REVIVING A NEIGHBORHOOD: Led by Kean University, the Coalport Neighborhood Revitalization Planning Project will work to revive the Coalport section of Trenton. (Photo courtesy of Kean University)

By Anne Levin

A new project to revitalize a once-thriving section of Trenton has been launched by Kean University. The Coalport Neighborhood Revitalization Planning Project, focused on an area in the capital city’s North Ward, is funded by a two-year $750,000 federal grant, and is led by the university’s John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research and Michael Graves College School of Public Architecture.

As the project develops, teams from the two entities will engage with local residents of the neighborhood to gather input and guide the plan. Coalport “became distressed after factors such as redlining drove investment away from the area, leaving behind abandoned buildings and an underserved community,” reads a release from Kean University. “Along with addressing housing and economic opportunities for residents, the Coalport project aims to increase access to improved public spaces and build connections to adjacent communities for additional opportunities.”

Barbara George Johnson, Kean’s vice president of external affairs and urban policy and research, said the Coalport project adds to existing efforts by the university in the area.

“Kean University’s John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research has a more than 30-year history of supporting families and businesses in Trenton, including working with community partners on a land preservation project that transformed an abandoned space into the Capital City Farm,” she said in an email. “The Coalport Neighborhood Revitalization Planning Project is the progression of the work already done, and encompasses the area around the Capital City Farm.”

Michael Graves College Dean David Mohney said the project is a major step forward for the School of Public Architecture’s mission of engaging with New Jersey communities, and will provide research opportunities for students. “We believe that this planning grant will lead to a series of built projects that affect the lives of the people of Trenton positively, creating a better, healthier environment, with better opportunities for housing and work,” he said.

According to the Trenton Historical Society, the Coalport/North Clinton neighborhood includes the Ewing-Carroll district, with buildings constructed between 1865 and 1890. Houses in the area range from modest, three-story twins and rowhouses to several mansions. One significant industrial building that remains is the Maddock factory at 100 Carroll Street, which is occupied by the Trenton Rescue Mission.

“The area was separated from Downtown Trenton by the D&R Canal (now Route 1) and was regarded as a prime development site for residential and industrial interests,” reads the historical society’s website. “The location of the railroad along the canal and the nearby passenger stations were viewed as enviable amenities. Between the years 1921 and 1964, the Ewing-Carroll district played host to students from Rider College, which was established at the corner of Carroll and East State streets and along upper North Clinton Avenue. The Ewing-Carroll district is a classic example of a ‘railroad age’ community developed when middle class workers and industry’s successful executives lived side-by-side in order to be near the place of their livelihoods.”

Among supporters of the Coalport project is U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, whose district includes Trenton. The project is funded by a congressional appropriation which Watson Coleman helped secure, and is directed through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“The Coalport Revitalization Planning Project is an investment shaped by the vision of those who live in the historic Trenton neighborhood,” she said. “This project prioritizes community input, historical context and social equity, and I am proud to support it. As the only appropriator from the New Jersey congressional delegation, I want to make sure that New Jerseyans’ tax dollars come right back to make a difference in our communities.”

Projects such as this are part of Kean’s mission, reflecting “the Watson Institute’s over 30-year commitment to supporting thriving, healthy families and businesses in the capital city, and we are proud to continue this critical work,” said Johnson. The project “focuses on creating a plan for redevelopment, which will be done through community involvement and engagement. However, the research conducted so far shows the need for new and renovated housing stock, new employment opportunities for residents, and better education and recreational opportunities. With the extensive Trenton 250 master plan as the foundation for all redevelopment in the city, the project team will work with members of the community to develop a plan with equity and revitalization at its core.”

The project is good news to Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora.

“This initiative marks a significant step toward transforming our Coalport neighborhood into a thriving, vibrant community,” he said. “By actively engaging our residents through community visioning, conducting thorough resource assessments, and developing innovative strategies for redevelopment, we are ensuring that the future of Coalport is shaped by those who know it best — its residents.”