Union County Review

Kean University today announced a new project to revitalize the Coalport neighborhood of New Jersey’s capital city, with plans for new housing, economic, and employment opportunities to support residents.

The Coalport Neighborhood Revitalization Planning Project, funded by a two-year $750,000 federal grant, is being led by Kean’s John S. Watson Institute for Urban Policy and Research and the University’s Michael Graves College School of Public Architecture.

“This project will create the blueprint for the transformation of the Coalport neighborhood, with engaged professionals from the Watson Institute and the School of Public Architecture working directly with community residents,” said Kean University President Lamont O. Repollet, Ed.D. “As the state’s urban research university, we are proud to play a pivotal role in the future of the Coalport neighborhood. Kean University is committed to serving as an anchor institution in communities throughout New Jersey, including our state capital.”

U.S. Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman joined Kean in announcing the launch. 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. This project prioritizes community input, historical context and social equity, and I am proud to support it,” said Watson Coleman, whose district includes Trenton. “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.”

Teams from the Watson Institute and School of Public Architecture will engage with local Coalport residents, gathering input from the community that will be used to guide development of the revitalization plan.

"Kean University is committed to leading the Coalport Neighborhood Revitalization Planning Project by harnessing the power of community engagement, innovative design and economic development to create a visionary plan for this historic neighborhood, ensuring that every stakeholder's voice is heard and reflected in the community's vision for a better future," said Joseph Youngblood II, Ph.D., senior vice president for transformational learning and external affairs at Kean.

As New Jersey’s urban research university, Kean’s mission includes endeavors such as this two-year planning project.

“This project reflects the Watson Institute's over 30-year commitment to supporting thriving healthy families and businesses in the capital city," said Barbara George Johnson J.D., Kean’s vice president of external affairs and urban policy and research.

A one-time thriving manufacturing center in Trenton’s North Ward, Coalport became distressed after factors such as redlining drove investment away from it leaving behind abandoned buildings and an underserved community.

Along with addressing housing and economic opportunities for residents,the Coalport project aims to increase access to improved public spacesand build connections with adjacent communities for additional opportunities.

Michael Graves College Dean David Mohney said this effort marks a significant advancement for their mission engaging with New Jersey communities while providing valuable research opportunitiesfor students.“Our studentsand faculty believe architecture can improve public environments,”Mohney noted.“Thanks tothe partnershipwiththeWatsonInstitutewe now haveopportunity todo so.This planninggrantwill leadtobuilt projectsaffecting livespositively creatingbetter healthierenvironmentswithbetteropportunitiesforhousingandwork."

Theprojectincludesresourceassessment,potentialstrategiesforredevelopment,anddetailed redevelopmentplansincludingphysical3Dmodelsofthearea.TheWatsonInstituteandSchoolofPublicArchitecturewillalsoworkwithThePracticeofDemocracy(TPD), an organization researching environmentallanduse governance issuesaimingtodevelopadvise localgovernmentspublicagencieson improvingeconomichealthenvironmentalresiliencequalitylifeintheircommunities.TPDprovidesKeana detailedanalysisoftheprojectsite locationrealestatemarketconditionslocalresourcemappingreviewregional/localfactorsandexistinglanduse/zoningreportsin supportofthe revitalizationplanning.TrentonMayorReedGusciorasaidheis“thrilled”to supporttheinitiative.“ThisinitiativemarksasignificantsteptowardtransformingourCoalportneighborhoodintoathrivingvibrantcommunity.”hesaid."Byactivelyengagingourresidentsthroughcommunityvisioningconductingthoroughresourceassessmentsdevelopinginnovativestrategiesforredevelopment,weareensuringthatfutureCoalportisshapedbythosewhoknowitbest–itsresidents."