We invite you to help set the agenda for the future of Equitable Transit Oriented Development in the Mid-Atlantic.
The National Center for Smart Growth (NCSG) at the University of Maryland invites you to an exciting upcoming regional event, Affordable and Connected Communities: Transit, Development and Anti-Displacement in the Mid-Atlantic. Across Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, planners, communities, elected leaders and developers are working to balance needs for increased housing supply and improved access to transit with the need to maintain affordability and cultural resources in low- and moderate-income communities.
As the major cities of the Mid-Atlantic region continue to grow, smart growth policies should encourage housing and commercial activity near transit. Without intentional partnerships, however, this growth and development near transit can result in displacement of existing residents and businesses. NCSG has been contending with these challenges for over a decade, through the work of the Purple Line Corridor Coalition (PLCC), as well as groundbreaking research at the intersection of transit and communities.
On September 10, 2026, NCSG and PLCC will convene a summit in College Park, MD for those working on transportation, anti-displacement policy for businesses and residents, and affordable and market rate housing development. At this inaugural event for our region, participants from across the region will engage in powerful discussions about how to make sure transit investments benefit communities. The event will help chart a path for shared progress in growing communities across the mid-Atlantic.
Join us by registering below:
Program at a Glance
9:00AM – 9:20AM: Welcome
9:20AM – 10:00AM: Keynote Address
10:15AM – 11:15AM: ETOD and Justice – What’s at Stake?
11:15AM – 12:00PM: Lunch
12:00PM- 1:00PM: Coalition Building: Developing for Community
1:15PM – 2:15PM: Policy, Planning, and Finance for Impact
2:30PM – 3:30PM: Funding the Movement
3:30PM – 3:45PM: Closing Remarks
Our Keynote: Roberto Requejo
Roberto Requejo (he/him) is an urban planner and civic leader who has spent two decades advancing equitable transit-oriented development (ETOD) as a coalition builder, funder, policy architect, and transit board member.
As founding executive director of Elevated Chicago (2017–2024), Roberto built and led a cross-sector coalition that raised more than $15 million to support ETOD led by neighborhood residents across the city. Working closely with the Mayor’s Office, he co-created Chicago’s first ETOD policy plan, spearheaded one of the nation’s most comprehensive zoning reforms, and attracted federal funding and private capital to community-driven projects near transit. Under his leadership, Chicago’s ETOD pipeline grew from three sites in 2017 to nearly sixty in 2024, representing more than $1 billion in investment — a demonstration of what patient, community-centered collaboration around transit can achieve.
Roberto is currently a Senior Fellow at the Center for Community Investment, where he leads an initiative helping several American cities mobilize capital for equitable climate solutions, extending the ETOD playbook to project pipelines addressing climate transition, clean energy and resilience. He recently completed his service on the Chicago Transit Board, where he was one of seven members overseeing a $4 billion agency serving 3.2 million riders.
Originally from Galicia, Spain, Roberto made Chicago his home in 2001. He lives in the River West neighborhood with his partner Jomar. Learn more about Requejo through his BlueSky @splanish.bsky.social and his LinkedIn.
Breakout Sessions
This panel will explore the concept of equitable transit oriented development, focusing on opportunities to advance community-engaged development near transit. This panel has a national geographic scope, given the composition of experts, but the moderator will guide the discussion back to a regional focus (Richmond – DC – Baltimore).
Moderator: Mariia Zimmerman, Director, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation
Panelists:
- Beth Osborne, President and CEO, Smart Growth America
- Rodney Harrell, Vice President of Family, Home and Community, AARP
- Kim Johnson, Senior Policy Director, National Low Income Housing Coalition
- Sheila Somashekhar, Director, Purple Line Corridor Coalition at NCSG
This panel will start with the community element of ETOD practice, focusing on how impacted communities can be centered in redevelopment conversations. It will explore the tools, practices and collaborations necessary to move the needle. Panelists will discuss how to harness public, private and community assets to advocate for and achieve ETOD goals. This panel will focus on ETOD coalition and organizing efforts in the broader Richmond – DC – Baltimore area.
Moderator: Marcus Monroe, Special Program Management, Prince George’s County Planning Department
Panelists:
- Brittney Drakeford, Community Planner, National Capital Planning Commission
- Derek Moore, Development Manager, Rebuilding Together Baltimore
- Lea Whitehurst-Gibson, Founder and CEO, Virginia Community Voice
Panelists will discuss the enabling environment, tools, and regulations for development in TOD areas. Panelists will focus on what’s working well, and what isn’t, while focusing on collaboration between community, public, and private sectors to achieve ETOD goals. The geographic focus of this panel is the broader Richmond – DC – Baltimore region.
Moderator: Rachel MacCleery, Founder and Principal Strategist, Thriving Places Advisory
Panelists:
- Scott Gottbreht, Assistant Secretary of Policy, Department of Housing and Community Development
- Jeff Kayce, Managing Director, Mid-Atlantic, Bozzuto Development Company
- Jovan Burton, Executive Director, Partnership for Housing Affordability
Panelists will discuss philanthropic and private funding for ETOD, ranging from investments in community-based capacity to real estate capital. Panelists will focus on how developers, government, and community can partner with funders to achieve ETOD goals. This panel will have a national geographic scope, but the moderator will guide the discussion to focus on the DC region.
Moderator: David Bowers, VP and Market Leader, Mid-Atlantic, Enterprise
Panelists:
- James Hardy, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
- Chuck Martin, Regional Community Reinvestment Officer, M&T Bank
- Marla Bilonick, President & CEO, National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders
Title Sponsor
Partner Sponsors
Supporting Sponsors
If you have any questions or are interested in sponsoring this convening, please contact nroach@umd.edu.