ALAMEDA, CA- The City of Alameda had originally allotted a $2.9 million budget for the project, but the full job will cost double this amount. The work will be completed in three phases.

BOSTON-The controversial Community Preservation Act, which would have put a 2% surcharge on property taxes here, was defeated by 10,000 votes. The funds would have been used to develop affordable housing and preserve historic and green space in the city.

HOUSTON-Retail isn't all gloom and doom, says Bill Forrest, president of Revac, a Houston market analyst. The overall retail vacancy is 6.19% with 12 of 17 submarkets posting in the black, he says countering a more dismal report.

FEDERAL WAY, WA-The City Council here is holding a public hearing this evening on a proposal to give developers a 10-year property tax break on the residential portion of Downtown development projects.