Jersey City’s Harborside gets new investment (top-left); British Columbia uses a mix of tools to advance TOD (top-right); Japan’s Osaka Station (bottom-left); Colorado Springs opposes statewide zoning bill (bottom-right)
Article of the Week
JAPAN—What’s So Fancy About “The World’s Most Advanced Train Station”?
Craig Peters, Vigour Times, Apr 8 2023
The “Umekita underground exit,” a new wing of Osaka Station in Japan, has opened. The station features innovative floor-to-ceiling digital panels to protect passengers from falling onto the tracks, and incorporates facial recognition scanners for ticketless entry and personalized guidance for users through a smartphone app. These advancements aim to increase the station’s ridership, improve safety, and provide a more efficient transit experience for passengers.
NJ TOD News
JERSEY CITY—Investment Group Lands $375M to Acquire Harborside Office Complex in Jersey City, New Jersey
Sebastian Morris, New York YIMBY, Apr 13 2023
601W Companies secured $375 million to finance the acquisition and renovation of the three-building Harborside office complex in Jersey City. The investment group plans to attract tenants by enhancing amenities and adding 90,000 sq. ft. of retail space. Harborside’s prime location, with its proximity to mass transit and the NYC skyline, exemplifies transit-oriented development and foster economic growth in the area.
BOUND BROOK—Bound Brook Luxury Rentals Begin Welcoming Tenants
Jessica Perry, NJBIZ, Apr 11 2023
Accurate has opened Citizen Bound Brook, a 105-unit luxury rental community near the NJ TRANSIT Bound Brook station. The development features a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments and 5,000 sq. ft. of street-level retail space. The developers aim to attract residents seeking walkable access to shops, restaurants, and public transportation.
Transit and Equity News
CALIFORNIA—EAH Housing Breaks Ground on Affordable Senior Living Community
Diana Firtea, Multi-Housing News, Apr 13 2023
EAH Housing has begun construction on Mission Paradise, a transit-oriented, 76-unit affordable senior housing community in Hayward, California. The project will cater to low-income seniors, offering units designated for those with severe mental illnesses and formerly homeless individuals or families. Located a half mile from the South Hayward BART station and a block from the AC Transit Line 99 bus stop, Mission Paradise offers convenient access to downtown Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose, as well as nearby retail centers and green spaces.
COLORADO—City Council Gives Thumbs Down to Statewide Zoning Bill
Pam Zubeck, Colorado Springs Indy, Apr 11 2023
Colorado Springs City Council unanimously opposed Senate Bill 23-213, which would transfer zoning decisions for residential land use from local governments to the state to address affordable housing. The bill proposes additional density and expanded housing options in transit-oriented development areas. Critics argue the bill undermines local control and home rule authority, while supporters claim it will help create diverse housing options and promote sustainable, walkable communities.
Regional and National TOD News
TEXAS—Apartment Development Approved for Downtown Plano
Matilda Preisendorf, Local Profile, Apr 13 2023
The Plano City Council approved a zoning change to allow Trinsic Residential to develop 307 multifamily units on a 5.2-acre site near CityLine/Bush Dallas Area Rapid Transit Station and the upcoming 12th Street Silver Line Station. The project will replace a lumber yard, contractor storage, and a warehouse currently occupying the site. The complex will feature a parking structure, a central garden, courtyard, pool, and mandatory active open spaces like dog parks or playgrounds.
CONNECTICUT—Fairfield Seeks Brownfield Cleanup Funds for Proposed Housing Site
Alfred Branch, Patch, Apr 12 2023
Fairfield officials are seeking state funds to clean up a brownfield site near the Fairfield Metro Center Train Station to allow for the development of a mixed-use apartment and co-working space complex. The 4.9-acre site at 81 Black Rock Turnpike, once home to the Bullard Machine Tool Company, contains contaminated soil. Post Road Realty plans to develop the site into a transit-oriented project with 240 residential units, retail, co-working, and public amenity spaces.
International TOD News
INDIA—Lessons From Bogotá: How Bengaluru Can Fix Its Traffic Problem
Staff Writer, Deccan Herald, Apr 14 2023
Felipe A Ramirez Buitrago, a globally renowned expert in urban mobility, discusses the importance of integrating different modes of transport and expanding public transport options in Bengaluru, India. Buitrago suggests that Bengaluru should double its bus fleet to 15,000-16,000 buses and implement a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system to improve efficiency and reduce traffic. He also highlights the need for better first- and last-mile connectivity through improved walking and cycling infrastructure.
CANADA—Mixed-Use Menu: Housing, Work, Shops – and Social Objectives
Peter Miltham, Western Investor, Apr 11 2023
Good planning as well as public-private partnerships, a careful mix of uses, and reduced parking and height requirements have all contributed to the continuing success in bringing transit-oriented development projects into being in southwest British Columbia. The work of PCI Group, in partnership with TransLink, exemplifies this trend.