As New Jersey faces an estimated deficit of approximately 350,000 homes, the New Jersey Builders Association (NJBA) brought homebuilders and developers together with senior members of the Sherrill Administration on Thursday to tackle the state’s housing production challenges.
The roundtable discussion, hosted at Tantum Real Estate’s 526 Ocean Avenue Veterans Housing Community in Jersey City, formed a key stop on Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s 21-county “Saving You Time & Money” business tour. The statewide initiative aims to engage directly with employers and industry leaders regarding regulatory hurdles, permitting bottlenecks, and government efficiency.
The high-level meeting followed closely on the heels of Governor Sherrill’s unveiling of a comprehensive five-part housing strategy. The initiative focuses heavily on increasing overall housing production, accelerating New Jersey’s “speed to shovel,” partnering more closely with local municipalities, expanding housing availability, and ultimately lowering housing costs for residents.
“Setting a goal of 350,000 additional homes makes clear both the scale of New Jersey’s housing challenge and the urgency of getting this right,” Chris Amato, NJBA Chair and CEO and President of CMM, Inc, said. “Our industry is ready to build. The opportunity now is to make sure our land-use, permitting and regulatory systems allow housing to move from plans on paper to homes for New Jersey families.”
During the roundtable, builders and developers shared firsthand accounts of the delays, unpredictable costs, and administrative friction encountered across zoning, permitting, environmental reviews, and utility coordination. Conversations also zeroed in on regulatory modernization, infrastructure alignment, and strategies to expand middle-income and middle-density housing options.
The venue itself served as a real-world example of successful public-private collaboration. Developed by Tantum Real Estate, the affordable veteran housing community integrates approximately 1,500 square feet of commercial space, where Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey delivers essential supportive services to residents and at-risk populations.
“For the veterans and individuals who now call this community home, this is about much more than a housing unit,” Deb Tantleff, NJBA Immediate Past Chair and Founding Principal of Tantum Real Estate said. “It is about stability, opportunity and having a place to build a future.”
Participants also reviewed environmental and resiliency policies, with the NJBA pointing to Executive Orders 5 and 17—alongside the Administration’s extension of the REAL rule’s legacy protections—as meaningful progress toward reducing barriers to development.
The roundtable featured engagement between NJBA members, Governor’s Office Chief Operating Officer Kellie Doucette, and representatives from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, the Department of Community Affairs, and various legislative offices.
“We are seeing an important shift in how state government approaches housing,” Jeff Kolakowski, CEO of the NJBA said. “This Administration is bringing agencies together, listening to the people who build homes and recognizing how government decisions affect housing costs and production. We see a genuine commitment to addressing these challenges and look forward to building on that momentum.”
