US states lead housing reform (left); PANYNJ airport project enhances access; Architects embrace retrofits; MDOT funds TOD projects; Ontario plans subway TOD (right top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
Ambitious Housing Proposals Are Passing Across the Country
Jared Brey, Governing | June 18, 2025
Housing reform is gaining traction nationwide and across party lines, with states enacting zoning changes to boost housing supply. Progressive states like Oregon, Washington, and California have legalized multifamily housing on single-family lots, while conservative states such as Florida and Montana have curbed local zoning control and eased parking requirements.
NJ TOD News
NJ Affordable Housing Rules Upheld in Latest Court Ruling, But Towns Win Some Relief
William Westhoven, Morristown Daily Record | June 16, 2025
The New Jersey Superior Court rejected an effort by a coalition of 29 towns to block affordable housing mandates, while also ruling that municipalities are not obligated to share data directly with the Fair Share Housing Center. Both sides have claimed victory: Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali said the decision limits the housing center’s power, while the Fair Share Housing Center emphasized that it will not delay the implementation of current mandates.
Port Authority Breaks Ground on $160 Million Project to Transform Transit Access for Underserved Newark and Elizabeth Communities
Press Release, Port Authority | June 13, 2025
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has broken ground on a $160 million project to build a new western entrance to Newark Liberty International Airport Station. The expansion will add an extended pedestrian bridge, dedicated pick-up and drop-off zones, and improved bike and pedestrian access. Scheduled for completion in 2026, the project aims to improve access to NJ TRANSIT, AMTRAK, and AirTrain services—particularly for historically underserved neighborhoods.
BAYONNE—Developers Land $58 Million Construction Loan for 197-Unit Bayonne Rental Project
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | June 12, 2025
The developers of 130 F Avenue have secured $58 million in funding for the project, expected to deliver 197 apartments and ground-floor retail. The site is near Bayonne’s Broadway corridor and the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail 22nd Street Station, providing residents with direct connections to Jersey City and Hoboken PATH stations.
JERSEY CITY—Jersey City’s West Side Square Tops Off as Phase Two Moves Forward
Chris Fry, Jersey Digs | June 12, 2025
Jersey City’s West Side Square project has reached two major milestones: topping off its first phase—two 13-story towers and several 5-story buildings—and securing planning board changes to the Fayette Broadway Redevelopment Plan. The updates clear the way for phase 2, which includes converting a historic factory into housing and creating an easement for a potential PATH station.
Transit and Equity News
COLORADO—Koelbel Breaks Ground on Senior Affordable Housing in Lone Tree
Staff, Mile High CRE | June 17, 2025
Koelbel and Company has broken ground on Forte, an affordable housing project that will provide 101 units for seniors earning up to 60 percent of the area median income. Located within the Lone Tree City Center sub-area plan, the project supports a broader vision for a walkable, mixed-use community with access to jobs and a nearby light rail station.
As American Architects Gather in Boston, Retrofits Are All the Rage
Anthony Flint, Bloomberg | June 12, 2025
As architecture moves towards more sustainable practices, the field is placing greater emphasis on adaptive reuse and retrofitting rather than new construction. The traditional focus on iconic exteriors and artistic expression is shifting toward reconfiguring interior spaces—reflecting a broader turn from individual creativity to collective environmental and social responsibility.
TEXAS—City Council Approves $12 Million to Expand Affordable Housing
Press Release, The City of San Antonio | June 12, 2025
The San Antonio City Council has approved $12 million to support two housing projects that will add a total of 368 rentals, including 161 affordable units for residents earning below 50 percent of the area median income. Since its 2022 authorization, the City’s Affordable Housing Bond program has supported the construction of 4,600 homes across San Antonio.
Regional and National TOD News
INDIANA—South Shore Line Celebrates Grand Opening of New 11th Street Station in Michigan City
John Beomsoo Kim, WNDU | June 18, 2025
Officials marked the completion of the $650 million Double Track Northwest Indiana project with the grand opening of the South Shore Line’s new 11th Street Station in Michigan City. The $100 million station—adjacent to a planned 12-story residential tower—anchors a newly built 17-mile stretch of track between Gary and Michigan City. A proposed track realignment at South Bend International Airport could follow, potentially reducing travel times to Chicago by 15 to 20 minutes.
MINNESOTA—What to Know About Rochester’s Future Rapid Transit System as Construction Begins
Sean Baker, Star Tribune | June 17, 2025
Construction is underway on Rochester’s Link Bus Rapid Transit System, a $175.5 million project set to transform the downtown area into a dedicated transit corridor. Officials hope that, upon completion in 2027, the project will increase public transit use and reduce solo car trips from 70 percent of total commutes to below 50 percent.
FLORIDA—Ground Broken on Phase 2 of Miami’s Link at Douglas
Paola Colberg, Miami Community News | June 16, 2025
The Link at Douglas has secured a $125 million construction loan for its third tower, which will add 432 housing units to the existing 733. Through its public-private partnership with Miami-Dade County, the project has committed $17 million to public infrastructure improvements, including renovations to the nearby Metrorail station and the creation of a new public plaza.
NEW YORK—70 Hudson Yards Breaks Ground in Hudson Yards, Manhattan
Michael Young, New York YIMBY | June 16, 2025
The next phase of development is underway at New York’s Hudson Yards with the construction of a 47-story mixed-use building—the state’s first zero-carbon-emission skyscraper—featuring both ground-floor retail and upper-floor office space. Located near 34th Street-Hudson Yards Station, the site offers direct access to reliable public transit.
MARYLAND—Maryland Department of Transportation Announces $1.25 Million in Transit-Oriented Development Grants
Press Release, Maryland Department of Transportation | June 10, 2025
The Maryland Department of Transportation has awarded $1.25 million from its new Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) Capital Grant Revolving Loan Fund to support mixed-use projects near Odenton MARC Station, North Bethesda Metro Station, and Baltimore‘s Reisterstown Plaza Metro Station. The TOD Fund aims to enhance transit access, spur economic growth, and support housing construction goals.
MASSACHUSETTS—MBTA Communities Law Is Not an Unfunded Mandate, Judge Rules
Jennifer Smith, Commonwealth Beacon | June 6, 2025
A Plymouth County judge denied a request to delay enforcement of the MBTA Communities Housing Law, requiring Massachusetts towns to comply by July. The court dismissed claims that the law would overload infrastructure as speculative, affirmed the availability of funding programs to support the mandate, and ruled that the state auditor’s findings hold no legal standing.
International TOD News
CANADA—Ontario Launches Open Market Process for Queen-Spadina Transit-Oriented Community
Robin MacLennan, Ontario Construction News | June 17, 2025
The Government of Ontario is seeking a private developer to build two mixed-use towers totaling 214 housing units at the future Queen-Spadina subway station site. The project is part of a broader provincial plan to create 12 transit-oriented communities (TOCs) around stations along the Ontario Line, Yonge North Subway Extension, and Scarborough Subway Extension.
THAILAND—World Bank Chief Calls for $2 Billion Green Infrastructure Investment to Transform Thai Cities
Nongluck Ajanapanya, The Nation | June 18, 2025
Thailand could draw nearly $2 billion annually in green infrastructure investment, according to the World Bank. The Bank highlights transit-oriented planning as key to sustainable urban growth and reducing traffic congestion, which adds up to two hours to daily commutes for many Thai drivers. It also calls for urgent investment in flood control and water management to address the country’s worsening climate-related challenges.