Taylor Architecture & Design

Designing for What Comes Next: Why Transit-Oriented Development Matters Now More Than Ever

Written by Brian M. Taylor, AIA, MBA | Nov 27, 25

On December 9, I’ll be joining a panel at Real Estate NJ’s State of Redevelopment: Multifamily and Mixed-Use Conference at The Highlawn in West Orange — and I’m looking forward to contributing to a timely conversation on Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and how it’s reshaping our communities.

The TOD conversation isn’t new — but it is evolving. As capital markets tighten and municipalities revisit zoning priorities, the pressure is on to make projects more efficient, more viable, and more deeply aligned with long-term infrastructure and housing needs. This is where design has to meet real-world development strategy.

The Developer’s Lens — and the Architect’s Role

Transit-oriented sites come with promise, but also complexity:

  • Entitlement risk
  • Urban infill challenges
  • Community resistance
  • Financial stacking
  • Parking constraints
  • Tight timelines

 

At Taylor Architecture & Design, our approach has always been grounded in developer realities. We see TOD not just as a design challenge — but as an opportunity to solve for economics, approvals, and community impact all at once. That’s the lens I’ll bring to this panel.

Join Us — and Stay for the Full Program

I’m honored to share the stage with some of the region’s most experienced professionals:

Brian Barry, Joe Forgione, Sean Massey, Sean McGowan, Jason Hart, MBA, JD, and myself, Brian M. Taylor, AIA, MBA, LEED AP, will be part of the Transit-Oriented Development Panel in the morning session.

Stick around for the second panel of the day, where Stephen Santola, Chris Erb, John Inglesino, Jason Chmura, Joseph Demarco, and Stephen Hoyt, PE will dive into local land use policy—always a key piece of the TOD puzzle.

A special thank you to Joshua Burd for organizing what’s shaping up to be a valuable and thought-provoking day.

👉 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eFrNmdG6

Hope to see many of you there.