On a recent rainy Friday afternoon there was a ray of sunshine as Mayor Gusciora, City Council, and developers announced plans to redevelop the former Cook School into 29 mixed-income housing units.
The Cook School was built in 1910 in Trenton’s Wilbur Section on the corner of Cuyler Avenue and was one of the city’s most notorious schools before becoming unoccupied. This dilapidated structure now will help move Trenton’s East Ward forward by creating housing opportunities and putting a new ratable on the city’s tax rolls.
East Ward Councilman Joseph Harrison highlighted how redeveloping this site was one of the first steps in his “silver shovel economic development plan”. This effort started with over 100 volunteers coming together over the summer to clean the site and take a tour to see the site’s potential.
This potential was seen by KCG Development who recently purchased the property with unanimous support from City Council. In referencing this sign of progress for Trenton, At-Large Councilman Jerrell Blakely quoted the “great american philosopher Ice Cube” by saying “Today was a good day”.
This plan by KCG Development to turn the former Cook School into 29 mixed-income housing units is part of a broader partnership with Roland Pott of Trenton Makes, Inc. to develop “Clinton Lofts” at the corner of South Clinton and Hamilton Avenues into 28 housing units.
