NJ eTOD review (left) • LCOR picks “Charlie” leasing partner • CO House passes transit housing bill • CTA advances station art projects • SE Asia’s Satellite Cities (right top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
Affordable Housing and Transit Series: New Jersey
Sohail Husein, Eno Center for Transportation | May 1, 2026
In the seventh installment of its eTOD case study series, Eno examines how New Jersey is using TOD, affordable housing mandates, and coordinated state planning to address rising housing costs. NJ TRANSIT recently launched an initiative to develop agency-owned land and continues to support municipalities through planning guidance, outreach, and the Transit Village Initiative.
NJ TOD News
HOBOKEN—LCOR Taps SERHANT to Lead Leasing at 386-Unit Hoboken Rental Project
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | May 5, 2026
LCOR selected SERHANT to lead leasing for Charlie, a 386-unit development that anchors the Hoboken Connect project. The broader project includes a new NJ TRANSIT bus terminal, public space, restoration of the Ferry Terminal Building, and additional residential and retail development.
Transit-Friendly 101: Back to Basics
Staff, NJTOD | May 5, 2026
This NJTOD feature outlines key considerations for municipalities beginning transit friendly planning efforts. It highlights examples from communities across New Jersey, summarizes core TOD benefits, and offers a step-by-step framework for implementation.
NJTOD will also host a TOD in Your Downtown event on the same topic on June 4 in Newark. See Taking First Steps Toward a Transit Friendly Future.
Transit and Equity News
Change to Public Housing Policies ‘Hurts Everyone,’ NJ Critics Say
Benjamin J. Hulac, NJ Spotlight News | May 6, 2026
New HUD regulations would eliminate the requirement for a 30-day notice before filing a tenant eviction and allow work requirements for public housing tenants. Critics, including the Rutgers Law School National Lawyers Guild, say the changes will worsen housing instability and homelessness.
CALIFORNIA—SoMa Affordable Housing Project to Provide Dozens of New Units
James Salazar, San Francisco Examiner | May 8, 2026
Developers topped off construction on Freelon Apartments, an 85-unit project with 58 apartments reserved for households earning between 30 and 60 percent of area median income and 22 units designated for people exiting homelessness. The development sits within a five-minute walk of light rail and Caltrain service and near transportation upgrades such as light rail signal prioritization. Completion is expected in summer 2027.
TENNESSEE—Faith-Based Organizations Turn Underused Land into Affordable Housing in Nashville
Sibley Fleming, Urban Land | May 5, 2026
An Urban Land Institute panel explored how faith-based organizations can use underused land for affordable housing. Nashville and other cities are reducing development barriers and providing grant funding to help faith-based housing projects move forward more efficiently and expand housing supply.
COLORADO—House Passes Bill to Reduce Housing Costs, Save Coloradans Money
Press Release, Colorado House Democrats | May 4, 2026
The Colorado House passed legislation to support transit infrastructure and transit-oriented housing aimed at reducing housing costs. The bill would use tax-increment financing and new tax credits to advance the initiative. It now heads to the Senate.
Regional and National TOD News
RHODE ISLAND—Wickford Junction Officially Breaks Ground on 152-Unit Housing Project
Bill Seymour, Southern Rhode Island Newspapers | May 8, 2026
Moran Properties began construction on The Residences at Wickford Junction, a 152-unit development in North Kingstown. The project sits next to Wickford Junction Station, which provides direct MBTA service to Providence and Boston, and is located within the Town’s new Transit Oriented Development Zone.
ILLINOIS—Elevated Chicago Expands “Elevating Culture Near Transit” Initiative With Three New Grants and Historic Partnership With CTA
Press Release, Chicago Transit Authority | May 6, 2026
The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) partnered with Elevated Chicago to expand the “Elevating Culture Near Transit” initiative through three new community-focused projects. Planned improvements include live jazz performances at six CTA stations, murals and public art celebrating 95th Street history, and placemaking enhancements along the 35th Street corridor.
PENNSYLVANIA—Could Private Partnerships Save Pennsylvania Transit? Some State Lawmakers Think So
Colin Williams, Pittsburgh City Paper | May 6, 2026
Pennsylvania lawmakers are advancing legislation that would allow counties and municipalities to use public-private partnerships for transit infrastructure projects. Supporters argue the measure could help address the state’s transit funding challenges, while critics warn that such partnerships may increase long-term costs and prioritize profit over public benefit.
MASSACHUSETTS—Greystar and Haseko to Break Ground on 189-Unit Multifamily Development in Needham
Staff, Boston Real Estate Times | May 5, 2026
Greystar and Haseko broke ground on a 189-unit multifamily development in Needham Heights. The project is located within a multifamily zoning district created through the MBTA Communities Act and offers close access to transit services. Completion is expected in fall 2027.
International TOD News
CHINA—Above the Tracks: China’s Unique Model for Transit-Oriented Development
Anderson Chider Hsieh, Planetizen | May 8, 2026
Since 2010, Chinese cities have increasingly developed mixed-use neighborhoods above metro depots, leveraging large tracts of state-owned land near transit infrastructure. Hsieh argues that U.S. transit agencies could reevaluate the redevelopment potential of their rail yards and depots.
SOUTHEAST ASIA—After Le Corbusier: How Southeast Asia Turned the Satellite City into a Transit Megaproject
Jonathan Yeung, Arch Daily | May 7, 2026
Southeast Asian cities adapted the modernist “satellite city” concept into large-scale transit-oriented megaprojects organized around rail networks, dense housing, and integrated station districts rather than standalone landmark buildings. While these developments improve mobility and density, Yeung notes that they can limit public life.
PAKISTAN—Cities Unable to Breathe
Maira Mumtaz, Dawn | May 6, 2026
Pakistan’s rapid urbanization has contributed to severe congestion, unequal mobility access, and worsening air pollution, with the country ranked the world’s smoggiest in 2025. Climate activist Maira Mumtaz argues that expanding public transit, walkable infrastructure, and people-centered planning is essential to protecting public health and maintaining livable cities.