JCTC proposes affordable housing & arts tower (left); Montclair advances affordable housing plan; Housing reform in Denver; CT agency funds TOD; TOD initiative in Malaysia (right top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
JERSEY CITY—Jersey City Theater Center Unveils Plans for the Tallest Arts-Focused Cultural Center in the World
Jordan Coll, Jersey Digs | May 6, 2025
The Jersey City Theater Center (JCTC) announced plans for a 31-story arts and residential tower in the Journal Square 2060 Redevelopment Area, just a five-minute walk from the Journal Square Transportation Center. The project includes 86,000 sq. ft. of performance space and 98 income-restricted live/work units for artists. The JCTC aims to fund the project through private partnerships and state programs such as ASPIRE.
NJ TOD News
EAST RUTHERFORD—Vango Breaks Ground on 86-Unit Luxury Rental Project in East Rutherford
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | May 6, 2025
Vango Development has begun construction on The Parker East, an 86-unit mixed-use project with 1,100 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail. The site is a short walk from shops, restaurants, and Rutherford Station on the Bergen County Line.
MONTCLAIR—Hearing on Montclair’s Affordable Housing Plan Draws Crowd
Matt Kadosh, Montclair Local | May 6, 2025
A public hearing on Montclair’s draft affordable housing plan drew strong turnout, with most attendees voicing support. The plan proposes allowing affordable units on faith-based properties and revising zoning laws, though one resident noted a lack of TOD support in the plan. The Planning Board will revisit the plan again on May 19 ahead of the June 30 state deadline.
NEW BRUNSWICK—RWJBarnabas Health, Rutgers Cancer Institute to Open N.J.’s First Freestanding Cancer Hospital
John Harrington, ROI-NJ | May 5, 2025
RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute will open the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center—New Jersey’s first freestanding, comprehensive cancer hospital—on May 13. The $750 million, 12-story facility, located at 15 Division Street, will offer integrated inpatient, outpatient, and support services. It sits less than a third of a mile from New Brunswick Station.
Transit and Equity News
UTAH—There’s a New Affordable Apartment Complex in SLC and It Offers … Wait for It … Affordable Child Care
Tony Semerad, The Salt Lake Tribune | May 8, 2025
SPARK Apartments has opened in Salt Lake City, adding 200 mixed-income units next to the Power Station stop on TRAX’s Green Line. The project includes 48 deeply affordable units for families earning 20–30 percent of area median income (AMI) and features on-site affordable childcare and a preschool.
COLORADO—Denver’s Incubation of Affordable Housing Innovation
Kelsi Borland, Urban Land | May 5, 2025
To address a 19,000-unit affordable housing gap, Denver is advancing solutions like single-stair buildings, modular ADUs, and streamlined approvals via its Affordable Housing Review Team. The city delivered a record 18,248 housing units in 2023—including 1,500 AMI-restricted units—and aims to grow its housing stock by 9 percent in the coming year.
OREGON—Portland Mayor, Oregon Governor Propose Suspending Development Fees to Boost Housing Construction
Alex Zielinski, Oregon Capital Chronicle | May 1, 2025
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and Gov. Tina Kotek have proposed suspending impact fees on up to 5,000 housing permits to accelerate construction. With fees averaging 6 percent of total building costs, the plan would reduce expenses for developers while trading short-term city revenue for long-term housing gains.
Regional and National TOD News
CONNECTICUT—CT Agency Aims to Build Housing in Downtowns, Near Public Transit
Ginny Monk, CT Mirror | May 9, 2025
Connecticut’s Municipal Development Authority (CMDA) is helping towns like Naugatuck transform car-centric areas into walkable, mixed-use communities near public transit. Backed by $60 million in bonding and state assistance, the agency supports municipalities in planning, zoning, and financing transit-oriented development.
PENNSYLVANIA—Two Problems, One Solution
Jon Geeting, The Philadelphia Citizen | May 9, 2025
A new Econsult Solutions report warns that without $213 million in state or city funding, SEPTA will cut service this July—threatening $19.9 billion in property values and 76,700 jobs. Advocates propose capturing the value of development near stations to sustainably fund transit operations.
WASHINGTON—How One Suburb Is Using Transit to Transform Into a True City
Kea Wilson, Streetsblog USA | May 8, 2025
Redmond is evolving into a walkable urban hub, pairing two new light rail stations and a major trail expansion with zoning reforms that legalize denser housing. The city now leads Washington in new apartment construction near transit.
AMTRAK Could Modernize Northeast Corridor for Less: NYU Study
Dan Zukowski, Smart Cities Dive | May 6, 2025
An NYU report offers a $17 billion alternative to Amtrak’s $117 billion Northeast Corridor plan, using international best practices and coordinated scheduling to deliver high-speed trains every 10 minutes and cut travel times between New York and Boston or Washington DC to under two hours.
FLORIDA—Orlando Grows, Public Buses Lag, Officials Call for Transit-Oriented Development
Lillian Caraballo, Central Florida Public Media | May 2, 2025
With ridership down and funding at risk—even as land values and population rise—Orlando officials are turning to transit-oriented development. They propose high-density, walkable communities around SunRail and LYNX routes, citing Creative Village and Catchlight Crossings as models nearing completion.
International TOD News
NIGERIA—Lagos Plans 15,000 Mass Transit Buses, 7 Rail Lines for Transporting 30M Residents
Olorundare Enimola, Independent | May 8, 2025
LAMATA CEO Engr. Abimbola Akinajo announced plans to expand Lagos’ transit network by adding 15,000 BRT buses, four new rail lines, and a monorail by 2030 to meet growing commuter needs and reduce congestion. The plan includes phasing out 75,000 “danfos” (or minibuses) to high-capacity buses and aligning projects with the Lagos Strategic Transport Master Plan.
MALAYSIA—Pahang Set to Roll Out Development Plans Around Seven ECRL Stations
Staff, The Vibes | May 7, 2025
The Pahang government will launch a major development plan around seven East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) stations to enhance infrastructure and stimulate economic growth. The initiative combines Transit-Oriented Development with Economic Accelerator Projects to drive growth.
CANADA—$15,000 in Forgivable Loans Available for Property Developers to Build Apartments Near London Transit
Bailey Shakyaver, CTV News | May 5, 2025
The City of London is offering $15,000 forgivable loans per unit to boost housing near transit. Targeting residential and mixed-use projects, the program supports sustainable growth and forgives loans once construction and inspections are complete.