Housing of the Future is Transit-Oriented

As transit oriented development gains ground in cities across the country, it is increasingly seen as the model for the future of multi-family housing.

1 minute read

February 13, 2008, 6:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


"Clearly, promoting an environmental position enhances corporate social responsibility. One particular initiative – the transit-oriented development (TOD) – offers a clear vision of taking that responsibility beyond what is socially expected. The TOD is the model for what multi-family housing will look like in the years ahead. Many TOD projects are included in the USGBC's LEED-ND/Neighborhood Development pilot program, with 238 projects already registered, including: 108 N. State Street, Chicago; Atlantic Yards Development, Brooklyn, NY; City Creek Center, Salt Lake City, UT; Transit-Oriented Develop District, Irvine, CA; and MacArthur BART Transit Village, Oakland, CA."

"Many developers – along with the Urban Land Institute (ULI) – have embraced these initiatives, and have addressed their potential value as TODs have evolved. In a 2003 report addressing TODs' barriers and incentives, the ULI noted that TOD is an important component in a community's tool kit to achieve regional growth management goals and objectives. However, it is not a "silver bullet" for economic and other problems faced by jurisdictions. TOD operates in and is supported by a multimodal transit and land use environment, but TOD and transit do not by themselves create a successful market. The reverse is true: the market creates opportunities for TOD."

Tuesday, February 12, 2008 in ArchNewsNow

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

June 25, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Map of Western U.S. indicating public lands that would be for sale under a Senate plan in yellow and green.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands

For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

June 19, 2025 - Outdoor Life

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up of full beer glass with purple train-themed design sitting on bar between two frosty tall cans.

Platform Pilsner: Vancouver Transit Agency Releases... a Beer?

TransLink will receive a portion of every sale of the four-pack.

June 30 - Cities Today

Vintage red Toronto streetcar passing in front of Rogers Arena in Toronto, Canada.

Toronto Weighs Cheaper Transit, Parking Hikes for Major Events

Special event rates would take effect during large festivals, sports games and concerts to ‘discourage driving, manage congestion and free up space for transit.”

June 30 - blogTO

Map of Berlin with ring roads in green and red.

Berlin to Consider Car-Free Zone Larger Than Manhattan

The area bound by the 22-mile Ringbahn would still allow 12 uses of a private automobile per year per person, and several other exemptions.

June 30 - Streetsblog USA

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.