HR&A leveraged its experience working with capital cities and redevelopment agencies around the country to develop recommendations for the City of Trenton on the type of organizational structure needed to implement its downtown master plan, and. The guidance included direction on authority, staffing, budget, and priorities for the organization created a specific action plan and for implementation.
Completed in 2008, the Trenton downtown master plan provides a framework for creating a more vibrant downtown through increased residential and commercial development around the Transit Center and and mixed use development along the waterfront. Implementing the plan, however, is challenging given the need to engage both city and state resources and to stimulate demand from both large corporate "headquarters" and "main street" tenants. The city lacked a clear idea of what type of entity would be best suited to pull resources together, align stakeholder interests and execute redevelopment plans.
HR&A examined a series of case studies and analyzed the City of Trenton's strengths and opportunities and assessed the capacity of key development organizations working in the city. HR&A determined that and existing entity could be modified in its governance, management and resources to most effectively implement downtown redevelopment plans. HR&A's set of recommendations provided the City of Trenton with detailed guidance on the modified organization’s governance and funding structure.
