Recent news and notes on transit-oriented development trends here in New Jersey, in the nation, and beyond.
NEW JERSEY TOD NEWS
Hackensack named an official transit village by N.J. transportation department
By Christopher Maag, The Record, February 17, 2016
Hackensack joins 30 other municipalities in the NJ Transit Village program. The Bergen County community is one of only three focused on redevelopment near bus facilities.
Moving to Jersey City? Join the Club.
By Ronda Kaysen, The New York Times, February 12, 2016
Boasting strong transit links to Manhattan and lower housing costs, Jersey City has reemerged as a vibrant urban center attracting new housing and commercial development. Past development had focused on the downtown and waterfront; however interest is growing in neighborhoods throughout the city.
$10M Sale of Trackside Property in Somerville Paves the Way for 31-Acre NJ TRANSIT Village Residential/Retail Development
By ROD HIRSCH, TAPinto.net, February 11, 2016
Somerville’s transit focused redevelopment efforts have taken a step forward with NJ Transit’s approval of the sale of 31 acres to Somerset Development LLC. The tract lies adjacent to the Somerville Station on the Raritan Valley line. Preliminary plans call for 765 residential units, ground floor retail space and a parking deck.
AvalonBay Picks Up 217 Units For $129.7 Million
By Steve Lubetkin, GlobeSt.com, February 2, 2016
National residential developer, AvalonBay, recently purchased Halstead 800 Madison, a 217-unit apartment community in Hoboken from DSF Group. The project is located one block from the 9th Street HBLR station.
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New Jersey municipalities focus on downtown development
By Joe Cutter, New Jersey 101.5, January 31, 2016
Downtown NJ’s Robert Goldsmith cites smart growth policies and demographic changes as contributors to a resurgence of downtown living in the state.
Groundbreaking takes place for 79-story Jersey City tower
By Joshua Burd, NJBIZ, January 29, 2016
At 79 stories and 900 feet, the project at 99 Hudson Street in Jersey City will be the state’s tallest building when completed. The building will offer 781 condos, 18,000 square feet of commercial and retail space, as well as public space.
Cherry Hill unveils development plans
By Jim Walsh, Courier-Post, January 26, 2016
Proposed mixed-use development near PATCO’s Woodcrest station in Cherry Hill calls for commercial uses and up to 370 apartments. The site once housed Victory Refrigeration, which ceased operations in 2014.
Also see: Want a shorter commute? Housing, retail planned near PATCO could fit the bill
Joint venture to build apartments, condos near Madison train station
By Eric Strauss, NJBIZ, January 5, 2016
The KRE Group and Mark Built Homes have joined forces to develop a five-acre property two blocks from the Madison Station. Plans call for 135 residential units on the site of the former Green Village Road School.
First Journal Square tower should be finished by end of 2016
By Joshua Burd, NJBIZ, January 5, 2016
The first of three residential towers in Jersey City’s historic Journal Square is set to be completed by the end of the year. The building will add 538 residential units and retail space to the city’s commercial and transit hub.
REGIONAL, NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL TOD NEWS
Like Millennials, More Older Americans Steering Away From Driving
By David Schaper, www.npr.org, February 11, 2016
A recent study by the University of Michigan’s Michael Sivak and Brandon Schoettle finds that people under the age of 55 are increasingly less likely to drive than in the past.
How sustainable cities can drive business growth
By Hallie Kennan and Chris Busch, GreenBiz, February 9, 2016
By addressing quality of life issues, cities accrue wide-ranging economic benefits for residents. Attracting a talented workforce means supporting vibrant and accessible neighborhoods and other sustainable practices.
Dense, More Compact Cities Help Combat Climate Change, Inequality
By Mike Phillips, UrbanLand, February 8, 2016
Renowned architect, Richard Roger, delivered the Keynote on Density at the 2016 ULI European Conference extolling the virtues of “the compact city, the city that has mixed living, working, and leisure, [and] which is connected through transport and infrastructure.”
Bank of America doles out $750,000 for Denver affordable housing projects
By Monica Mendoza, Denver Business Journal, February 2, 2016
Denver’s Urban Land Conservancy receives support for creation and preservation of transit-oriented affordable housing.
Today an eyesore, tomorrow an opportunity
By Christopher Fortier, New Britain Herald, January 19, 2016
New Britain was granted $200,000 for site planning, environmental analysis, and to identify a master developer for potential transit-oriented development sites around its East Main Street CTfastrak station. The city was one of six Connecticut municipalities awarded state grants totaling more than $1 million to generate plans for remediating and developing clusters of brownfield sites.
To Reverse Ridership Declines, Metro Pins Hopes On Development Around Stations
By Martin Di Caro, American University Radio, January 19, 2016
DC’s Metrorail seeks to increase ridership through a renewed plan for development near underutilized rail stations.
The problem with too much parking
By Emily Badger, The Washington Post, January 15, 2016
Exploring how excess parking may induce car usage and ownership.
New study finds positive economic development benefits associated with bus rapid transit projects
By Stephen Lee Davis, T4America, January 12, 2016
Researchers find strong evidence that BRT systems in the US generate economic development and attract jobs, retail, and affordable housing.