TOD News Briefs

The Week in TOD News January 18-24, 2025

Trio of Affordable Housing Bills in NJ (right); Hoboken Connect project breaks ground; 3 steps for affordable housing; New TOD bill in WA; Metro and TOD investment in Vietnam (left top-to-bottom) 

Article of the Week

Sen. Troy Singleton speaking to press.
Sen. Troy Singleton. Mark C. Olsen | Wikimedia Commons

South Jersey Lawmaker Touting Trio of Affordable Housing Bills 
Suzette Parmley, The Sun Newspapers | January 21, 2025 
NJ State Senator Troy Singleton and senate colleagues have proposed three affordable housing bills for the upcoming legislative year. Building on last year’s legislation, the proposals would permit accessory dwelling units in all single-family neighborhoods, expand mixed-use developments on underutilized land, and reduce parking requirements near transit hubs. Singleton stressed that expanding the housing supply is essential to improving affordability. 


NJ TOD News

Rendering of The Ballantine.
Rendering of The Ballantine. Courtesy of Shorewood Real Estate Group

NEWARK—Site of Historic Ballantine Brewery in Newark Transformed into Mixed-Use Development 
Maddie McGay, NorthJersey.com | January 21, 2025 
Newark officials and Shorewood Real Estate Group celebrated the completion of The Ballantine, a six-story, mixed-use development on the former site of Newark’s historic Ballantine Brewery. The project includes 280 units, 34 designated as affordable, and 2,600 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail. Located in Newark’s Ironbound neighborhood, it offers tenants access to the area’s vibrant food scene, local shops, and Newark Penn Station. Pre-leasing starts in February, with occupancy set for March. 

Governor Phil Murphy meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House in early 2020.
Gov. Phil Murphy meeting with President Donald Trump. Courtesy of the White House

Gov. Phil Murphy Appeals to President Donald Trump for Help Against Congestion Pricing 
Katie Sobko, NorthJersey.com | January 20, 2025 
NJ Gov. Phil Murphy sent a letter to Donald Trump on Inauguration Day, urging the newly sworn-in president to oppose New York’s congestion pricing program. Murphy criticized the program as a poorly designed money grab that would hurt working-class residents and asked Trump to review it. Despite political challenges, early data shows improved travel times in midtown Manhattan. 

Construction workers posing in front of a construction site with a sign that says Hoboken Connect.
Courtesy of LCOR

HOBOKEN—LCOR Breaks Ground on 386-Unit Rental Tower for Sweeping ‘Hoboken Connect’ Project 
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | January 20, 2025 
LCOR has begun construction on Charlie, a 27-story residential tower near Hoboken Terminal, part of the $900 million Hoboken Connect initiative led by NJ TRANSIT and LCOR. The tower will include 386 units, with 20 percent designated as affordable, and feature sustainable elements such as New Jersey’s largest residential geothermal system. The broader Hoboken Connect project aims to expand sustainable and affordable housing, boost the local economy, and improve transportation access around Hoboken Terminal. 


Transit and Equity News

Construction workers on a multi-family housing construction site.
Romul014 | Adobe Stock

3 Practical Steps We Need to Take to Remove Obstacles to Affordable Housing 
Marco Zappacosta, Fast Company | January 24, 2025 
The U.S. housing crisis stems from home prices outpacing wages, a skilled labor shortage, and restrictive zoning policies. Thumbtack CEO Marco Zappacosta recommends expanding trade skills programs for Gen Z, loosening zoning restrictions to allow multi-unit housing, and promoting transit-oriented development to improve access to affordable housing. These measures aim to reduce construction costs, increase housing supply, and grow transit-accessible housing options. 

Rendering of 50 Herald Street, which will feature 117 affordable units in Boston’s Chinatown.
Rendering of 50 Herald Street, which will feature 117 affordable units in Boston’s Chinatown. Courtesy of Beacon Communities

MASSACHUSETTS—Mayor Wu Announces More Than $64 Million in Affordable Housing Funding Awards for Projects Across Boston 
Press Release, Office of Mayor Michelle Wu | January 23, 2025 
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced $64.2 million in funding to create and preserve affordable housing units across 12 projects in eight Boston neighborhoods. The projects will produce 637 mixed-income units, including housing for families, older adults, and individuals experiencing homelessness. All projects meet the Mayor’s Office of Housing standards for zero-emissions buildings and are transit-oriented, green developments. 

A Skyline Metro train in Honolulu, Hawaii 
Skyline. Courtesy of the City of Honolulu, HI

HAWAII—Systemic Barriers Choke Housing Development, Hawai’i Housing Agency Says 
Brian Perry, Maui Now | January 18, 2025 
A Hawai’i Housing Finance and Development Corporation report highlights the state’s severe housing shortage caused by systemic barriers, including restrictive zoning, slow permitting, and limited land availability. The agency recommends expanding developable land, reforming zoning to reduce lot size and parking requirements, and promoting transit-oriented development. To counter potential community opposition, the report suggests educating the public on the benefits of affordable housing and TOD. 


Regional and National TOD News

Site of the planned development in East Durham. 
Site of the planned development. Courtesy of Durham County GIS

NORTH CAROLINA—City Council Rezones 95 Acres in East Durham for Mixed-Use Development 
Justin Laidlaw, INDY Week | January 24, 2025 
Durham City Council has approved plans for a 95-acre redevelopment of a former brick factory, with SpaceCraft proposing 1,880 residential units, including 90 affordable units, and 49,500 sq. ft. of mixed-use space. The project will feature sustainable design, green spaces, trails and public parks, all within walking distance of a key transit hub. Despite skepticism from Councilmember Nate Baker, the project received unanimous approval for its density, diverse housing options, and pedestrian-friendly design. 

Map from Puget Sound Rapid Transit that shows the half mile distance around rail stations and the quarter mile distance around Bus Rapid Transit stops in the Seattle area
The half mile distance around rail stations and the quarter mile distance around Bus Rapid Transit stops in the Seattle area. Courtesy of PSRC

WASHINGTON—Washington Legislature Sets it Sights on Transit-Oriented Development…Again 
Ryan Packer, The Urbanist | January 22, 2025 
House Bill 1491, Washington’s third attempt at a TOD bill in three years, seeks to require cities to permit more housing near transit stations to address the state’s housing crisis. The bill calls for increased building density around light rail, commuter rail, and BRT stops, with some areas required to include affordable housing. While it has support, the affordable housing mandate has sparked debate, and its passage hinges on resolving legislative disagreements. 

Rendering of a potential residential development that could be produced due to the Midtown Manhattan plan.
Courtesy of the City of New York

NEW YORK—New York City Seeks Jolt for Midtown with Plan to Build 10,000 Homes 
Mihir Zaveri, The New York Times | January 21, 2025 
NYC officials have proposed rezoning parts of Midtown Manhattan to enable 10,000 new apartments, including 2,900 affordable units, to tackle the city’s housing shortage. The plan seeks to revitalize Midtown areas that have struggled post-pandemic, leveraging access to subway lines and jobs to boost residential development. Backed by the two Manhattan council members representing the area, the plan is expected to pass when the City Council votes later this year. 

A TEXRail train arrives in Grapevine, TX. At the station is a large clocktower and commercial complex.
A TEXRail train arrives in Grapevine, TX. Courtesy of Trinity Metro

TEXAS—Will Rail Expansion Spur More Tarrant Transit-Oriented Developments? Plans Are in Motion 
Eric E. Garcia, Fort Worth Report | January 18, 2025 
Grapevine’s $114 million Main Street Station, a transit-oriented development served by Trinity Metro’s TEXRail, has increased tourism and tax revenue with amenities like a food hall, hotel, and entertainment venue. The TEXRail service, linking Tarrant County suburbs to Fort Worth and DFW Airport, has spurred growth in the area, with more TOD projects planned across the county. As TEXRail expands, Grapevine and nearby suburbs expect further mixed-use development and further economic benefits. 


International TOD News

HCMC Metro, which had its first line open in December 2024. Courtesy of Ho Chi Minh City Metro.
HCMC Metro train pulling into a station.

VIETNAM—HCMC Metro Planning and Transit-Oriented Development: Opportunities for Foreign Investment 
Vu Nguyen Hanh, Vietnam Briefing | January 21, 2025 
Ho Chi Minh City plans to address rising traffic congestion by expanding its metro system, targeting a 316-mile urban railway network by 2060. Along with the metro lines, the City will invest heavily in transit-oriented development, with three planned TOD models for station core areas, station transition areas, and intersections. To finance these projects, HCMC is exploring public-private partnerships and capital mobilization strategies to attract private investment. 

An extremely congested road in Manila, Philippines with 4 lanes of cars going in both directions.
Traffic in Manila, Philippines. Patrickroque01 | Wikimedia Commons 

PHILIPPINES—Manila Must Put Breaks on Its Car-Centric Policies, And Seek Viable Transport Solutions 
JC Punongbayan, South China Morning Post | January 19, 2025 
Manila, ranked the world’s most congested by TomTom’s global traffic index, faces growing criticism from residents opposed to its car-centric policies. JC Punongbayan, a professor at the University of Philippines, proposes solutions like congestion pricing, a comprehensive automobile scrappage program, and increased rail investment. However, without bold action and greater investment in public transport, traffic will continue to hinder economic growth and quality of life in the Philippines. 

Cheonggyecheon Stream during a celebration with colorful floats on the water.
Cheonggyecheon Stream. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

SOUTH KOREA—‘Everyone Thought It Would Cause Gridlock’: The Highway That Seoul Turned Into a Stream 
Raphael Rashid, The Guardian | January 17, 2025 
In the early 2000s, city officials transformed Cheonggyecheon, a stream in central Seoul, by replacing an elevated highway with a vibrant public space for pedestrians and cyclists. The restoration improved air quality, reduced urban heat, and reintroduced wildlife, while attracting millions of visitors annually. Despite facing maintenance challenges, the project has continued to inspire similar initiatives worldwide, such as New York’s High Line, demonstrating the lasting benefits of human-centered urban planning.