What you need to know about NYC’s congestion pricing (right); NJ urban mayors back affordable housing law; Austin, TX, advances SMART affordable housing; “City of Yes” weighs parking vs. housing; Lahore struggles to breathe (left top-to-bottom)
Article of the Week
NEW YORK—NYC’s Congestion Pricing to Launch Jan.5: What You Need to Know
Jon Campbell and Stephen Nessen, Gothamist | November 14, 2024
Governor Kathy Hochul has approved the relaunch of NYC’s congestion pricing program, set to begin on January 5, 2025. The base toll for passenger vehicles will be $9, down from the original $15, with fees varying by time of day, vehicle type, and payment method. Revenue will fund key MTA infrastructure projects, including subway repairs and bus improvements, while aiming to ease congestion south of Central Park. To avoid potential obstruction from Donald Trump, a vocal opponent of the congestion tax, Hochul plans to implement the policy before he takes office.
NJ TOD News
N.J. Urban Mayors Association Supports Recently Enacted Affordable Housing Law
Adrian Mapp, ROI-NJ | November 14, 2024
Plainfield Mayor Adrian Mapp, representing the New Jersey Urban Mayors Association, announced the group’s support for the affordable housing law and the NJ Department of Community Affairs calculations. While critics claim the law imposes an unfair financial burden on municipalities, Mapp counters that this view ignores the significant technical and financial assistance available. The law ensures municipalities contribute equitably based on size, growth, and housing demand, relieving urban areas of a disproportionate burden and advancing safe, stable, and affordable housing for all New Jersey residents.
JERSEY CITY—Kushner Eyes Early 2025 Launch for Long-Awaited 1,723-Unit Rental Project in Journal Square
Joshua Burd, Real Estate NJ | November 13, 2024
Kushner’s $1 billion mixed-use development, The Journal, located in Jersey City’s Journal Square, intends to start preleasing in early 2025. The two 64-story towers will comprise over 2 million sq. ft. of residential and retail space, including 1,723 housing units, a 40,000 sq. ft. Target store, and a nearly one-acre public plaza. Adjacent to the Journal Square Transportation Center, it will offer access to the NJ TRANSIT bus terminal and PATH service to midtown Manhattan. The Journal will be Journal Square’s second recently completed large-scale mixed-use project, joining Kushner Real Estate Group’s Journal Squared.
PATERSON—NJ TRANSIT Awarded Federal Grant to Study Transit-Oriented Development in Paterson
Press Release, NJ TRANSIT | November 13, 2024
NJ TRANSIT secured a $380,000 Federal Transit Administration (FTA) grant to develop a TOD master plan around Paterson Station. The agency will study ways to increase residential and commercial development around the station to better serve residents and visitors. Paterson Station, located on NJ TRANSIT’s Main Line, connects to Hoboken, with further links to Newark Penn Station and New York Penn Station. Mayor Andre Sayegh expressed enthusiasm for leveraging the station’s economic potential to drive growth and investment in Paterson.
LITTLE FALLS—Little Falls Planning Board Approves Comprehensive Master Plan for Future Development
Gabrielle Dragone, TAPinto Passaic Valley | November 10, 2024
The Little Falls Planning Board approved a new Master Plan, outlining its vision for growth over the next decade. Informed by data analysis and community input, the plan addresses key issues, including traffic congestion, sustainable development, and recreational needs. It promotes walkable, transit-oriented neighborhoods with higher-density, mixed-use development near transit hubs like Little Falls Station, on NJ TRANSIT’s Montclair-Boonton line. Additional priorities include enhancing pedestrian infrastructure, revitalizing public spaces, and advancing sustainability.
Transit and Equity News
CALIFORNIA—Affordable Housing Coming to 5633 N. Farmdale Ave. in North Hollywood
Steven Sharp, Urbanize Los Angeles | November 12, 2024
Alliant Capital plans to build a five-story, 48-unit affordable housing project in North Hollywood, a few blocks from LA Metro’s North Hollywood Station. The project will forgo on-site parking and dedicate all units to low- or moderate-income housing. Utilizing California’s Affordable Housing Executive Directive 1, it will leverage density bonus incentives to exceed standard zoning limits.
GEORGIA—Atlanta’s West End: $450 Million Redevelopment Planned with Mixed-Use and Mixed-Income Affordable Housing
Ben Johnson, Urban Land | November 12, 2024
Atlanta, in partnership with two New York-based developers, announced a $450 million redevelopment plan to redevelop the West End Mall, acquired in October 2024. The project will create a mixed-use community with retail, residential, and medical office space near four HBCUs and MARTA’s West End Station. Plans call for 125,000 sq. ft. of retail space, 150 student housing beds, 900 mixed-income rental units—20 percent affordable at 50 percent AMI, 10 percent at 80 percent AMI. Currently in the early planning stage, construction is set to begin in 2025.
TEXAS—Austin to Get New $17M Affordable Housing Units to Combat Homelessness
Cristela Jones, MySanAntonio | November 10, 2024
The Bailey at Berkman, a $17 million affordable housing project in Austin, will be developed by National CORE with city and state funding support. Located in Windsor Park, it will include 104 apartments, with 26 units designated for individuals experiencing homelessness. Aligned with Austin’s SMART Housing initiatives, the project focuses on sustainability and transit access. Construction is scheduled to begin in August 2025 and conclude by December 2026.
Regional and National TOD News
MISSOURI—Berkley Riverfront Development: A $1 Billion Project to Revitalize Urban Living in Kansas City
Jon Stephens, Urban Land | November 13, 2024
Through targeted redevelopment by the Port Authority of Kansas City (Port KC), Berkley Riverfront has transformed into a thriving mixed-use neighborhood. Port KC worked with private developers to build new residential and commercial space while heavily investing in public infrastructure. The latest project is a $1 billion development featuring more than 2 million sq. ft. in urban amenities and a new professional sports stadium. Public transportation will be essential to the area’s continued growth, with a new streetcar line set to open in late 2025.
The Benefits of Transit Extend Well Beyond Transit Riders
Chris McCahill, State Smart Transportation Initiative | November 12, 2024
A study by the University of Utah and MIT shows that public transit significantly affects land use and travel behavior, reducing vehicle miles traveled beyond transit riders. For every mile not driven by transit passengers, the broader community avoids an additional six to nine vehicle miles, with greater benefits in transit-rich areas like Boston and Seattle. The research highlights how transit infrastructure reduces car dependency and transforms communities, strengthening the case for investing in transit systems to reduce traffic congestion and emissions.
NEW YORK—Want Parking? Kiss Goodbye Half of the Projected Housing in ‘City of Yes’
Sophia Lebowitz, Streetsblog NYC | November 7, 2024
If the NYC City Council removes the citywide ban on parking requirements from the “City of Yes” rezoning plan, experts estimate housing production could drop by 50 percent, particularly affecting accessory dwelling units, transit-oriented developments, and town center zoning. While some Council members from low-density areas oppose eliminating parking mandates, experts argue these requirements have historically stifled development. A compromise could reduce housing output and further concentrate new units in already-developed neighborhoods.
International TOD News
CANADA—TransLink’s First-Ever For-Profit Tower Project Moves Forward
Kenneth Chan, Daily Hive | November 13, 2024
TransLink, in a 50-50 partnership with PCI Developments, has submitted a development permit application for a 30-story mixed-use rental tower at 2096 West Broadway in Vancouver, next to the future Arbutus SkyTrain Station. The transit-oriented project will feature 260 rental units, retail space, and community facilities, including a secondary entrance to the SkyTrain station. As TransLink’s first real estate development under its for-profit division, the project aligns with the City’s Broadway Plan. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2025.
PAKISTAN—To Breathe or Not to Breathe?
D. Dawn, Asia News Network | November 11, 2024
Lahore, Pakistan’s second-largest city, reached hazardous air quality levels due to industrial emissions, stubble burning, and traffic pollution. Despite extensive data on pollution sources, political and economic challenges have stalled effective action in the Punjab region. The article calls for an integrated approach, highlighting cleaner technologies, stricter enforcement, and improved public transit. Expanding Lahore’s Metro Bus and Orange Line systems is essential to reducing vehicular emissions and promoting sustainable urban growth.
AUSTRALIA—Addressing Perth’s Housing Market: Build Out or Build Up?
Staff, FTI Consulting | November 5, 2024
Perth faces a housing shortage due to population growth, migration, and limited new construction, leading to rising rents and house prices. FTI Consulting’s analysis of housing development strategies finds that growth near major transport corridors and the city center offers lower societal costs and higher economic returns, while fringe developments result in higher costs. Prioritizing densification along transport routes and near employment hubs can help address the housing crisis, increase economic productivity, and reduce congestion.