Topology

05/30/2026

What happens when a dying mall gets a second life? Huntsville’s MidCity District transformed a struggling mall into a thriving destination with housing, entertainment, public spaces, and a walkable street network. 🛍

Topology has played a central role in reimagining the future of the , guiding Livingston Township, NJ through a comprehensive, community-driven visioning process that will inform the reimagining of 60 acres of aging retail into a mixed-use neighborhood hub, centered around housing, parks, public gathering spaces, and people-first design. 🌳🏘️ Read more: https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2026/04/29/turning-dead-mall-thriving-urban-center

MidCity District in Huntsville, Alabama, is an exemplary model for suburban retrofit. Urban Design Associates won a Merit Award in the Neighborhood, District, and Corridor category of the 2026 CNU Charter Awards.

05/28/2026

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

See you in two weeks at ! 👋 For full session details, conference info, and to register visit https://site.pheedloop.com/event/njprc26/home.

05/27/2026

We're a little romantic about parks and we think you should be too! 💚

Parks are kind of magical. They're third spaces. They help people connect, while at the same time giving you a little breathing room. They're gathering places. Community hubs. They improve quality of life and are also proven to improve both mental and physical health. 🌳 Pretty cool stuff.

Topology is proud to be assisting the Town of Morristown, NJ update the Open Space and Recreation Plan Element of their Master Plan and we need your input to help shape the future of 's parks and open spaces for years to come.

Want to give input? 🙋‍♀️ Join us for ParkNight on June 4th from 5:30–8:00 PM. Topology and Town representatives will be stationed at parks throughout Morristown to hear your ideas. Come find us at:

🌳 Lidgerwood Park (by the gazebo)
🌳 Speedwell Lake Park (off Speedwell Avenue, by the playground)
🌳 Cauldwell Playground/Pool (by the amphitheater)
🌳 Burnham Park (off Burnham Parkway, by the gazebo)

We'd love it if you could stop by to share your experiences and priorities for the future of Morristown’s parks and open spaces! Can’t make it on June 4th? Don't sweat it. 😅

You can fill out our online survey until June 26th and keep an eye out right here for additional events: https://s.surveylegend.com/-OpiHdmV7beIfk5_wU4f

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, let's pause to honor and remember the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their courage and dedication helped shape the communities and freedoms we cherish today. 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

South Orange Village just secured the bag. 💰

SOV has been awarded $2 million through the Fiscal Year 2026 Economic Development Initiative Community Project Funding program administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which will be dedicated to downtown and train station centered around Sloan Street and the Village’s transit hub. 🚉 Combined with additional state funding, the grants will support major upgrades including improved sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, pedestrian and bicycle safety enhancements, ADA accessibility improvements, and new streetscape amenities aimed at creating a more walkable, connected downtown experience.

These investments directly advance recommendations established in the 2021 South Orange Master Plan drafted by Topology, reinforcing the Village’s long-term commitment to transit-oriented development, sustainability, and public space improvements. A major shout out to Mayor Sheena Collum for her continued leadership in moving these projects forward! 💚

Read more: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/soma/sections/community/articles/south-orange-village-secures-more-than-2-million-for-downtown-and-recreation-improvements

South Orange Village secures $2M+ grants for downtown streetscape and rec facility upgrades, enhancing safety, sustainability & accessibility. Learn more.

05/21/2026

The most effective Mayors aren't waiting for development to happen, they are actively shaping it.

Thank you to everyone who took the bull by the horns with us at the New Jersey Conference of Mayors 61st Annual Spring Conference in AC! 🐂 Topology Principal Graham Petto's panel “Taking the Bull by the Horns: Turning Affordable Housing Mandates into Economic Wins for Municipalities” explored how when approached strategically, affordable housing mandates can become a powerful engine for growth and long-term community vitality. 📈

A big thanks to Moderator Mayor Jason F. Cilento and fellow panelists Mayor Mark Taylor, Mayor Elsie Foster, Mayor Jamila Odom of Chesilhurst Borough, Jessica C.M. Almeida, and Daniel Banker for an excellent discussion!

05/20/2026

Topology Principal Golda MacMillan recently had the opportunity to check in on construction progress at Valley Ridge on West Main from RPM Development in the Borough of Rockaway, a 100% affordable senior housing development! 🏗

We first helped lay the groundwork for the project by preparing the ordinance as as one of our original project deliverables for the Borough, and later oversaw the site plan process as Board Planner.

Once complete, Valley Ridge on West Main will bring 70 affordable senior residences to , combining traditional architecture, modern energy-efficient design, supportive services, and convenient access to shopping, dining, employment, and public transportation. It’s exciting to see this important project nearing completion! 💚

Learn more here: https://www.valleyridgeonwestmain.com/

05/19/2026

History is all around us...literally! 🏛

Historic preservation is often viewed as regulation, but residents in South Orange Village are demonstrating the lasting value historic character brings to a community. Earlier this month, dozens of property owners voluntarily responded to the Village’s inquiry to self-designate their homes as historic landmarks within the Montrose Park Historic District, recognizing the important architectural and cultural contributions these properties make to the neighborhood and the Village at large. 🏡

While these homes are already protected within the historic district, individual landmark designation provides additional recognition and oversight for significant properties. Topology Planner III Marc Lincer served in an advisory role to the Village and Historic Preservation Commission attorney William Sullivan throughout the process, supporting another step toward preserving the historic fabric that defines . 🍊

Learn more about the Montrose Park Historic District: https://historicmontrose.org/
Read the ordinance here: https://southorangetwpnj.portal.civicclerk.com/event/3310/files/attachment/4397

Promoting, preserving and beautifying the Montrose Park Historic District in South Orange, New Jersey.

05/18/2026

Newark ✅
Perth Amboy ✅
Teaneck ✅
Morristown ✅

Over the past few years, Topology has been committed to pitching in and taking part in a variety of town clean-ups! 🚮 Whether organized through our firm, through Pick it Up, or through our client communities, we love volunteering our time to making the world a cleaner place.

Naturally, we jumped at the chance to take part in the Town of Morristown, NJ Town Clean-Up Event this past weekend. Thank you to the Town for organizing and to everyone who came through to lend a helping hand!

We only have one planet, so let's leave it better than we found it. 🌎

05/16/2026

Baltimore’s proposed Madison Crescent development is a great example of how can reconnect neighborhoods and create high quality public spaces in historic cities. 🏗

Designed by a team of students from the University of Maryland, the plan introduces 141 mixed-income housing units, community amenities, and walkable public spaces that restore the urban fabric while supporting both affordability and neighborhood revitalization. ✨

Read more: https://www.cnu.org/publicsquare/2026/05/12/vision-housing-public-space-baltimore

Madison Crescent shows how infill development can offer housing solutions in historic cities. A University of Maryland, College Park design team won a Student Merit Award in the Neighborhood, District, and Corridor category of the 2026 CNU Charter Awards.