Fix the past with housing, not highways (right); Camden’s strategic innovation center; Bipartisan housing act; Zoning for greater density; Curbing urban sprawl (left top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
NEW YORK—For Highway Teardowns to Correct the Wrongs of the Past, Focus on Housing
Aditya Srinivasan, Streetsblog USA| July 21, 2025
As Syracuse prepares to demolish I-81 and rebuild its public housing, local and state agencies face pressure to avoid repeating urban renewal’s historic harms. NYSDOT and the Syracuse Housing Authority must coordinate closely and communicate clearly with residents to ensure redevelopment supports housing stability, equitable land use, and improved transit access.
NJ TOD News
NEW BRUNSWICK—Construction Begins on Hildebrand Commons, an Affordable Senior Housing Project in New Brunswick
Bill Hartnett, Jersey Digs | July 25, 2025
Pennrose and the New Brunswick Housing and Redevelopment Authority broke ground on the Hildebrand Commons, a six-story, 66-unit affordable housing development for seniors. The development will serve households earning 20 to 60 percent of the area median income, with five units for formerly homeless residents. It fills a long-vacant lot at 75 Neilson Street, once home to the Hoffman Pavilion public housing complex.
DUNELLEN—The Nell: A Boon to Dunellen
Staff, New Jersey Business Magazine | July 22, 2025
Downtown Dunellen, once in decline, is reviving thanks to redevelopment projects like The Nell. The 19-acre project added 252 apartments, 130 townhouses, and 9,300 square feet of commercial space on former industrial land, strengthening the walkable core near the train station.
CAMDEN—NJ Unveils Medtech Innovation Center Plans in South Jersey
Matthew Fazelpoor, NJBIZ | July 22, 2025
State officials unveiled plans for New Jersey’s 12th strategic innovation center, focused on medical technology, with sites in Camden and Mullica Hill. The 8,500-square-foot Camden facility will sit downtown near light rail, supporting scientific collaboration and expanding South Jersey’s med-tech ecosystem.
PLAINFIELD—Landmark Eyes Debut of New Luxury Rental Projects in Union, Plainfield
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | July 21, 2025
Landmark is finalizing two new apartment buildings in Union County: an 85-unit addition to Centurion Union Center and the 100-unit Centurion Sleepy Hollow in Plainfield. Located near Netherwood Station, the Sleepy Hollow site offers rail access. Both mixed-use developments replace former strip malls, boosting density and walkability.
PATERSON—Paterson Council Endorses 49-Unit Apartment Project on Market Street
Gabriella Dragone, TAPinto Paterson | July 20, 2025
The Paterson City Council approved Quality Realty Corp’s Treatment Works Approval application, advancing plans to convert the seven-story building at 152 Market Street into 49 apartments. An assessment confirmed the existing sewer system can handle increased wastewater flow, removing a key hurdle for future redevelopment downtown.
Transit and Equity News
CONNECTICUT—Stamford Zoning Board Gives No Objections to Plans to Demolish St. John’s Towers, Build Housing
Robert Marchant, Stamford Advocate | July 24, 2025
The Stamford Zoning Board raised no objections to plans for a proposed 12-story, mixed-use affordable housing development downtown. This project will replace two half-occupied 1970s-era towers, each with 120 units, with 305 homes. Developers committed to relocating current tenants to nearby affordable housing and guaranteeing their return after construction.
Schatz, Banks Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Build More Affordable Housing, Address America’s Growing Housing Crisis
Press Release, Office of Senator Brian Schatz | July 22, 2025
Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced the Build More Housing Near Transit Act, a bipartisan bill to address the housing crisis by linking federal transit funding to local zoning reforms. The bill would support transit projects in communities that eliminate parking minimums or adopt higher-density zoning, aiming to reduce barriers to housing near transit and boost ridership.
NEW YORK—New N.Y.C Housing Proposal Sets Up City Council for Battle Over Power
Mihir Zaveri, The New York Times | July 21, 2025
The Charter Revision Commission, a panel assembled by Mayor Eric Adams, voted to place five housing-related proposals on the November ballot, aiming to streamline the City’s development approval process. The measures—such as fast-tracking projects and creating an appeals board—directly challenge the City Council’s authority. Labor groups and Council members have pushed back, intensifying debate in an election where affordable housing remains a top issue.
MASSACHUSETTS—WinnCompanies Breaks Ground on First Phase of McCormack Redevelopment a Public Housing Complex in South Boston
Staff, Yield Pro| July 18, 2025
WinnCompanies broke ground on the $70 million first phase of redeveloping South Boston’s Mary Ellen McCormack public housing complex. The project will replace 1,016 Depression-era subsidized units with 3,300 mixed-income apartments and 33,000 sq. ft. of commercial space for small businesses. Plans include redesigned streets, two-way protected bike lanes, and a right-to-return policy for existing residents.
Regional and National TOD News
CONNECTICUT—Transit-Oriented Development Proposed for Property in Wilton
Peter Katz, Westfair Business Journal | July 24, 2025
A developer has proposed a 20-unit mixed-use apartment building near Wilton Station and is seeking zoning waivers to exceed current limits. The plan calls for a four-story, 58.5-foot structure with 83 percent lot coverage, surpassing the 48-foot height and 80 percent coverage allowed. The developer says the project will help diversify Wilton’s housing options.
GEORGIA—Who is Behind a $5 Billion Development in Atlanta? Yup, a Sports Team
Ken Belson, The New York Times | July 23, 2025
Tony Ressler, owner of the Atlanta Hawks, is leading the $5 billion redevelopment of the Gulch, a vast underused area in downtown Atlanta. The Centennial Yards project will transform 50 acres of parking lots and railyards into a walkable neighborhood with more than 2,000 apartments, 900,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, and a 5,300-seat music venue. The first apartment building will begin leasing next month.
MARYLAND—In Raucous Session, County Council Votes 8-3 to Approve Controversial Housing Zoning Change
Ginny Bixby, Bethesda Today | July 23, 2025
In a contentious 8–3 vote, the Montgomery County Council approved a zoning change that allows duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and multi-family buildings along transit corridors. The amendment mandates 15 percent of new units be affordable but has drawn criticism from residents who view it as a threat to neighborhood character and a trigger for displacement.
International TOD News
PHILIPPINES—’Education City’ Transit-Oriented Hub Soon to Rise in Taguig
Jimmyley Guzman, Philippine Information Agency | July 22, 2025
The Department of Transportation, Department of Education, and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office plan to transform a 13-hectare site in Taguig into “Education City”—a mixed-use educational hub centered on the planned Senate-DepEd Station. Positioned between the North-South Commuter Railway and the Metro Manila Subway, the project will offer students and workers in Manila a reliable, transit-connected living environment.
CANADA—Can a Rewrite of St. John’s Development Regulations Help Solve the Housing Crisis
Christopher Ballard, St. John’s Telegram | July 22, 2025
St. John’s City Council is advancing zoning reforms to encourage infill and higher-density housing. Proposed changes would legalize accessory dwelling units, eliminate size limits on subsidiary units, and allow residential uses by right in commercial zones—steps aimed at curbing sprawl and lowering infrastructure costs.
BULGARIA—Tunnelling Completed on Sofia Metro Line 3, Lot 4
Staff, Railway Pro | July 21, 2025
Crews have completed tunneling on the 6-kilometer Stalina section of Sofia’s Metro Line 3, marking the end of the project’s fourth and final phase. The full expansion adds 21 kilometers and 21 new stations. Once operational, the extension is expected to reduce vehicle traffic by 30 percent and increase metro ridership by 50 percent.