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Brunswick Avenue redevelopment: residents say promised improvements haven’t materialized; developer pledges March start
Summary
Residents and council members pressed the developer of the Brunswick Avenue housing pilot about nearly two years of unmet promises for on-site services and upgrades. The developer said financing steps are pending with NJHMFA and pledged to begin renovation work in March and notify tenants within 21 days.
Residents and elected officials at the Jan. 7 Trenton City Council meeting said they have not seen promised improvements at a Brunswick Avenue apartment development nearly two years after the city granted a pilot redevelopment approval.
Councilwoman Jen Williams said constituents “have not seen any evidence of any improvements” and listed amenities that had been promised when the pilot was granted: a laundry room, after-school programming, a computer lab, joint services with a local hospital, upgraded lighting and cameras, interior and exterior repairs, and improved garbage collection.
David Baruch, vice president of Orbach Affordable Housing Solutions and the developer’s representative, told the council the project’s financing has been delayed but that the developer still intends to deliver the promised services and renovations. “Our plan is to start that renovation come March,” Baruch said, adding the developer is pursuing tax-exempt bond financing and tax credits with the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) and federal partners. He said closing the financing has taken longer than expected.
Council members pressed whether smaller, non‑construction items — such as laundry facilities, security cameras and garbage management — were contingent on NJHMFA funding. Baruch said his team expects approvals but that many items are on the project timeline; he promised to prioritize tenant-facing amenities. After repeated requests from council members, Baruch agreed to notify tenants within 21 days and to provide the council with a schedule of work from first day of post-approval activity through project completion.
Baruch described a planned construction approach meant to minimize displacement, saying renovations would be staged to avoid displacing large numbers of tenants at once. He said the developer planned to communicate directly with tenants and host a community meeting; the developer also pledged an “open door” policy for tenant concerns.
Council members said communication had been inconsistent and urged the developer to treat tenant outreach as a priority. Councilwoman Williams described the project timeline as having slipped from an initial six‑to‑eight-month expectation to nearly 22–24 months since the pilot was granted, and she urged a specific, enforceable schedule and early action on the laundry room, security upgrades and garbage collection.
Why it matters The development sits near Capital Health Regional and affects neighborhood housing conditions and tenant quality of life. Tenants, council members and the developer all said they want repairs and services; the dispute centers on timing and communication and on whether financing rules tied to NJHMFA approvals can be decoupled from smaller amenity work.
What to watch The developer promised a written schedule and tenant notices within 21 days and told the council it expects to start construction in March with an anticipated completion window of about 10–12 months. Council members indicated they will follow up for updates and want tenant outreach and a schedule posted to the city and council.
