On Day 1 of the New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference, the keynote session “The Road Ahead: Economic, Housing, and Real Estate Trends” painted a clear picture of the challenges and opportunities shaping New Jersey’s housing future—and why the stakes are higher than ever.
Development and Redevelopment
The Road Ahead: Why Housing Trends Will Shape New Jersey’s Future
Thursday, June 26th, 2025From Liberation to Livability: The Deep Connection Between Juneteenth and Urban Development
Thursday, June 19th, 2025As we reflect on the powerful conversations and momentum sparked during the New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference held just days ago, we also find ourselves reflecting on another moment of significance—Juneteenth. Though these two events may appear unrelated in nature, they are bound by a common thread: the enduring pursuit of freedom, equity, and opportunity for communities of color and other historically marginalized populations.
Walking Together: Honoring Our History, Healing Through Nature, Reimagining What’s Possible
Monday, June 16th, 2025As we approach this year’s Juneteenth, many of us will gather to commemorate a day of delayed freedom—an emancipation long overdue, and one still too often compromised. We will remember the ongoing struggle for Black liberation. But we must also reflect on where that liberation happens: in places where we can breathe freely, move freely, and simply be.
More Home Choices for New Jersey: How Accessory Dwelling Units Can Help Solve Our Housing Shortage
Thursday, May 15th, 2025If you’ve tried finding a home in New Jersey recently, you already know: the rent is too high, buying a home feels impossible, and competition is fierce. Rentals disappear overnight and homebuyers face bidding wars that drive prices out of reach. Why is it so difficult to find an affordable place to live?
Designing Pedestrian-Friendly Spaces to Enhance Health and Accessibility for New Jersey’s Aging Population
Thursday, March 13th, 2025As New Jersey’s population ages, one challenge stands out: how can we create an environment that supports the well-being of older adults, particularly in urban and suburban spaces? The built environment—our streets, sidewalks, and public areas—profoundly affects the health and independence of seniors. Yet many older residents, particularly in underserved communities, face significant barriers to mobility.
Exciting Updates to NJ’s State Plan—Don’t Miss Your Chance to Speak Up!
Tuesday, February 18th, 2025New Jersey Future (NJF) has been a key advocate for the State Plan since our founding in 1987, championing smart growth policies to improve communities and safeguard natural resources. NJF was a member of the consultant team that assisted the Office of Planning Advocacy with the update to the State Plan. I contributed analysis on multiple subject matter areas addressed in the Plan, including parts of the Research Briefs section, Population and Employment Projections section, and the Lasting changes in the post-COVID world section.
Heat, Air Quality, and Hope: Community Research and Resilience in Elizabeth, NJ
Tuesday, July 30th, 2024Elizabeth is nestled on the shore of Newark Bay in Union County, a dense, urban enclave in the heart of the Meadowlands estuary and wetlands. Our neighbors include: the Newark Liberty International Airport, where planes fly by my apartment multiple times a day creating noise nuisance.
New Jersey Needs More Housing, and Municipalities are on the Front Lines
Tuesday, July 30th, 2024Without a safe, stable place to call home, how can people achieve any personal goals?” asked Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Commissioner Jacquelyn Suárez. Her opening remarks kicked off the session, “Housing: What’s Next in New Jersey?” at the 2024 NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference.
New Jersey’s Housing Landscape: The Mount Laurel Doctrine and the Search for the Missing Middle
Tuesday, July 30th, 2024The rising costs of housing in New Jersey are affecting everyone, especially individuals and households at the lower end of the income spectrum. New Jersey’s unique Mount Laurel doctrine is meant to address the need for housing for lower-income households, but it also indirectly has a major effect on the supply of market-rate multi-family units in the process.
Transit-Oriented Development Is Popular, but Won’t Happen by Itself
Friday, March 15th, 2024New Jersey’s transit towns are experiencing something of a revival in the last decade and a half. This is an important positive development, since transit-oriented development (TOD) advances multiple societal goals.
