Newark’s untapped spending power (right); Mid-rise as key to affordability?; Albuquerque’s new housing rules; Honolulu’s rail expansion; Mexico City’s Cablebús (left top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
NEWARK—Report: Newark Market Booming With Activity, Opportunity Amid $2 Billion in Unmet Spending Power
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | August 22, 2025
A new Invest Newark report shows that of the city’s $6 billion in resident spending power, $2 billion is spent outside city limits, highlighting significant opportunities for local retailers. Backed by Prudential Foundation, the report and resources like Invest Newark’s Data Center aim to identify opportunities, support businesses, and keep more consumer dollars circulating in Newark.
NJ TOD News
BERNARDSVILLE—Bernardsville Receives Transit Village Designation
Mary Jane Canose, TAPinto Somerset Hills | August 22, 2025
Mayor Mary Jane Canose celebrated Bernardsville’s recognition as New Jersey’s 37th Transit Village, highlighting the potential funding and planning support the designation may provide. She noted that Transit Village status will help make the downtown more accessible and vibrant by supporting pedestrian improvements and local businesses.
HACKENSACK—Hackensack City Council Moves to Cancel Tax Breaks for Major Redevelopments
Mario Marroquin, Jersey Digs | August 20, 2025
The newly elected Hackensack City Council voted unanimously to rescind three PILOT agreements approved by the previous council for luxury developments on vacant downtown parcels. The decision drew strong public support, while Russo Development denounced the move as “highly illegal” and threatened legal action.
NJ Transit Owns 8,000 Acres and Is Looking to Sell, Spur Development Near Train Stations
Colleen Wilson, The Daily Journal | August 19, 2025
NJ TRANSIT is weighing the sale of portions of its 8,000+ acres of real estate—much of it parking lots or underused land near transit facilities—for mixed-use housing development. The agency aims to reshape areas into destinations rather than pass-through points. One Lyndhurst property has recently sold for $14.4 million, with seven more sites under consideration.
Mid-Rise Housing Helps NJ Meet Affordable Housing Goals
Joshua Zinder, NJBIZ | August 18, 2025
New Jersey municipalities must deliver 84,000 affordable housing units by 2035, and mid-rise housing is emerging as a key tool. While zoning barriers and community opposition remain, planners emphasize that thoughtful design and siting near transit can help secure approvals and advance efforts to meet state mandates.
JERSEY CITY—Work Heats Up at 2,000-Unit Development on Jersey City’s Hudson Street
Chris Fry, Jersey Digs | August 15, 2025
Work is progressing on Jersey City’s largest active waterfront project. Phase one, 55 Hudson, has topped out and will bring a 58-story tower with 1,017 units, 62,749 sq. ft. of retail, and a public plaza next to Hudson-Bergen Light Rail. Phase two, 50 Hudson, is now under construction and will add a 42-story tower with 924 units.
Transit and Equity News
CALIFORNIA—After 6 years, San Diego Approves 380-Unit Housing Project Next to Blue Line Trolley
Andrew Bowen, KPBS 65 | August 20, 2025
The San Diego Planning Commission has approved Bella Mar Apartments, a 380-unit development, with 100 units reserved for low-income families, on a vacant lot next to Palm Avenue Station. Approval required a rezoning, a community plan amendment, and the addition of a pedestrian and bike trail along the property’s edge.
NEW MEXICO—Albuquerque City Council Unanimously Approves Ordinance to Streamline Affordable and Transitional Housing Development
Press Release, The City of Albuquerque | August 19, 2025
The Albuquerque City Council has unanimously passed O-25-95, an ordinance to speed affordable housing construction by reforming the RFQ and approval process. The measure builds on housing reforms adopted earlier this year, including efforts to encourage multifamily development near transit centers.
More Safe, Affordable Housing Needed for Older Americans, AARP Tells Congress
Molly Snow, AARP | August 18, 2025
Over 70 percent of older adults want to remain in their communities, but many face limited affordable options. AARP is urging Congress to expand tax credits for low-income housing developers and pass the Identifying Regulatory Barriers to Housing Supply Act and the Build More Housing Near Transit Act. Both bills seek to increase housing production, especially near transit.
MASSACHUSETTS—Kaplan Construction Completes 100,000 SF Artistic-Centric Affordable Housing Project in Roxbury’s Nubian Square
Staff, Boston Real Estate Times | August 15, 2025
Kaplan Construction has completed 2147 Washington Street, a six-story, 74-unit affordable housing project. The development includes 62 income-restricted rentals and 12 condominiums, with half the units reserved for artists and creative professionals. The site is located near the Nubian Square Bus Terminal and within walking distance of Roxbury Crossing Station on the MBTA Orange Line.
Regional and National TOD News
OREGON—Hillsboro Greenlights Proposal for Affordable Housing Development on TriMet Property
Nick LaMora, Hillsboro News Times | August 21, 2025
Hillsboro has approved an affordable housing development on a TriMet-owned property near the Willow Creek Park & Ride. The project will create 117 affordable apartments, including 18 units for formerly homeless individuals, and feature amenities such as community gardens, childcare, and pedestrian paths.
The Dark Matter of the Urban Universe
Todd Litman, Planetizen | August 20, 2025
Although planners have largely moved beyond car-centric approaches, Todd Litman, Executive Director of the Victoria Transport Policy Institute, explores the hidden costs of parking requirements. Mandates consume large amounts of land, raise rents and taxes, reduce public parking, and increase flood risks.
ALABAMA—Amtrak’s Return to Mobile Sparks Rail Service Debate Over Expansion to Pensacola
Hannah James, WEAR News ABC | August 18, 2025
Amtrak service has returned to Mobile for the first time in 20 years, following post-Hurricane Katrina suspension, with federal plans to expand into Florida. However, the Mobile City Council warns that any extension into Florida could lead the City to void its contract and cut funding due to concerns over traffic and port disruptions.
NEW YORK—The Train to Nowhere?
Staff, Buffalo Rising | August 15, 2025
The Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority has released an Environmental Impact Statement for a proposed Buffalo Metro Rail extension from the University at Buffalo’s South Campus to Amherst. The EIS forecasts that the extension would promote transit-oriented development across the city and reduce vehicle miles traveled by about 45,000 miles per day.
HAWAII—HART Breaks Ground on Next Phase of Honolulu Rail Project
Stephanie Salmons, Aloha State Daily | August 15, 2025
The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation has broken ground on the third phase of the Skyline Rail project, extending the line nearly three miles from Middle Street to the Civic Center in Kakaʻako. The $1.66 billion project will add six new stations to the nine that opened in 2023 and four more set to open in October. Construction is expected to finish by 2030.
International TOD News
MEXICO—Mexico City’s New Cable Car Solution to Epic Traffic Jams
Carlos Rosado van der Gracht, Yucatán Magazine | August 20, 2025
Mexico City’s new Cablebús offers a safer, faster alternative to crowded minibuses, long the main transit option for residents in steep, peripheral neighborhoods. Commutes that once took hours can now be made in minutes with the system integrated into the Metro and Metrobus networks and offering affordable fares.
MOROCCO—ONCF Secures €202 Million from KfW to Modernize Casablanca Rail Network
Adil Faouzi, Morocco World News | August 19, 2025
Morocco’s National Railway Office has secured €202 million from the German Development Bank to modernize Greater Casablanca’s rail network. The investment aims to expand sustainable transit for more than 560,000 residents, supporting Morocco’s projected 60-70 percent urban population growth over the next 25 years.
CANADA—Ontario Allows More Density, Taller Buildings Near Transit
Allison Jones, CBC | August 15, 2025
Ontario has approved a plan to increase density within 800 meters of Toronto transit stations, enabling the city to add 1.5 million housing units over the next 25 years. Mayor Olivia Chow noted that the initiative builds on a previous plan that would have allowed just 500,000 homes—insufficient for Toronto’s rapidly rising population.
UNITED KINGDOM—City’s New Public Transport ‘Not a Bus’ Mayor Says
Claire Hamilton, BBC | July 24, 2025
Liverpool is launching a new rapid transit system, dubbed a “trackless tram,” with passenger service expected in 2028. Critics dismiss the vehicles as glorified buses, but Mayor Steve Rotheram emphasizes their larger size, dedicated lanes, and three-door design, making them more efficient than standard double-deckers.