Redevelopment planned for Trenton station

TRENTON - April 11, 2008 Prospective tenants have been touring the area around the Trenton train station where builders are poised to begin a half billion dollar redevelopment project.

Nexus Properties is planning to construct two 20-floor office towers, a parking garage, and housing in the old Lee jeans factory, all within a block of the train station which is now undergoing a major renovation.

"It'll bring new business and various services to the area and we're just absolutely thrilled and excited this is happening," Andrea Sussman of Nexus Properties said.

Nexus and 2 other developers chosen by the city are trying to woo corporations to relocate here. Sasa Olessi, the head of Housing and Economic Development for Trenton, says the city's ready to welcome them.

New Brunswick has J and J (Johnson and Johnson), Newark has Prudential, we're really ripe for a corporation to look at Trention as an amazing opportunity for them," Olessi said.

The state is offering tax credits to companies that DO come here.

The vision for the train station area is a mix of commercial, retail, and housing designed to get more people not just working in Trenton, but living here, too.

"The train station is there, the light rail is there, and the number of people who come through here is phenomenal. Why wouldn't we take advantage of that with market rate housing?" Councilwoman (D) Annette Lartigue said.

Developers are looking to land at least one big tenant before moving forward, but Nexus says if a major corporation signs on and they can get all the approvals needed, construction could begin soon after.