Development

Alabama Community and Church Groups File Lawsuit to Protect Endangered Snails Against Quarry Development

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BELLE MINA, Ala. — A local congregation and environmentalists have launched a legal battle seeking to block a limestone quarry project in Limestone County, fearing it could spell disaster for endangered wildlife and disrupt the community. Filed in Limestone County Circuit Court late Monday, the lawsuit aims to protect three endangered snail species that it argues would be jeopardized by the quarry operations. The legal filing lists both Stoned LLC and Grayson Carter & Son, Inc. as defendants. This action follows a warning issued by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC), which had previously granted … Read more

UNRWA Ban by Israel Could Breach Various Global Legal Standards, Warns International Development Committee Chair

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Jerusalem, Israel — A recent decision by Israel to prohibit the operations of the United Nations agency that aids Palestinian refugees, UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), has raised significant international legal concerns. According to Sarah Champion, Chair of the UK’s International Development Committee, this move by the Israeli government could potentially breach multiple international laws. UNRWA has been a critical lifeline providing essential services such as education, health care, and social services to millions of Palestinian refugees for over seven decades. This institution operates hundreds of … Read more

Scottsdale Enacts Tweaked Housing Laws Amid State Pushback, Straining Local Control Over Residential Development

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Scottsdale, Ariz. — Scottsdale City Council passed new ordinances on Monday adhering to Arizona’s state housing mandates, albeit with modifications to curtail their impact. The state legislation, enacted earlier this year, mandates a portion of commercial and mixed-use buildings to incorporate housing and allows greater freedom for the creation of accessory dwelling units (ADUs) such as casitas on residential properties. These changes, designed as a response to the growing housing crisis in Arizona, aim to increase housing supply by facilitating the transformation of commercial spaces and the expansion of residential properties. However, implementation has been … Read more

Legal Battle Heats Up as Loop Capital Seeks Exit from $40M Diamond District Development Lawsuit

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Richmond, Va. – A finance giant has requested to be excused from a hefty $40 million lawsuit centered around the development of Richmond’s Diamond District, a sprawling urban redevelopment project once co-managed by the firm. Loop Capital, a Chicago-based investment bank, along with Thalhimer Realty Partners, finds itself entangled in legal disputes after supposedly departing from a former partnership with Republic Properties, the Washington D.C.-based company that initially spearheaded the development. The discord traces back to a reorganization of the project’s leadership. After a fallout with Republic Properties in May 2023, Loop Capital and Thalhimer … Read more