City of Trenton Demolishing 20 Abandoned Structures as Part of Strategic Blight Reduction Project Targeting More Than 130 Properties
City of Trenton Demolishing 20 Abandoned Structures as Part of Strategic Blight Reduction Project Targeting More Than 130 Properties
Residents can track current and upcoming demolition projects at https://trentondemolition.com
Trenton, N.J. – Mayor W. Reed Gusciora today announced that demolitions are underway at more than 20 properties on Fountain Ave, Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Wilson St, North Clinton Ave, Frazier St, and Stuyvesant Ave as part of a strategic demolition plan that seeks to take down more than 130 blighted properties based on public safety concerns, development potential, resident complaints and other factors.
“Now that the worst of COVID-19 is hopefully behind us, we are moving full speed ahead on our strategic demolition plan targeting some of the most blighted sites throughout Trenton,” said Mayor Gusciora. “Our HED personnel worked with real estate professionals, public safety officers, community action groups, and city planners in identifying the locations we believe will have the biggest impact on public safety, tax revenue and making neighborhoods more welcoming to current and prospective residents.”
Demolitions started last Friday on Fountain Ave and will continue at the following locations:
| 18 Fountain Ave
20 Fountain Ave 22 Fountain Ave 24 Fountain Ave 26 Fountain Ave 28 Fountain Ave 704 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd 706 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd 362 North Clinton Ave 364 North Clinton Ave |
37 Wilson St
41 Wilson St 43 Wilson St 45 Wilson St 47 Wilson St 525 Stuyvesant Ave 527 Stuyvesant Ave 529 Stuyvesant Ave 155-157 Frazier St
|
The Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED) uses two parallel tracks for demolitions: imminent hazards and long-term strategic demolitions of city-owned properties. Imminent hazards are evaluated and taken down on a case-to-case basis according to their immediate threat to nearby residents and property. Strategic demolitions are targeted based on several factors:
- Proximity to attractive development areas
- History of complaints from sub code officials, residents and first responders
- Cost effectiveness due to ability to be bundled with adjacent or nearby properties of similar condition
- Location within ‘hot zones’ of historically high abandonment
The property demolitions announced today are part of 136 properties currently targeted under the strategic demolition plan. Most of the properties in this list still await final bid and City Council approval. A second phase of property demolitions will go out to bid in October 2021.
Residents can track HED’s progress at https://trentondemolition.com, which outlines recently completed demolitions, current projects, and sites under review. The new website – which is in its beta form – allows users to see the exact location along with before and after photos for each project. Property demolitions from previous programs are still being uploaded to the webpage.
“The goal is to use our finite resources to make the biggest impact for our residents,” said HED Director C. Andre Daniels. “Targeting these properties helps insulate our homes from price drops, reduce fire hazards, eliminate havens for criminal activity, and increase interest for both first time home-owners and large developers eager for a diverse city with easy access to public transportation.”
