Taking back the block
Trenton’s fight the blight Initiative offers residents the potential to buy back the block. Last Wednesday the Trenton Journal toured Sanford Avenue, an area where 31 homes will be demolished to make way for redevelopment. Sanford Street is one of the most blighted blocks in the city. When Mayor Gusciora arrived on Sanford Avenue with city officials including Director of Health & Human Services Dr. Adela Almas-Lopez and newly appointed Director of Housing, C. Andre Daniels, they were greeted by many passersby thanking them for their plans to restore a neighborhood that has been described as one of the most blighted blocks in Trenton.
Mayor Gusciora along with city officials toured the proposed demo of 30 properties on Sanford Ave and stated that clearing these abandoned homes is crucial to public safety and economic development. “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,“ Mayor Gusciora said. Trenton residents can expect to see a major overhaul in the city within five years. "There has never been a real will to take down the houses and rehabilitate the ones that can be rehabilitated. It’s a holistic approach to rehabilitate neighborhoods and make them safer and make them healthier." The city will hold an upcoming auction of residential lots, residential buildings, multi-family units, and commercial properties. The auction is a great opportunity for residents and non-Trenton residents to invest in the revitalization of the city. The auction will be held from December 6th to December 8th, click on the link for more details.
Trenton Free Public Library Offers Digital Certification Program
The New Jersey State Library announced that the Trenton Free Public Library has been selected to participate in its Hub & Spoke Libraries pilot project, a statewide effort that will provide digital literacy training and credentialing for adult residents at 14 public libraries across the state. The Trenton Free Public Library will participate in the program as a Spoke library with services beginning in January. The project aims to create a standardized and replicable library-based digital literacy certification program to assist New Jersey’s workforce in technology development. Participants will visit on-site training labs, with certified trainers offering digital literacy workshops and other workforce-related services. The Trenton Free Public Library will team up with the local Workforce Development Board and American Job Center, as well as other surrounding libraries to create a referral and sending system that accounts for client intake, record keeping, and data sharing. Participants will have access to free, high-quality training materials, videos, classroom aides, and mini-lessons. For more information about the Hub & Spoke Libraries pilot project, visit www.njstatelib.org
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Christmas in Mill Hill
The Old Mill Hill Society Holiday House Tour is back. This year’s tour, “Holiday Walkabout” will take place on Saturday, December 4, 2021, from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased in advance through www.TrentonMillHill.org or on the day of at Artworks. This year the tour is outdoor for 2021 unless homeowners invite guests inside. The Holiday Walkabout will focus primarily on the first-floor room that faces the street, the exterior of the home, and for some, an area in front of the home where guests can relax, mingle and enjoy refreshments. “We didn’t want another year to pass without a holiday house tour so we had to come up with a creative way to celebrate the holidays in our beautiful neighborhood. The tour has been a holiday staple in the greater Mercer County area for years,” said Mill Hill Holiday House & Window Tour Co-Chair, Terry West. The House Tour started 55 years ago, is one of Mill Hill’s signature events and a Trenton tradition. Approximately 20 homes in the neighborhood will display special decorations through their front windows and/or on their exteriors, with some of the homeowners hosting visitors with music, refreshments, and holiday cheer. Funds raised by the tour go to the historic preservation grants that assist Mill Hill home and business owners in maintaining the landmark standards. Contact Terry West at grassrootswest@gmail.com for further information.
