@3underscores.bsky.social
Mostly tweeting about cities, climate change, demographics, land use, and housing econ on this account.
I post photos and facts about Jersey City, where I live.
Twitter:@jc_permits, @3_under_scores_
🇨🇴🇺🇲
I post photos and facts about Jersey City, where I live.
Twitter:@jc_permits, @3_under_scores_
🇨🇴🇺🇲
I attended the Journal Sq workshop on JC's new transportation master plan update a couple weeks ago. Planners are giving lots of thought to improving bus service along bot JFK and West Side Ave with BRT but also traffic signal priority and bus lanes.
December 24, 2025 at 2:23 AM
I attended the Journal Sq workshop on JC's new transportation master plan update a couple weeks ago. Planners are giving lots of thought to improving bus service along bot JFK and West Side Ave with BRT but also traffic signal priority and bus lanes.
Some large projects are being rushed through the JC Redevelopment Agency and onto the site plan approval process before the new mayor's appointees take over.
These are all privately funded projects on private land. They're afraid of adverse zoning changes...
These are all privately funded projects on private land. They're afraid of adverse zoning changes...
December 23, 2025 at 1:21 AM
Some large projects are being rushed through the JC Redevelopment Agency and onto the site plan approval process before the new mayor's appointees take over.
These are all privately funded projects on private land. They're afraid of adverse zoning changes...
These are all privately funded projects on private land. They're afraid of adverse zoning changes...
Jersey City is 23 out of 87 in the region. Hoboken is #3. Paterson has the lowest ZORI in the region.
List of highest Zillow Observed Rental Indices in the NYC metro region
December 23, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Jersey City is 23 out of 87 in the region. Hoboken is #3. Paterson has the lowest ZORI in the region.
List of highest Zillow Observed Rental Indices in the NYC metro region
December 23, 2025 at 12:18 AM
List of highest Zillow Observed Rental Indices in the NYC metro region
Feeling more and more like Zohran will be the greatest mayor in NYC in decades, if he can turn his talk into action.
December 23, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Feeling more and more like Zohran will be the greatest mayor in NYC in decades, if he can turn his talk into action.
Reposted
3. Leadership is about doing what is necessary, not just what is popular. Read literally anything our founders wrote about virtue, and the inherent risks to a society based on democratic processes to sustain the rule of law to the extent that unvirtuous people gain power.
December 20, 2025 at 3:05 PM
3. Leadership is about doing what is necessary, not just what is popular. Read literally anything our founders wrote about virtue, and the inherent risks to a society based on democratic processes to sustain the rule of law to the extent that unvirtuous people gain power.
Competent civil servants who get things done are incredibly difficult to find and retain. Barkha helped transform JC's streets and give street space back to people over cars.
I'd gladly trade every pandering politician in JC for a single competent civil servant. Wish her well.
I'd gladly trade every pandering politician in JC for a single competent civil servant. Wish her well.
Jersey City Dept. of Infrastructure Director Barkha Patel submits resignation letter
https://www.newsbeep.com/us-ny/75984/
Jersey City Department of Infrastructure Director Barkha Patel has submitted her resignation letter today, planning to leave City…
https://www.newsbeep.com/us-ny/75984/
Jersey City Department of Infrastructure Director Barkha Patel has submitted her resignation letter today, planning to leave City…
Jersey City Dept. of Infrastructure Director Barkha Patel submits resignation letter - New York News Beep
Jersey City Department of Infrastructure Director Barkha Patel has submitted her resignation letter today, planning to leave City Hall after a decade of
www.newsbeep.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Competent civil servants who get things done are incredibly difficult to find and retain. Barkha helped transform JC's streets and give street space back to people over cars.
I'd gladly trade every pandering politician in JC for a single competent civil servant. Wish her well.
I'd gladly trade every pandering politician in JC for a single competent civil servant. Wish her well.
Reposted
This week on EJB Talks...Dean @stuartshapiroblou.bsky.social talks to alumnus Barkha Patel, MCRP ’15. She reflects on how the fundamentals of planning school continue to form the basis for her work, encouraging emerging planners to adopt an action-oriented mindset. Listen at https://bit.ly/3MaPxTg
Alumnus Barkha Patel MCRP '15 Helps Rethink Jersey City's Public Spaces
open.spotify.com
December 2, 2025 at 6:18 PM
This week on EJB Talks...Dean @stuartshapiroblou.bsky.social talks to alumnus Barkha Patel, MCRP ’15. She reflects on how the fundamentals of planning school continue to form the basis for her work, encouraging emerging planners to adopt an action-oriented mindset. Listen at https://bit.ly/3MaPxTg
The new mayors in other cities in our region (NYC & New Rochelle) see new housing on parking lots near transit as a way to keep rents low. Meanwhile Jersey City's mayor-elect Solomon fundamentally sees transit-oriented housing on parking lots as "aggression."
December 22, 2025 at 8:16 PM
The new mayors in other cities in our region (NYC & New Rochelle) see new housing on parking lots near transit as a way to keep rents low. Meanwhile Jersey City's mayor-elect Solomon fundamentally sees transit-oriented housing on parking lots as "aggression."
Reposted
This is kind of blowing my mind. A building I assume survived the Jackson Street Regrade and had floors added underneath it when it moved to Jackson/Maynard. Still there today!
November 27, 2025 at 3:20 AM
This is kind of blowing my mind. A building I assume survived the Jackson Street Regrade and had floors added underneath it when it moved to Jackson/Maynard. Still there today!
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"Katie Wilson does not own a car and primarily rides the bus (public transit) to get around Seattle with her daughter." -Wikipedia
She walks the walk (literally) and is calling out the grifters. 🥳
She walks the walk (literally) and is calling out the grifters. 🥳
November 12, 2025 at 3:07 AM
"Katie Wilson does not own a car and primarily rides the bus (public transit) to get around Seattle with her daughter." -Wikipedia
She walks the walk (literally) and is calling out the grifters. 🥳
She walks the walk (literally) and is calling out the grifters. 🥳
Reposted
This scene captures the quiet magic of Tokyo’s unplanned, human-scaled backstreets—where cars are welcome only as guests, weaving their way gently through pedestrians and cyclists. Streets like these remind us that vibrancy and human connection are at the heart of every truly liveable, lovable city.
November 2, 2025 at 4:45 AM
This scene captures the quiet magic of Tokyo’s unplanned, human-scaled backstreets—where cars are welcome only as guests, weaving their way gently through pedestrians and cyclists. Streets like these remind us that vibrancy and human connection are at the heart of every truly liveable, lovable city.
Halloween photos.
Eighth St and Hamilton Park West
Eighth St and Hamilton Park West
November 2, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Halloween photos.
Eighth St and Hamilton Park West
Eighth St and Hamilton Park West
A longtime street safety advocate posted this; I agree.
Solomon's has always had it on easy street as councilman of the most walkable ward with the most receptive constituency. Says little about what he'll do when push comes to shove citywide, like it did this summer on bus & bike lanes.
Solomon's has always had it on easy street as councilman of the most walkable ward with the most receptive constituency. Says little about what he'll do when push comes to shove citywide, like it did this summer on bus & bike lanes.
November 1, 2025 at 5:17 PM
A longtime street safety advocate posted this; I agree.
Solomon's has always had it on easy street as councilman of the most walkable ward with the most receptive constituency. Says little about what he'll do when push comes to shove citywide, like it did this summer on bus & bike lanes.
Solomon's has always had it on easy street as councilman of the most walkable ward with the most receptive constituency. Says little about what he'll do when push comes to shove citywide, like it did this summer on bus & bike lanes.
Reposted
The MTA is installing experimental anti-subway surfing barriers on the 7 train.
While this is a good interim step, the real solution is to ensure that all new subway cars are walk-through (known as open gangway), as has been common practice across the world for years.
pix11.com/news/transit...
While this is a good interim step, the real solution is to ensure that all new subway cars are walk-through (known as open gangway), as has been common practice across the world for years.
pix11.com/news/transit...
October 30, 2025 at 5:58 PM
The MTA is installing experimental anti-subway surfing barriers on the 7 train.
While this is a good interim step, the real solution is to ensure that all new subway cars are walk-through (known as open gangway), as has been common practice across the world for years.
pix11.com/news/transit...
While this is a good interim step, the real solution is to ensure that all new subway cars are walk-through (known as open gangway), as has been common practice across the world for years.
pix11.com/news/transit...
Reposted
Interesting new paper compares divergent outcomes of California's ADU reforms, legislation enabling lot-splitting, & San Diego ADU policy.
ADUs successfully attracted investment thanks to ease of use by homeowners; opposite was true for lot-splitting: too complicated for homeowners to undertake.
ADUs successfully attracted investment thanks to ease of use by homeowners; opposite was true for lot-splitting: too complicated for homeowners to undertake.
www.tandfonline.com
October 27, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Interesting new paper compares divergent outcomes of California's ADU reforms, legislation enabling lot-splitting, & San Diego ADU policy.
ADUs successfully attracted investment thanks to ease of use by homeowners; opposite was true for lot-splitting: too complicated for homeowners to undertake.
ADUs successfully attracted investment thanks to ease of use by homeowners; opposite was true for lot-splitting: too complicated for homeowners to undertake.
This guy is a racist with a huge platform on Instagram. Interviews JC mayoral candidates and helped sink the bus lane plan.
October 26, 2025 at 6:40 PM
This guy is a racist with a huge platform on Instagram. Interviews JC mayoral candidates and helped sink the bus lane plan.
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part of what gets me is the particular double-think involved in left-nimbyism. left nimbyism has been the dominant mode of thinking in urban governance for like fifty years, they won the war and achieved total control of policy, and they *still* think they're the plucky upstarts fighting The Man
October 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
part of what gets me is the particular double-think involved in left-nimbyism. left nimbyism has been the dominant mode of thinking in urban governance for like fifty years, they won the war and achieved total control of policy, and they *still* think they're the plucky upstarts fighting The Man
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i have watched cities across this country get destroyed neither by capitalism nor greed but by well-meaning progressives convinced at every step of the way they're making their world better
www.liberalcurrents.com/the-crisis-o...
www.liberalcurrents.com/the-crisis-o...
The Crisis of Democratic Governance
State Democrats have failed to deliver what the American people want.
www.liberalcurrents.com
October 25, 2025 at 8:38 PM
i have watched cities across this country get destroyed neither by capitalism nor greed but by well-meaning progressives convinced at every step of the way they're making their world better
www.liberalcurrents.com/the-crisis-o...
www.liberalcurrents.com/the-crisis-o...
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"no one should make a profit building necessary housing" is one of those things that sounds based and radical... for like half a second, before you finish thinking it through
October 25, 2025 at 8:35 PM
"no one should make a profit building necessary housing" is one of those things that sounds based and radical... for like half a second, before you finish thinking it through
This will be trouble for JC, especially buildings required to include numerous low-income 3-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments due to the IZO.
IBC-G committee just voted to approve G143-25, which will – if ultimately approved (and most things are) – ban windowless bedrooms in apartment in the 2027 IBC. It was a close one and the chair had to break the tie. As written, it would apply to rehabs of existing buildings, not just new ones.
October 25, 2025 at 2:23 AM
This will be trouble for JC, especially buildings required to include numerous low-income 3-bedroom and 2-bedroom apartments due to the IZO.
Reposted
Why are we seeing City of Yes protests in Staten Island?
It's because of how transit-oriented development (TOD) was handled, requiring a 5,000 sq ft lot. Common in SI, rare elsewhere.
The map shows % of lots that qualify for TOD
Thanks @3underscores.bsky.social for the lead!
It's because of how transit-oriented development (TOD) was handled, requiring a 5,000 sq ft lot. Common in SI, rare elsewhere.
The map shows % of lots that qualify for TOD
Thanks @3underscores.bsky.social for the lead!
October 23, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Why are we seeing City of Yes protests in Staten Island?
It's because of how transit-oriented development (TOD) was handled, requiring a 5,000 sq ft lot. Common in SI, rare elsewhere.
The map shows % of lots that qualify for TOD
Thanks @3underscores.bsky.social for the lead!
It's because of how transit-oriented development (TOD) was handled, requiring a 5,000 sq ft lot. Common in SI, rare elsewhere.
The map shows % of lots that qualify for TOD
Thanks @3underscores.bsky.social for the lead!
This is just clearly a lie by Solomon. The plan that involves the hospital being torn down is by-right, which means no mayor or council could make it happen or stop it from happening.
Also the by-right plan presented is senior housing.
Also the by-right plan presented is senior housing.
October 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
This is just clearly a lie by Solomon. The plan that involves the hospital being torn down is by-right, which means no mayor or council could make it happen or stop it from happening.
Also the by-right plan presented is senior housing.
Also the by-right plan presented is senior housing.
Reposted
Answering your questions, my read:
- What can be built? One home per lot, with FAR of up to 1.0, homes possibly attached to each other
- How often in Staten Island? Pretty often if you're within 0.5 miles of transit, because lots are large enough for QRS.
Let's see if I can get some hard data!
- What can be built? One home per lot, with FAR of up to 1.0, homes possibly attached to each other
- How often in Staten Island? Pretty often if you're within 0.5 miles of transit, because lots are large enough for QRS.
Let's see if I can get some hard data!
October 23, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Answering your questions, my read:
- What can be built? One home per lot, with FAR of up to 1.0, homes possibly attached to each other
- How often in Staten Island? Pretty often if you're within 0.5 miles of transit, because lots are large enough for QRS.
Let's see if I can get some hard data!
- What can be built? One home per lot, with FAR of up to 1.0, homes possibly attached to each other
- How often in Staten Island? Pretty often if you're within 0.5 miles of transit, because lots are large enough for QRS.
Let's see if I can get some hard data!
Reposted
This district (R3X) previously required detached homes with side yards of 5ft to each side. But if you're a qualifying residential site (QRS), that looks like it's no longer required. And FAR gets bumped from 0.75 to 1.0.
So now you re-optimize with much more options. I think that's what happened.
So now you re-optimize with much more options. I think that's what happened.
October 23, 2025 at 1:16 PM
This district (R3X) previously required detached homes with side yards of 5ft to each side. But if you're a qualifying residential site (QRS), that looks like it's no longer required. And FAR gets bumped from 0.75 to 1.0.
So now you re-optimize with much more options. I think that's what happened.
So now you re-optimize with much more options. I think that's what happened.