HUD AWARDS $1.3 MILLION CHOICE NEIGHBORHOODS PLANNING GRANT TO TRENTON

The Trenton Housing Authority and the City of Trenton to work with area stakeholders, plan redevelopment of Donnelly Homes, Battle Monument Neighborhood

Trenton, NJ  – Expanding on its commitment to help local communities redevelop severely distressed HUD assisted housing and revitalize neighborhoods, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded more than $5 million to four communities. The Trenton Housing Authority and the City of Trenton will receive $1,300,000 to plan the redevelopment of Donnelly Homes, and North Trenton’s Battle Monument neighborhood.

Funded through HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods program, these grants will help local leaders to craft comprehensive, homegrown plans to revitalize and transform these neighborhoods.

“This Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant marks the beginning of a much needed boost to Trenton’s promising Battle Monument neighborhood and restore it to its former glory to create a safe, bustling community Trenton residents can enjoy,” said Lynne Patton, HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey. “Donnelly Homes will also receive a path to redevelopment that will provide HUD-assisted residents with homes they can be truly proud of.”

While characterized today as distressed from disinvestment, vacancy, and blight, the North Trenton Battle Monument neighborhood contains the ingredients of a thriving neighborhood. Its many assets include compact walkable blocks, functional commercial corridors, easy access to jobs, and an anchor institution, in addition to parks, schools and churches.

The North Trenton – Battle Monument neighborhood is also well positioned to benefit from the nearby Downtown Trenton’s renaissance. New investments in the Capital City’s central business district are likely to spill over onto this historic, largely residential neighborhood.

“Grants of this magnitude have a tremendous impact on neighborhoods that can resonate far beyond their borders. This HUD funding is going to help propel and build on the progress being made in Trenton’s downtown district,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver, who serves as Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs,  “Governor Murphy and I thank the partners from state, local and federal government that are working together to create positive housing and revitalization solutions that will benefit the residents of Trenton and the State of New Jersey.”

Additionally, the Trenton Housing Authority (THA) and the City of Trenton are willing and ready to create an actionable plan to redevelop the distressed target housing development, Donnelly Homes. THA intends to draw from their successful experience of revitalizing dilapidated housing through the HOPE VI program, while the City seeks to seamlessly incorporate Donnelly Homes into their 20-year master plan for Trenton’s growth and development.

“We are thrilled to be selected for this prestigious grant, but the real winners are the residents of our communities” said Jelani Garrett, Executive Director of the THA. “The competition is fierce for the Choice Neighborhoods grant. Our team pulled together to craft an amazing grant proposal. We would not have been successful without the collaboration of a myriad of community partners who are committed to improving the quality of life in Trenton.  We are determined to be actively engaged in the revitalization of Trenton’s neighborhoods. This grant will help make it happen.”

“We need to, first off, thank our Federal Delegation for keeping the Capital City in line for grants like these. Furthermore, the Trenton Housing Authority deserves their fair share of the credit. Their leg work helped to make this possible. 1.3 million dollars is nothing short of a win for our community, and our constituency. We look forward to using these funds to continue transforming our City for the better.”

The $1,300,000 Choice Neighborhoods Planning and Action Grant will bring together Trenton’s vast network of partners to co-develop a shared transformation plan that is rooted in the aspirations, culture, and history of the community. The process will be guided by planning and design firm, Wallace Roberts and Todd; informed by Donnelly Homes residents and community leaders; and strongly supported by committed local partners. Robust community engagement efforts will involve resident representation on steering committees and working groups, the launch of a resident leadership series, and the creation of resident ambassadors, among other initiatives.

Establishing a multi-dimensional planning process – that taps into local expertise through steering and action committees, ambassadorships, task forces, and community events – will foster a comprehensive transformation plan that is transparent, innovative, and indicative of the rich history of the North Trenton – Battle Monument neighborhood.

Trenton, NJ Choice Neighborhoods Key Partners are: Wallace Roberts and Todd; Smith Family Foundation; Mercer County Community College; Mercer County Workforce Development Board; Mercer County Office of Training & Employment Service; Capital Health; Isles, Inc.; Capital Area YMCA; Trenton Health Team; Grace Cathedral Fellowship Ministries; NJ Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency; NJ State Capital Partnership; and The College of New Jersey.

HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods program promotes a comprehensive approach to transforming neighborhoods struggling to address the interconnected challenges of distressed housing, inadequate schools, poor health, high crime, and historic disinvestment. Choice Neighborhoods is focused on three core goals:

• Housing: Replace distressed public and assisted housing with high-quality mixed-income housing that is well-managed and responsive to the needs of the surrounding neighborhood.
• People: Improve outcomes of households living in the target housing related to employment and income, health, and children’s education; and
• Neighborhood: Create the conditions necessary for public and private reinvestment in distressed neighborhoods to offer the kinds of amenities and assets, including safety, good schools, and commercial activity, that are important to families’ choices about their community.

Through Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grants, local governments, housing authorities, residents, nonprofits, tribal authorities, private developers, school districts, police departments, and other civic organizations create a common vision and develop effective strategies to revitalize their neighborhood. The resulting Transformation Plan lays the foundation for revitalizing the distressed public and/or assisted housing units, transforming the surrounding neighborhood, and promoting opportunities for families.

In addition, grantees may use a portion of these funds for “Action Activities” to build momentum and attract additional investment. Eligible uses of these funds include recycling vacant property into community gardens, pocket parks, or farmers markets; beautification, place-making and community arts projects; homeowner and business façade improvement programs; neighborhood broadband or wi-fi; fresh food initiatives; and gap financing for economic development projects.

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HUD’s mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and http://espanol.hud.gov.  You can also connect with HUD on social media  or sign up for news alerts on HUD’s Email List.