VIRGINIA LAW PORTAL

• Code of Virginia
• Virginia Administrative Code
• Constitution of Virginia
• Charters
• Authorities
• Compacts
• Uncodified Acts
• RIS Users (account required)

SEARCHABLE DATABASES

• Bills & Resolutions
  session legislation
• Bill Summaries
  session summaries
• Reports to the General Assembly
  House and Senate documents
• Legislative Liaisons
  State agency contacts

ACROSS SESSIONS

• Subject Index: Since 1995
• Bills & Resolutions: Since 1994
• Summaries: Since 1994

Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.

1995 SESSION

• history | hilite | pdf | print version

LD5949346
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 659 Offered January 23, 1995 Requesting the Board of the Department of Housing and Community Development to study the development of an urban revitalization code. ---------- Patron--McClure ---------- Referred to Committee on Rules ----------

WHEREAS, although the Uniform Statewide Building Code has been amended in recent years to provide additional flexibility in connection with the renovation of some older structures, there is doubt and some confusion about the effectiveness of the changes and the actual application of rules relating to urban revitalization projects; and

WHEREAS, Realtors and homebuilders have cited building regulations as an obstacle to increased private investment in blighted areas of inner cities; and

WHEREAS, additional steps may be required to provide a means for better using existing, sometimes abandoned, structures, particularly in the inner cities, as a source of affordable housing, and

WHEREAS, a number of groups, including local government officials, builders, and developers with an interest in promoting increased urban revitalization activities have joined in calling for increased flexibility in the uniform code through the development of rehabilitation and renovation standards that would not hinder private efforts to reuse existing structures; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Board of the Department of Housing and Community Development be requested to study the creation of an urban revitalization code to provide greater flexibility to accommodate cost-effective renovations that result in affordable housing without compromising essential health and safety features.

The Department shall complete its work in time to submit its findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1996 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents.