ultimately these topics intertwine for me…

April 26, 2010

Construction

Deed in Lieu Transactions: Taxes and Bankruptcy

In the first part of this posting, we reviewed the deed in lieu process, and how it can be a viable alternative for both the lender and the borrower in situations of serious default where modifications or workouts are impossible. In this second part, we will discuss briefly some important tax and bankruptcy considerations.

April 23, 2010