The Trenton Housing Authority (THA), a leader in neighborhood revitalization efforts in Trenton, has named The Michaels Organization the development partner for a major neighborhood transformation in North Trenton, NJ, following a competitive selection process.
The Trenton Housing Authority and the City of Trenton were awarded a $1.3 million Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2019. Since then, the THA has worked with residents and a host of community stakeholders and partners to develop a master plan that will bring more than 500 newly constructed mixed-income homes to the Battle Monument Neighborhood in North Trenton. This includes new affordable living communities for residents of Donnelly Homes, an obsolete public housing community.
“A key step in this process is to listen and learn from residents and stakeholders about the history, culture, and character of the neighborhood from the people who live, work, and love the area,” said Jelani Garrett, the THA’s Executive Director. Garrett noted that the redevelopment of Donnelly Homes comes on the heels of the redevelopment of Turner Pointe last year, part of the Housing Authority’s continuing effort to modernize and improve its developments.
“The Battle Monument Neighborhood contains all the ingredients of a thriving neighborhood, including compact walkable blocks, functional commercial corridors, easy access to jobs, parks, schools and churches,” said City of Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora. “We are proud to move forward with this investment in the neighborhood, while ensuring that affordable housing remains a top priority.
The Michaels Organization, a national leader in residential real estate and the largest private-sector owner of affordable housing in the country, has experience with the U.S. HUD Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Program (CNI) – a comprehensive, holistic transformation approach – including CNI-funded developments in Camden, Jersey City, and Atlantic City, NJ; Tulsa, OK; and Los Angeles, CA.
“We are privileged to partner with THA to bring their vision to life and implement their transformation plan for this important and historic neighborhood,” said Nicholas Cangelosi, Vice President of Michaels Development.
In addition to improving Trenton’s housing stock through the development of high-quality affordable and mixed-income housing through partnerships like this one with The Michaels Organization, the THA’s partnerships also focus on bringing new supportive services to residents as well as job, business, and homeownership opportunities to the 1,700 families the THA serves in its 11 housing developments.
The multi-phased transformation vision includes plans for townhomes and apartment flats for families, amenity-rich housing specifically designed for seniors, and affordable homeownership opportunities.
In addition to CNI grant funding, The Michaels Organization and the THA will apply for federal Low Income Housing Tax Credits and numerous soft funding sources to finance the revitalization.
The new housing is being designed by Urban Practice. Better Tomorrows will provide resident supportive services. It is anticipated that Michaels Construction will serve as General Contractor. Michaels Management and the THA will partner to provide property management, ensuring that the new housing communities remain assets to the neighborhood for years to come.