23rd Annual NJ Future Smart Growth Awards
October 12, 2025
Crafted by Gabe Bailer, PP, AICP
Last week, I had the opportunity to attend New Jersey Future’s 23rd Annual Smart Growth Awards at the South Orange Performing Arts Center. As a practicing land use planner, it was an inspiring evening to learn about seven projects recognized with the 2025 Smart Growth Awards for advancing sustainable development, community planning, and transformative land use initiatives across New Jersey. The event also celebrated the 2025 NJ Future Leadership Award honoree, and provided a great opportunity to connect and network with professionals in the planning and development fields.
The event began with a networking reception, during which the award-winning projects were showcased on a video display. Attendees then moved downstairs to the main auditorium for the formal awards ceremony.
The program opened with remarks from Gualberto Medina, Executive Vice President of CBRE and Chair of the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, followed by Peter Kasabach, Executive Director of New Jersey Future. Both speakers emphasized how the Smart Growth Awards celebrate projects that positively impact communities and enhance the overall quality of life in New Jersey.
They highlighted that the individuals, organizations, and firms behind these efforts are true creators and stewards of the built environment, advancing sustainable growth and redevelopment in a state where developable land is limited—making smart, thoughtful planning more important than ever.
With the opening introductions complete, the program transitioned to honoring the seven recipients of the 2025 NJ Future Smart Growth Awards, which were selected by an independent panel of twelve professionals representing New Jersey’s land use, community planning, and sustainable development fields.
As each awardee was introduced, NJ Future presented a short video feature highlighting the project’s smart growth principles, its community impact, and the individuals and organizations whose collaboration brought each project to life.
This year’s NJ Future Smart Growth Award winners represented a diverse range of projects advancing sustainable development, community revitalization, and innovative land use across New Jersey:
Cooper River Water Trail (Camden): A reimagining of Camden’s Cooper River that connects existing and planned parks and water access points, enhancing recreational opportunities and environmental restoration for the surrounding community.
Hoboken Connect (Hoboken): A transformative mixed-use, transit-oriented development featuring 386 residential units, 704,000 square feet of office space, 70,000 square feet of retail, and 2 acres of public open space centered around Hoboken Terminal.
Clinton Lofts (Trenton): A 30-unit mixed-use development located just blocks from the Trenton Transit Center, converting a long-vacant property into a vibrant residential and commercial destination.
Nelson Glass House (Princeton): A three-story mixed-use infill project along Spring Street that exemplifies “missing middle” housing, blending seamlessly into the downtown fabric with ground-floor retail and upper-floor residences.
Stonehill at West Orange (West Orange): The adaptive reuse of an underutilized office complex into a 425-unit mixed-income multi-family community, incorporating sustainable design and modern amenities.
The Forum at Madison (Madison): A 100% affordable, Passive House-certified development that integrates high-performance design within the suburban context, providing energy-efficient and inclusive housing.
Oliver Station (Camden): A transit-accessible, mixed-use project that combines affordable housing with on-site healthcare services, addressing both housing and community health needs.
In addition, the 2025 NJ Future Leadership Award was presented to Adenah Bayoh, founder of Adenah Bayoh & Companies, in recognition of her commitment to community-focused, equitable development and her leadership in advancing inclusive growth across New Jersey.
The NJ Future Smart Growth Awards celebrate projects that make New Jersey a better place to live, work, and thrive. The event serves as both a recognition of excellence and a model for land use professionals and municipalities, demonstrating how thoughtful planning and innovative development can positively reshape the state’s communities for the future.