Christiana Foglio-Palmer Presents Affordable Housing as a Key for Distressed Properties

Dec. 7, 2011 - PRLog -- Christiana Foglio-Palmer, founder/owner and chief executive officer of Community Investment Strategies (CIS), Inc., participated in an in-depth panel discussion on affordable housing issues at the 96th Annual New Jersey State League of Municipalities conference held at the Convention Center in Atlantic City.

Foglio-Palmer joined industry leaders including Department of Community Affairs Commissioner Lori Grifa; Edward J. Buzak, league associate; Shirley Bishop, consultant/planner; and Elizabeth C. McKenzie, professional planner. The panelists provided an update on the on-going legal challenge over the "third round regulations" and explored the post-COAH landscape for municipalities. Mayor of Bridgewater Patricia Flannery resided over the panel.

"Affordable housing is an effective economic development tool for addressing critical issues and existing conditions," explained Foglio-Palmer. "Now is the best time to look at who needs housing within specific communities and what the municipality can gain by its development."

Foglio-Palmer pointed to two key revitalization projects which exemplify CIS' success in turning around blighted communities. CIS partnered with municipalities to redevelop both Heritage Village at Lawrence in Lawrenceville, and Whitney Crescent in Glassboro into vibrant, new affordable rental projects.

The three-day League conference, "Creating a Community with a Common Vision," was the largest gathering of public officials in the United States. More than 100 educational and informational sessions covered a wide range of topics. The conference also featured more than 1,000 commercial and governmental agencies, hosting exhibits that showcased the latest developments in municipal goods and services.

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About Community Investment Strategies, Inc.: Community Investment Strategies (CIS), Inc., is a fully integrated real estate organization specializing in multi-family housing, including 55+, senior housing and mixed-use redevelopments, as well as market-rate and affordable housing. The for-profit woman owned company's in-house finance, development, construction and management services are an extension of CIS' commitment to build value-added communities for area residents, children, municipalities and local businesses by repositioning unproductive properties and land parcels.