A New and Comprehensive Guide to Rhode Island Land Use Laws
A Practical Guide to Land Use Law in Rhode Island was just published this summer by Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education, Inc. I had the privilege, and the pleasure, of editing…
Mansions and Property Rights*
Our Rhode Island Supreme Court recently issued an important decision for property rights, even though property rights were never mentioned in the decision. The Court acted in a dispute between…
Land Use Tax Policy – How Unfair is Fair?
“This is a case of fundamental unfairness masquerading as rational tax policy” “This is a case which plumbs the depths of how unfair a government can be to taxpayers and…
A Real Estate Developer’s Worst Nightmare Gets Even Worse
To all those developers rushing off to federal court to sue because state regulations preventing development have “taken” your property without just compensation—NOT SO FAST! And to all those…
Landlords, Party Houses and the Scarlet Notice
If you are a landlord, the First Circuit Court of Appeals has made it clear you may be liable for the overly exuberant merriment of your tenants if you own…
Developers and Property Owners Benefit From Permit Extensions
Many real estate developers and property owners got a significant break from the General Assembly late last year, when legislation passed to extend the expiration date of a broad…
Is “Right to Dry” Wrong to Try?
With near double digit national unemployment, the collapse of the housing market throughout the country, and soaring state deficits, you might think that State government would be too busy…
Minimum Housing Standards – For Condominiums?
Prospective purchasers and owners of investment rental property, including condominium developers renting units they can’t sell, may not often think of minimum housing standards, but perhaps they should. Rhode…