Texas law supports housing (left) • Elizabeth gets 258-unit TOD • Affordable transit hub in Eureka • KC Streetcar thrives • Canada BRT spurs development (right top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
TEXAS—The New Texas Law Declawing NIMBYs
Joshua Fechter, Planetizen | August 28, 2026
A 2025 Texas law removed the supermajority requirement for city councils to approve housing projects opposed by a sufficient number of neighbors. The change helped clear a 64-unit faith-based affordable housing development in Austin’s urban core and gives cities more leeway to approve housing.
NJ TOD News
HOBOKEN—Hoboken Construction Update: A Look at What’s Rising Across the Mile Square City
Chris Fry, Jersey Digs | August 27, 2026
Hoboken’s construction boom spans nearly a dozen sites, including Hoboken Connect, which is overhauling Lackawanna Terminal, as well as the 386-unit Charlie tower, Ironstate’s Hoboken URBY, Harborside Park, 1500 Clinton, and 1500 Grand Street.
HUDSON COUNTY—Hudson County Executive Craig Guy Announces Bus Rapid Transit Community Meeting to Be Held on September 23
Press Release, Hudson County | August 27, 2026
Hudson County will host its first BRT community meeting on September 23 to gather public feedback on the proposed corridor and draft recommendations. The County also launched a survey on community travel behaviors and priorities.
JERSEY CITY—JV Lands $277M for New Jersey Multifamily Project
Maria Maruto, Multi-Housing News | August 27, 2026
Urby and Rockpoint received a $277 million construction loan for 201 Hudson in Jersey City. The 748-unit development will include 10,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail adjacent to the Exchange Place PATH and HBLR stations and Harborside HBLR and ferry service.
ELIZABETH—258-Unit Ecco Apartments Rise in Elizabeth’s Midtown Near Train Station
Tariq Hassan, Hoodline | August 23, 2026
Ecco, a 258-unit complex, is under construction in Elizabeth’s Midtown-Vintage City district across from the recently renovated Elizabeth Station. The project is Phase 2 of the Vintage City redevelopment, which includes the 267-unit Vinty. Completion is planned for December 2027.
Transit and Equity News
NEW YORK—Governor Hochul Announces Start of Construction on $38 Million, 53-Unit Transit-Oriented Affordable Housing Development in Suffolk County
Press Release, Office of NY Governor Kathy Hochul | August 27, 2026
Governor Hochul announced the groundbreaking of Perry & Main, a 53-unit, all-affordable housing development near Port Jefferson LIRR Station. The project will also include 2,300 sq. ft. of commercial space and 13 units designed for residents with developmental, sensory, and mobility disabilities.
CALIFORNIA—EaRTH Center Breaks Ground; Development Will Bring Affordable Housing and a Transit Hub to Downtown Eureka
Sage Alexander, Lost Coast Outpost | August 26, 2026
Eureka broke ground on the Eureka Regional Transit & Housing (EaRTH) Center, a partnership between the City and the Humboldt Transit Authority. Two parking lots will be converted into 45 affordable housing units, including 11 reserved for people with disabilities, along with a regional transit hub. Completion is expected in 2028.
Opinion: We Know How to Solve the Housing Crisis. We Just Have to Remember.
Christopher Serkin & Daniel Sharfstein, New York Times | August 23, 2026
Vanderbilt professors Christopher Serkin and Daniel Sharfstein argue that zoning reforms alone cannot solve today’s housing crisis. They point to federally supported housing construction during World War II and argue for a renewed public investment alongside deregulation.
CALIFORNIA—Newsom Awards $11.3 Million to Prohousing Communities for Affordable Housing
Staff, Davis Vanguard | August 22, 2026
Governor Newsom awarded $11.3 million to 13 California communities through the Prohousing Incentive Program. The funds will support affordable housing production and preservation, rapid rehousing, and emergency shelters. Prohousing communities earn the designation by adopting policies that accelerate housing production, including streamlining development and upzoning near jobs and transit.
Regional and National TOD News
MISSOURI—How Kansas City Quietly Built One of the Best Streetcars in America
Joshua Woods, Planetizen | August 25, 2026
The Kansas City Streetcar, launched in 2016, has now seen two expansions: the 2025 Main Street Extension and the 2026 Riverfront Extension. The system now spans 5.7 miles and supports more than $4 billion in development in downtown Kansas City.
NEVADA—Las Vegas Debuts Bus Rapid Transit Line to Grow Ridership, Improve Service
Dan Zukowski, Smart Cities Dive | August 24, 2026
RTC Southern Nevada opened a 7.3-mile BRT line along Maryland Parkway, connecting downtown Las Vegas, UNLV, the medical district, and Harry Reid Airport. Dedicated bus lanes and transit signal priority are expected to reduce travel times by 20 percent, with RTC projects ridership to grow from 9,000 to 13,000 daily by 2040.
CALIFORNIA—Berkeley Gets $850,000 for New Ashby BART Plaza Design
Nico Savidge, Berkeleyside | August 24, 2026
BART, South Berkeley, and state officials announced $850,000 in federal funds to design a new public plaza atop Ashby BART station. The plaza will accommodate the Berkeley Flea Market. The work is part of a larger effort that will redevelop the station-area parking lot into 600 homes and redesign and narrow Adeline Street, a main arterial that connects Berkeley to Oakland.
FLORIDA—Six Projects Shaping Southeast Florida and the Caribbean
Mallory Barker, Urban Land | August 26, 2026
Urban Land Institute highlighted six developments addressing affordability, resilience, and mobility in Florida. Collectively, the developments include thousands of housing units, affordable housing, and considerable public space to the state. Grove Central in Miami, for example, comprises 402 units and 170,000 sq. ft. of retail next to the Coconut Grove Metrorail station.
International TOD News
CANADA—London’s Bus Rapid Transit Attracting Some Transit-Oriented Development, But…
Ron Stange, Daily Commercial News | August 25, 2026
London, Ontario’s planned BRT network is already attracting development, including Foundation Capital’s proposed 1,004-unit project near downtown. City officials say, however, that the high costs of land consolidation have offset some of the potential benefits of the new service.
How the Olympics Stress-Test Cities and Urban Infrastructure
Ivana Gligoric, Urban Land | August 24, 2026
The Olympics can test a host city’s ability to coordinate transportation, public safety, infrastructure, and governance across jurisdictions. Previous hosts such as Calgary and Salt Lake City offer lessons for Los Angeles on regional coordination and long-term infrastructure planning.