The Journal in Jersey City begins preleasing (left); Hackensack oks mixed-use project; Denver advances bill to end parking mandates; CT Assembly debates housing bill; Montreal approves $2.2 billion mall redevelopment plan (right top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
JERSEY CITY—‘The Journal’ Takes Center Stage at Jersey City Summit as Kushner Team Discusses Landmark 1723-unit Project
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | May 19, 2025
The first of two 64-story towers at The Journal, a development adjacent to Jersey City’s Journal Square Transportation Center, is now preleasing, with nearly 200 tenants signed. The project will deliver 1,723 housing units in two phases, starting with 966 units this summer, along with 40,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, including a Target store.
NJ TOD News
MONTCLAIR—Montclair Planning Board Approves Housing Plan for Council Endorsement
Steven Maginnis, TAPinto Montclair | May 21, 2025
The Montclair Planning Board approved its plan to meet state affordable housing requirements, focusing on existing housing credits, state programs, and development near its rail station. Members emphasized balancing new affordable construction with fiscal impacts and tax revenue considerations.
HACKENSACK—Hackensack Planning Board Approves Mixed-Use Project with Apartments, Rooftop Office, and Restaurant
Mario Marroquin, Jersey Digs | May 20, 2025
Enburg Development has secured approval to build The Sapphire, a seven-story, 100-unit apartment building with 7,800 sq. ft. of office space, and 5,600 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail next to Hackensack Bus Terminal. However, the transit-accessible project’s future could be affected by upcoming city council elections and potential shifts in tax incentive policies.
New Jersey Transit Engineers’ Union Agree to Deal to End Strike
Patrick McGeehan, The New York Times | May 18, 2025
NJ TRANSIT and union leaders reached a deal on May 18, ending a three-day strike that disrupted commutes and cost the agency an estimated $4 million daily. Full rail service resumed on May 20 after safety inspections, with contingency bus service serving commuters on May 19. Governor Murphy called the agreement fair to both engineers and taxpayers but declined to share details.
Land Use and Transportation Integral to Decision Making in New Jersey
Mark Hrywna, NJTPA | May 14, 2025
Zoe Baldwin, New Jersey Director of the RPA, met with the NJTPA to discuss how smart land use planning is key to reducing congestion and improving transportation. She highlighted the $16 billion Gateway Program’s potential to generate $230 billion in regional economic impact and stressed the need for intentional TOD in order to reduce the cost of municipal services. Baldwin called for removing barriers and aligning local land use decisions with statewide transportation goals.
Transit and Equity News
COLORADO—Proposal to Abolish ‘Parking Minimums’ for Denver Development Clears First Hurdle
Paolo Zialcita, Denverite | May 20, 2025
Denver’s Land Use, Transportation, and Infrastructure Committee advanced a proposal to eliminate parking minimums citywide, expanding a state law that bans such requirements near transit. While downtown Denver is already exempt, the change would apply across the entire city, aiming to accelerate new construction.
CALIFORNIA—City Council Supports Affordable Housing Development at El Cerrito BART Station
Andrew Nelson, SF YIMBY | May 19, 2025
The El Cirrito City Council approved a $350,000 loan to advance the next phase of its 743-unit transit-oriented redevelopment at the El Cerrito Plaza BART Station, with construction on the first affordable housing building expected to begin later this year. The full buildout will span six buildings and include retail and a potential public library.
NEW YORK—Ossining’s $96M Affordable Housing Complex Breaks Ground
Robert Brum, River Journal | May 19, 2025
Construction is underway on Station Plaza, an affordable housing development in Ossining, NY, on the site of a former brownfield. The project will include 108 affordable units, 3,400 sq. ft. of commercial space, and a 4,000 sq. ft. community facility—all within walking distance of the village’s downtown and Metro-North station.
Regional and National TOD News
CONNECTICUT—Facing Filibuster, Democrats Stall Vote on CT Omnibus Housing Bill
Ginny Monk, CT Mirror | May 22, 2025
Connecticut’s sweeping housing proposal, House Bill 5002, faces a potential filibuster as debate stalls. The bill would ban local parking minimums, enable middle housing in commercial zones, and encourage transit-oriented development. Critics argue it would undermine local control and restrict parking access.
COLORADO—Front Range Cities Sue Colorado Over Housing Policies
Lindsey Toomer, Colorado Newsline | May 20, 2025
Six Colorado municipalities are suing the state over two 2024 housing laws that allow higher density near transit and prohibit parking minimums. They argue the laws violate home rule authority granted by the state constitution and undermine local control over zoning. The plaintiffs claim they are already advancing affordable housing, and the laws would disrupt their local approval process and restrict public input.
Public Transit Ridership Hits Post-Pandemic High: APTA Report
Dan Zukowski, Smart Cities Dive | May 20, 2025
U.S. transit ridership reached 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels in early 2025, even as office occupancy remains at just 54 percent. Smaller cities and bus ridership led the rebound, driven by essential workers and younger, lower-income riders. APTA emphasized that public transit remains vital beyond commuting, recommending agencies adopt adaptable, rider-focused strategies to sustain growth.
MASSACHUSETTS—Western Mass. Amtrak Expansions Are Flush With Funding, but New Routes Won’t Debut ‘Til 2030s
Christian MilNeil, StreetsBlog Mass | May 14, 2025
Western Massachusetts has secured multiple federal grants for rail improvements, but significant progress isn’t expected until the 2030s. The proposed Compass Rail line from Albany to Boston remains in early planning and faces major infrastructural hurdles, including bottlenecks between Springfield and Worcester. Currently, this stretch supports just one daily AMTRAK trip and heavy freight traffic.
International TOD News
AUSTRALIA—Australia is Forecast to Fall 262,000 Homes Short of its Housing Target. We Need Bold Action
Stefan Postles, The Conversation | May 22, 2025
The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (NHSAC) reports that Australia will fall 262,000 units short of its goal to build 1.2 million homes by 2029. The report urges bold reform across multiple priority areas such as boosting social housing, modernizing construction, and updating planning systems. There is progress in some areas like New South Wales, which accelerated approval processes through a new TOD program.
ESTONIA—Making Connections: A New Tram Line for Tallinn’s Old Port
Staff, European Union | May 20, 2025
Tallinn, Estonia has completed a new tram line connecting the city center to the Old Port, closing a key gap in its transit network as part of the nation’s COVID-19 recovery plan. The line improves connectivity between the airport, city center, and seaport, aiming to reduce congestion and car dependency. Residents and planners welcomed the upgrade as a major step toward a more integrated regional transit system.
CANADA—Montreal Readies to Turn East-End Mall Into Densified Neighbourhood With Green Space
Isaac Olsen, CBC | May 13, 2025
Montreal’s City Council approved a $2.2 billion plan to redevelop the Place Versailles mall and its 4,000-space parking lot into a dense transit-oriented community near Radisson Metro Station. The planned 25-year project will include 6,000 apartments—1,000 reserved for social housing—a school, a hotel, and green space. Designed to reduce car dependency, the development emphasizes mixed-use design and transit access.