The redevelopment process of Trenton’s Roebling Block 2, a section of the historic John A. Roebling Wire Works within the Roebling Complex Redevelopment area, has reached the proposal stage after the city released a “Request for Proposal,” or RFP, for the mixed-use site, as per a late February press release from the Office of Mayor W. Reed Gusciora.
Trenton is seeking these submissions from “qualified developers” by April 11 at noon. Aside from a “small portion of the site currently leased to a third party for parking,” the industrial complex of seven buildings and a large open space is primarily owned by the city of Trenton.
“We are excited that there has been so much expressed interest in redevelopment of our city. With economic incentives from the state, developers will be able to imagine this landscape and help spark economic growth in our city. This will mean jobs for our citizens and expanded opportunities for local businesses,” Mayor Gusciora says in a quote.
“The RFP constitutes an invitation for responsive submissions to the City, which will be evaluated by the City’s Department of Housing and Economic Development (HED). Ultimately, the new Trenton City Council will decide which developer is chosen after invitations are made to present before Council,” the release continues, with Mayor Gusciora explaining “that five developers had previously submitted such proposals, but the prior Trenton City Council was slow to act on them.”
Private funds, existing state grant funds, USEDA grants, tax credits (historic or economic development), Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) funds, and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds could all be used to incentivize the redevelopment of Roebling Block 2. Other entities like the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) and the New Jersey Redevelopment Authority are open to supporting the city in the completion of this vision with assistance programs that “may be applicable” to the redevelopment process.
The state bulletin details the history of Roebling’s impact on Trenton with the following information about his contributions: “In 1848, John Roebling purchased a 25-acre site along the Delaware & Raritan Canal in the historic Chambersburg section of Trenton for his wire rope business. By World War I, the factory was the largest wire rope plant in the world and the company grew considerably in response to the steadily increasing demand for its products; the steel cables produced on this site are featured on the Brooklyn Bridge, Golden Gate Bridge, and other historic sites. The site has been abandoned for more than fifty years.”
“If you are interested in making a noteworthy investment in a historic site near the Delaware River, in the Capital City, we encourage you to submit a plan for consideration,” Gusciora adds. “With a new and welcoming Trenton City Council, the redevelopment of Roebling Block 2 is a major priority of my administration and an important milestone in the revitalization of our local economy.”
Proposals are due by Tuesday, April 11 at noon. For more information, visit trentonnj.org/DocumentCenter/View/6597/RFP-2022-Roebling-Block-2. For questions, contact Roeblingblock2RFP@trentonnj.org. Answers to any inquiries will be posted online at the City of Trenton website, trentonnj.org.
