431 towns meet NJ deadline (right); NJ DEP land use proposal; Phoenix reaches housing goal; Maryland funds TOD; High-speed rail in Turkey (left top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
431 New Jersey Municipalities Meet Key Deadline, Commit to Affordable Housing Development
Mike Hayes, Gothamist | February 4, 2025
The Fair Share Housing Center reported that 431 of New Jersey’s 564 municipalities met the state’s affordable housing law deadline on January 31. At least 121 requested reduced obligations, including Montvale, which sought to lower its requirement from 348 to 178 units. Director Adam Gordon noted that more towns participated in this fourth round than in any previous phase since the implementation of the Mount Laurel Doctrine.
NJ TOD News
JERSEY CITY—Jersey City Planning Board Approves 56-Story Skyscraper at 72 Montgomery Street in Jersey City, New Jersey
Michael Young and Matt Pruznick, New York Yimby | February 6, 2025
The Jersey City Planning Board approved a 56-story residential tower at 72 Montgomery Street by Handel Architects The project will feature 600 rentals—15 percent affordable—plus ground floor retail. It will replace part of a surface parking lot and add public green space. Residents will be a five-minute walk from Exchange Place Station, served by PATH and NJ TRANSIT’s Hudson-Bergen Light Rail.
Op-Ed: DEP’s Land Use Rules, As Proposed, Will Stand in the Way of Gov. Murphy’s Affordable Housing Goals
Ray Cantor, ROI-NJ | February 4, 2025
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s proposed land use rules could hinder affordable housing by imposing extreme flood elevation requirements and expanding flood zones into unaffected areas. The 1,057-page document raises costs and delays permits in coastal cities like Jersey City, Camden, and Atlantic City. In this Op-Ed, Ray Cantor of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association urges officials to oppose the rules.
ORANGE—PEEK Properties Set to Unveil Final Phase of Orange Crossing With New 90-unit Property
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | February 4, 2025
PINNACLE Orange Crossing, a 90-unit apartment building in downtown Orange, will begin leasing in March. The project, developed by PEEK Properties, marks the final phase of a 239-unit development, with earlier phases opening in 2022 and 2024. Located in the Reock Street Redevelopment Area, it sits one block from NJ TRANSIT’s Orange Station.
Transit and Equity News
MASSACHUSETTS—MassHousing Has Closed on $29.7 Million in Affordable Housing Financing for the Transit-Oriented Development of 94 New Apartment Homes in Brockton
Press Release, MassHousing | February 6, 2025
MassHousing will provide $29.7 million to NeighborWorks Housing Solutions to build 94 affordable apartments near Campello Station in Brockton. The project includes 14 units at 30 percent AMI, 65 at 60 percent AMI, and 15 at 80 percent AMI. Completion is expected by August 2026.
ARIZONA—Phoenix Reaches Housing Goal to Build or Save 50,000 Units 5 Years Ahead of Schedule
Taylor Seely, Arizona Republic | February 5, 2025
Phoenix reached its 2030 goal of building or preserving 50,000 housing units five years early, with a mix of market-rate, workforce, and affordable housing. Launched in 2020, the Housing Phoenix Plan accelerated multifamily housing development and addressed the housing crisis through policies like reducing parking requirements in transit areas. Mayor Kate Gallego celebrated the milestone and reaffirmed the city’s commitment to housing affordability.
CALIFORNIA—San Jose Agency Plans Low-Income Homes at Transit Station
B. Sakura Cannestra, San Jose Spotlight | January 31, 2025
The Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) plans to build 45 townhomes for very low-income households on the parking lot at Branham Light Rail Station in San Jose. Charities Housing, a non-profit developer, will lead the project and manage the site after completion. Construction is set to begin in 2027. VTA has identified 28 other sites for transit-oriented housing, including one where a 90-unit, 100-percent affordable development broke ground last year.
Regional and National TOD News
MARYLAND—Maryland to Fund Transit-Oriented Development Projects With $5M in Grants
Marcus Dieterle, Baltimore Fishbowl | February 5, 2025
Maryland is offering $5 million in grants for dense, mixed-use, mixed-income developments near transit through the Transit-Oriented Development Capital Grant and Revolving Loan Fund. The program aims to increase ridership, expand affordable housing, and ease congestion while supporting economic growth and sustainability. Local jurisdictions and developers can apply for up to $1 million for planning, design, and infrastructure, with applications due by April 8.
Three Ways Mixed-Use District Developers Can Build for the Future
Hao Li, Aditya Sanghvi and James Patchett, Urban Land | February 5, 2025
At the October 2024 ULI meeting in Las Vegas, developers and industry experts outlined key factors for successful mixed-use developments. With remote work remaining popular, multi-purpose anchors like innovation districts and entertainment hubs can adapt to shifting demands and attract people consistently. Expanding transit options further enhances accessibility to these hubs.
NEW YORK—NYC’s Newest Transit Leader Builds a Worker-Driven Strategy
Michelle Kaske, Bloomberg | February 4, 2025
Demetrius Crichlow, the new head of New York City Transit, aims to modernize the system and address fare evasion and safety concerns, drawing on 27 years of experience and deep ties to the agency. As the first African American in the role, he plans to leverage his MTA relationships to curb fare evasion and improve service. Despite financial and operational challenges, he remains committed to transforming the transit system.
CALIFORNIA—Restructured Calif. High-Speed Rail Is Poised to Lay Tracks
Skip Descant, Government Technology | February 3, 2025
The California High-Speed Rail project, designed to connect San Francisco and Los Angeles, now expects trains to run within five to eight years. The 494-mile project has faced delays and political opposition since receiving funding in 2008, but its new CEO believes restructuring will streamline development. Another high-speed rail line, linking Los Angeles and Las Vegas, is under construction and set to open in 2028.
MASSACHUSETTS—Suburban Commuter Rail Stations Need More Housing Density, New Report Says
Gintautus Dumcius, Commonwealth Beacon | January 30, 2025
A new Boston Indicators/TransitMatters report highlights underused land near MBTA commuter rail stations in Boston’s suburbs. It argues that transit-oriented development could ease the housing crisis and reduce car dependency. However, some communities resist these projects over traffic and overcrowding concerns. The report stresses the need for policies that support density near transit hubs to unlock housing potential.
Do Americans Really Want Urban Sprawl?
Sarah Wesseler, Yale Climate Connections | January 29, 2025
Urban sprawl is often seen as consumer-driven, but research shows most Americans would trade yard space for walkability. Zoning laws restrict housing to single-family homes on 75–90 percent of residential land, limiting walkable neighborhoods despite demand. Michigan professor Jonathan Levine argues these regulations drive sprawl, worsening climate change and housing shortages.
International TOD News
TURKEY—Turkey Completes Testing on New High-Speed Rail Line Expanding to EU – Here’s Why It Matters
Sam Westmoreland, The Cool Down | February 6, 2025
Turkey has begun testing the Halkali-Kapikule high-speed rail line, which will link Istanbul to Bulgaria and cut travel time between the two cities. The 142-mile line is set to increase annual passenger traffic from 600,000 to 3.4 million when it opens in 2028. The project supports Turkey’s efforts to strengthen EU ties, drive economic growth, and expand sustainable transportation.
CANADA—Canada Invests $90 Million to Expand Transit and Housing in Waterloo
Marybeth Collins, E+E Leader | February 4, 2025
Canada’s federal government is investing nearly $90 million to improve public transit, expand affordable housing, and strengthen community resilience in Waterloo. Through the Canada Public Transit Fund, the City will receive $71.7 million over ten years for transit upgrades, climate initiatives, and transit-oriented development. The remaining funds will support homelessness services and shelter expansion.