A promise and a deadline: Inside Trenton’s high-stakes gamble to revive a vacant hotel 

The city’s plans to acquire the vacant Lafayette Park Hotel & Suites and transfer the property to a South Carolina firm for redevelopment have stalled, the Trenton Journal has learned. 

Mayor Reed Gusciora’s timeline for the hotel to open in time for America’s 250th celebration is expected to be delayed.

“The road is never straight, and you never know where the turns are going to be. This is a very complicated [deal] just for the transfer,” said Jim Maley, an attorney assisting the City with the hotel redevelopment deal. 

The hotel can’t be acquired and redeveloped until several issues are addressed. At the center of the dispute is a 2021 closing involving LW Trenton II, LLC, the current deed holder of record, and Expo Italia, a company that operates a permanent exhibition facility, which maintains that Edison Holdings NJ, LLC was not properly included in that closing and that its ownership interest was affected as a result. The company has raised additional concerns reflected in court filings regarding prior transactions tied to the property.

In June 2025, business consultant Grace Fernandez, who serves as power of attorney for Edison Holdings and as an Expo Italia partner, said she received additional documentation from the president of Edison Holdings, Deepak Viswanath, that impacts the understanding of the 2021 transaction. That evidence has since been submitted to the court as part of the ongoing litigation and was also shared with the City of Trenton.

Expo Italia claims Edison Holdings NJ, LLC was not involved in the closing of the hotel sale in 2019, resulting in the loss of its deed and the company losing millions.  Edison Holdings NJ won the hotel in a court-ordered bankruptcy auction for $6 million in 2013. Expo Italia also alleges that a tax lien that was placed on the hotel was purchased by an individual who was reportedly deceased at the time of the transaction. “The hotel has a painful history. We have an opportunity to do the right thing,” said Fernandez. “We are seeking accountability and justice.”

Fernandez was one of five developers who presented redevelopment proposals before the Trenton City Council, proposing to turn the hotel into a 150-room Radisson property featuring a permanent trade and conference center targeted to international travelers and residents. Fernandez said she presented her proposal despite the legal complexities because she wanted her position formally placed on the public record. “Transparency protects the public. Our silence became their superpower,” Fernandez said, likening her lawsuit to David versus Goliath. She added that her preference has always been to avoid prolonged litigation and instead focus on reopening the hotel in a way that benefits the City of Trenton.

Fernandez said she is seeking the hotel be returned to Edison Holdings and restitution of costs approaching $2 million that her company absorbed in expenses, such as professional fees, and operational investments tied to reopening the hotel. 

Fernandez emphasized that beyond the legal dispute, the matter represents something larger for the community.

“Dr. Viswanath, who passed away shortly after acquiring the hotel, the original owner of Edison Holding NJ LLC, had a dream that this hotel would become a beacon of hope for generations to come,” she said. “That vision is shared by many of us. The future of this city should not be shaped by short-term interests. Our hopes, our work, and our dreams for Trenton are not for sale.” Representatives for LW Trenton II declined to comment for this story.

What’s at Play

In November, Trenton City Council selected South Carolina firm, Tetrabilt, as the conditional redeveloper of the hotel for an exclusive 180-day negotiation period to work toward a final redevelopment agreement. At-Large Councilwoman  Jasi Edwards said Council had the most confidence in Tetrabilt’s plans to redevelop the hotel out of all the developers who put in bids for the hotel.

Tetrabilt proposed reducing the number of transient guest rooms from 197 to 170, with some of the remaining rooms converted into extended-stay units. As part of the redevelopment process, Tetrabilt has agreed to place funds in escrow to cover the City’s costs associated with negotiations.

In his presentation before the Trenton City Council in June of last year, AJ Belt, Tetrabilt’s managing partner, spoke about limited event programming in Trenton and his firm’s intention to study the fabric of the city to tailor the hotel’s amenities and design to the City’s needs. 

Belt also noted that while the building’s structure remains sound, the interior is a “mess” and requires significant renovation. “We have every intent to come into Trenton to improve this gem,” Belt told Council. 

According to police reports, the hotel has suffered extensive vandalism, including damaged elevator doors, compromised electrical systems, a broken HVAC system, missing copper piping, and stolen brass railings.

As of publication, the Memorandum of Understanding between Tetrabilt and the City has not yet been signed by Mayor Gusciora, and Belt and his business partners could not be reached for comment.

From the grand ballroom to an uncertain future

Spanning seven stories, replete with a 6,000 square foot ballroom that fits around 500 people, a lounge, restaurant, and bar, the hotel became a popular destination for proms, conferences, weddings, and meetings after its grand opening as Mariott hotel in 2002. But not everyone is convinced redevelopment will succeed. The hotel was ordered shut down in 2017 by the state Department of Community Affairs and the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety over a series of safety violations. Trenton resident Michael Ranallo is on the fence about the success of the hotel in the capital city. “If the hotel were to open and include a lounge or bar similar to the previous one, I could absolutely see it becoming a nightlife hub again. That space was consistently busy and drew people in,” Ranallo said. “As a standalone hotel, though, I don’t see it succeeding. There’s very little incentive to stay in Trenton unless you’re here for state business, and the city simply isn’t perceived as a destination where people plan weekend trips or leisure stays.” 

Despite the challenges, city officials and advocates argue that Trenton’s downtown is poised for growth. The city is home to 90,871 residents, and an estimated 3,375 new residents are expected to move into the downtown area by 2028. That influx is projected to generate $54.1 million in new spending power, according to a report funded by the Urban Enterprise Zone.

Attorney Dwaine Williams has envisioned redeveloping the vacant hotel into a Williamsburg-themed destination that would pay homage to Trenton’s pivotal role in the American Revolution. Williams said he invested $7,000 in a feasibility study that affirmed his belief in the property’s potential. 

“I can see where students from all 50 states could be coming here and staying at the hotel doing the Ten Crucial Days, Battle of Trenton stuff, then going up to Princeton for the Battle of Princeton,” Williams said. “There’s all of this history in Trenton.” 

Support for the hotel’s redevelopment has grown among local organizations, including the Trenton Thunder, Isles, Passage Theater, and the CURE Arena. Jeff Hurley, president of the Trenton Thunder Baseball Club, said a hotel in Trenton would help keep visiting teams closer to the city’s venues.

“We currently send our visiting teams to Princeton, Ewing, Hamilton, and Pennsylvania,” Hurley said. “A hotel in Trenton would sit less than two miles from the ballpark.”

For many city leaders, the Lafayette Park Hotel & Suites represents more than a single redevelopment project. It represents opportunity. “My hope for Downtown Trenton is that it once again becomes a fully functioning economic hub,” said At-Large Councilwoman Crystal Feliciano. “One that supports local business owners, creates meaningful job opportunities for residents, and offers a safe, vibrant environment for people who live, work, and visit here.”