Topology

06/20/2026

How do you measure the success of your planning and redevelopment efforts? Is a planner's work truly ever "done"? 🤔

The truth is, there is no checkered flag. 🏁 Successful communities are not defined by reaching a finish line or completing a grand plan, but by the ongoing work of , participation, and incremental improvement. Rather than measuring success through ribbon cuttings or completed projects, prosperity comes from creating places where each generation leaves its community a little stronger than it found it, building a "good life in a prosperous place." Read more: https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2026-6-19-a-good-life-in-a-prosperous-place-mds26

06/19/2026

Happy from Topology! A day that commemorates freedom, resilience, and the ongoing pursuit of equality. As planners, we recognize the importance of creating communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. ❤️🖤💚

06/18/2026

Another in the books! 📚 At last week's New Jersey Planning & Redevelopment Conference in New Brunswick, Topology Principal Graham Petto had the pleasure of moderating a panel on New Jersey's Fourth Round of affordable housing, what we've learned so far, and where we go next.

As New Jersey moves from planning to implementation in the Fourth Round process, municipalities are shifting their focus to ensuring adopted housing strategies actually deliver results. 📈

"After Adoption: Fourth Round Lessons Learned and the Road to Midpoint Review" explored lessons learned from the Fourth Round, including changes from prior cycles, and discusses how communities can monitor progress, address stalled sites, manage compliance requirements, and make adjustments to keep affordable housing plans on track. 🏘

Panelists included:

🟢 Moderator: Graham Petto, Topology
🟢 Jessica Almeida, McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC
🟢 Josh Bauers, Fair Share Housing Center
🟢 Robert Conley, The Borough of Madison New Jersey
🟢 Deborah Mans, Borough of Glen Ridge, New Jersey
🟢 John Inglesino, Ingelsino Taylor

Thank you to our panel of experts and to everyone who contributed to an informative and lively discussion! 💚

06/17/2026

Hey Morristown! 👋 You still have a little over a week to provide input about the Town's parks and open spaces! 🌳

Topology is getting our Leslie Knope on and assisting the Town of Morristown, NJ update the Open Space and Recreation Plan Element of their Master Plan! Your feedback is crucial in shaping the future of 's parks and open spaces for years to come. 🗺

Fill out our online survey until June 26th: https://s.surveylegend.com/-OpiHdmV7beIfk5_wU4f

06/16/2026

Let there be art!🎨

At last week's New Jersey Planning & Redevelopment Conference in New Brunswick, Topology Founder + CEO Phil Abramson took part in a panel session on "Creative Financing for the Arts in New Jersey," exploring innovative financing strategies used across the Garden State to support arts and cultural initiatives at both the state and local levels. 🎭 We'll be sharing Phil's slides as well, so stayed tuned...

Thank you to fellow panelists Paul Ceppi, Robinson Holloway, Annie McAdams, and Leonardo Vazquez who all added so much an important discussion!

The conference took place at the Hyatt Regency New Brunswick, which is coincidentally where Team Senegal is staying for the FIFA World Cup, and whose first match against France kicked off just moments ago! 🇸🇳⚽ Pretty cool stuff if you ask us.

06/15/2026

All aboard! It's time to get back to basics and talk TOD. 🚉

Earlier this month Topology Planner Julian Wexer attended NJTOD.org's "Taking First Steps Toward a Transit Friendly Future" at the NJ TRANSIT HQ in Newark.

The forum brought together municipal leaders, downtown managers, and community partners to explore practical, achievable strategies for transit-friendly planning and transit-oriented development. Julian had a chance to speak to state and local leaders in round table discussions in order to better understand what resources are available to better implement in New Jersey municipalities. 💰

Collaborative small group discussions included:

▪ New Jersey State Plan – Walter Lane, NJBAC/NJOPA
▪ Transit-Friendly Planning & TOD Office (Real Estate) – Michael Swan & Kristen Mitchell, NJ TRANSIT
▪ Housing & Affordable Development – Jonathan Sternesky, New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency
▪ Community Development – Michelle Osorio, New Jersey Economic Development Authority
▪ Main Street – Jenin Shah & Simran Riar, New Jersey Department of Community Affairs
▪ Special Improvement Districts – Vanessa Quijano, Downtown New Jersey
▪ Transit Village Initiative – Mike Manzella & Jelena Lasko, New Jersey Department of Transportation
▪ Bicycle & Pedestrian Planning – Elise Bremer-Nei, NJDOT

Learn more here: https://www.njtod.org/first-steps/

06/13/2026

Many cities have made it easier to build housing near transit and are seeing meaningful results, adding new homes in walkable, transit-connected neighborhoods. 🚉 Transit-oriented development can help address housing shortages, support sustainable growth, and create communities where residents have more options and shorter commutes. But are we building enough? 🤔

Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-06-10/these-us-cities-are-succeeding-in-building-housing-near-transit

Since the 1980s, many cities have embraced transit-oriented development policies to encourage more walkable neighborhoods. A new analysis shows how far they’ve come.

06/12/2026

Summer is right around the corner and that means Topology's 2026 Summer Interns are here! Earlier this week we introduced you to one of two interns spending time with the firm this summer, and today we're thrilled to welcome GIS Intern Katelyn Hung! 👋

A rising senior at Bryn Mawr College, Katelyn is majoring in the Growth and Structure of Cities with minors in Economics and Data Science. Excited to join Topology as a GIS Intern, she will be producing spatial tools for our planners, creating a data repository to streamline future spatial analyses, and creating an interactive, statewide zoning map for stakeholder engagement. 🗺

Though Katelyn is eager to learn about the intersection of participatory planning and data storytelling, she is also interested in equitable development, affordable housing, and multi-modal transit. Outside of work, Katelyn enjoys biking, crocheting, and trying new restaurants with friends. 🚵‍♂️🧶🍽

Welcome to the team, Katelyn! 💚

06/10/2026

See you this Friday in the Hub City for ! 👋 Topology is a proud Colleague Sponsor of the 2026 New Jersey Planning & Redevelopment Conference, presented by New Jersey Future and the New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association! 💚

The state’s premier gathering of land use professionals, elected officials, developers, advocates, and community leaders, we will also have the pleasure of sitting on two in-person panels on June 12th at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick.

🟢 Topology Founder + CEO Phil Abramson
👨‍🏫 Creative Financing for the Arts in New Jersey
📅 June 12, 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM

🟢 Topology Principal Graham Petto
👨‍🏫 After Adoption: Fourth Round Lessons Learned and the Road to Midpoint Review
📅 June 12, 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM

For full session details, conference info, and to register visit https://site.pheedloop.com/event/njprc26/home.

06/09/2026

The mercury is rising. The days are getting longer. Summer is right around the corner. 🌞 And that can only mean one thing: it’s time to meet our 2026 Topology Summer Interns!

We have two Interns with the firm this summer, and first up is Zoning Intern Eric Silverman, a rising Junior studying Urban Planning & Design at Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning & Public Policy. 🎓 Eric is eager to apply what he’s learned in the classroom to real-world planning projects taking shape in communities across New Jersey. He’s also looking forward to learning from and working alongside the talented planners at Topology throughout the summer. 💪

We're thrilled to have you with us this summer, Eric!