Choice Neighborhood Plan Wins NJ Future’s Smart Growth Award

Trenton Housing Authority, City Housing Department, and Isles worked in partnership on major redevelopment plan

TRENTON, NJ (September 19, 2022) – The North Trenton / Battle Monument Choice Neighborhood Transformation Plan is one of six projects selected to receive a 2022 Smart Growth Award, according to an announcement made last week by New Jersey Future.

“This award is proof that Trenton’s is on the right track for the next great chapter in this City’s history,” Mayor Reed Gusciora said. “The community input was taken to heart and transferred into a sweeping blueprint for revitalization of North Trenton.”

The Transformation Plan represents more than 24 months of intensive engagement and collaboration amongst residents and a host of community stakeholders. Spearheaded by the Trenton Housing Authority (THA) in partnership with the City of Trenton Department of Housing and Economic Development, and local community organization Isles Inc., along with a host of residents, city leaders, neighboring townships, and local anchor organizations, the planning process was funded by a $1.3 million Choice Neighborhoods Initiative grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“It’s very gratifying to learn that the Transformation Plan was recognized with a Smart Growth Award,” said Jelani Garrett, Executive Director of the THA. “This transformational plan is rooted in the hopes and dreams of our residents and community stakeholders and in the culture and history of North Trenton. The plan goes way beyond housing to envision a safe, thriving, family-friendly, mixed-income neighborhood that builds upon its unique neighborhood assets—commercial corridors, schools, parks, churches, healthcare, and many services, in addition to nearby amenities.”

New Jersey has long been at the cutting edge of smart and sustainable planning and redevelopment. Since 2002, New Jersey Future has honored 125 projects that are the very best examples of this work through the annual Smart Growth Awards as part of their mission to promote sensible and equitable growth, redevelopment, and infrastructure investments to foster healthy, strong, and resilient communities. Winners are selected from a statewide public nomination process by an independent jury comprised of experts in the planning and redevelopment fields.

“For 20 years now, the Smart Growth Awards have helped promote New Jersey Future’s mission to drive policies for sustainable growth and development in New Jersey,” said Peter Kasabach, Executive Director of New Jersey Future. “We are extremely pleased to highlight the North Trenton / Battle Monument Choice Neighborhood Plan as an example of smart growth during the 20th anniversary of this program.”

The 2022 Smart Growth Awards Showcase will take place virtually on November 10, 2022, with showings at noon and 5 p.m. There is no cost to attend but pre-registration is required. To learn more about the Smart Growth Awards Virtual Celebration, and to register, visit www.accelevents.com/e/2022newjerseyfuturesmartgrowthawards.

To learn more about the North Trenton / Battle Monument Choice Neighborhood Plan visit
tha-nj.org/choice-neighborhoods-planning-initiative.

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