Dear Friends,
Over three energizing days at the 2025 NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference, we collaborated across sectors to learn, share, network, and be called to action. The hybrid event drew over 850 thought leaders, policymakers, and community advocates who share a passion and commitment to the Garden State.
Whether you could attend or not, we are excited to continue the conversation!
-
-
Below, you can read up on some of the most pressing issues shaping our communities and the bold ideas and real-world solutions highlighted at the conference from across New Jersey and beyond.
-
For those who were registered, remember that you can access all of the recorded sessions through mid-September. See below for more information.
What’s clear is that more than ever before, it's essential to come together as we build a future full of opportunity and inclusivity in New Jersey. Our successes are a testament to the dedication of our sponsors, supporters, partners, and the entire New Jersey Future team. A special shout-out to our co-host, APA New Jersey. Together, we are making strides toward a more sustainable, equitable, and vibrant New Jersey. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you again at the 2026 conference! (Save the dates: June 10-12).
With gratitude,
Peter Kasabach
Executive Director
P.S. If you attended, we’d love your feedback! Please take a few minutes to complete our post-conference survey. Your input is essential to helping us improve and grow this important convening. |
New Jersey is amidst a deepening housing crisis—particularly an affordability crisis. In all corners of the state, longtime residents are being priced out of their homes as housing costs soar. In fact, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, New Jersey has a shortage of over 200,000 housing units for low-income residents. Newark now ranks as the most difficult city in the United States to find a rental property. Read More. |
|
New Jersey’s high housing costs make life difficult for everyone, especially individuals and households at the lower end of the income spectrum. New Jersey’s Mount Laurel doctrine addresses the need for housing for lower-income households. Read More. |
|
New Jersey’s demographic shifts and our current housing supply and affordability crisis require planners and local officials to rethink what many consider “traditional” housing models and explore, embrace, and encourage a variety of living arrangements. Intergenerational housing models—living arrangements that bring together people of different generations, regardless of if they hold familial relationship—offer ways to meet our housing and community needs and plan for the future. Read More. |
|
What does art have to do with economic development? “Every single thing,” Tai Cooper reminds us, opening up the session, “Putting the ‘ART’ in SmART Growth: Strategies for Arts and Creative Placemaking.” When we’re looking at smart growth pillars, it’s not easily apparent how art can be connected, but it’s vital for creating vibrant communities and, in turn, economic prosperity. Read More. |
|
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.
Read More. |
|
Transportation & Mobility |
Transportation is more than infrastructure—it’s a foundation for economic vitality and community well-being. In cities and towns across the globe, the quality and accessibility of transportation systems shape not only how people get from point A to point B, but also how they access opportunities for employment, education, and recreation. Read More. |
|
At the 2025 New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference, hosted in partnership by New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association, Beth Osborne—Interim President and CEO of Smart Growth America—delivered a keynote that challenged and inspired. In front of a packed audience of planners, community advocates, and developers, Osborne made one thing clear: transformative change starts locally. Read More. |
|
Want More?
Looking for more information on the emerging trends brought to you by experts in your field? Conference registrants can access the Wednesday and Thursday virtual session videos through mid-September by logging in to the Virtual Portal using your username and password. |
Smart Growth for Everyone
Smart Growth is equitable growth. It is also restorative, as smart growth and redevelopment can help correct systemic racial and economic disparities. As New Jersey Future drives land use decision-making toward more equitable outcomes, we will be sharing useful resources and lessons in this monthly spotlight. Please give us your feedback and share with us any particularly insightful articles, talks, events, or videos that you come across. |
From Liberation to Livability
As we reflect on the powerful conversations and momentum sparked during the NJ Planning and Redevelopment Conference, 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. Read More. |
|
Social Media Spotlight
Relive the moments: Check out our NJPRC25 photo album and share your favorite highlights with colleagues and friends! #NJPRC25 |
We Want to Hear from You!
If you attended, we’d love your feedback! Please take a few minutes to complete our post-conference survey. Your input is essential to helping us improve and grow this important convening. |
Did someone forward you this newsletter? Sign up to receive your own copy! |
|
|
