The New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA) Board approved a tax credit award of $12 million to rehabilitate an 1839 historic church structure in Trenton under the Historic Property Reinvestment Program (HPRP). The Steeple Center Rehabilitation Project, developed by 120 East State, will bring a performing arts venue and events center to Trenton.
“With this HPRP award, the Steeple Center Rehabilitation Project will preserve the historic church for future generations, bolster the community’s cultural arts sector, and act as a driving force for ongoing revitalization in the Trenton area,” said Tim Sullivan, chief executive officer of the NJEDA.
The project consists of a complete rehabilitation of the church structure and associated addition, which was built in 1950. Once completed, the venue will have a seating capacity of nearly 300 and provide both free and fee-based community-based gathering and programming spaces, as well as a lobby and visitor center with a café, gift shop, restrooms, administrative offices, and waiting areas.
“Restoring this historic church not only preserves an iconic piece of our city’s architectural legacy, but also breathes new life into our downtown by creating a vibrant space for arts, events, and community gatherings,” said Trenton Mayor W. Reed Gusciora.
The venue will also have space for catering, arts performances, conferences, and other events, and the project will also be fully compliant with the American with Disabilities Act.
“We are grateful to the NJEDA for this essential support of our project– it moves us an extremely important step closer to transforming 120 East State into a center that will in turn help transform downtown Trenton,” said Molly Dykstra, acting executive director of 120 East State.
The HPRP’s focus is historic preservation as a component of community development, aiming to attract long-term private investment into New Jersey while preserving properties that have historic value.
The revitalization of historic structures will help to bring these often-underutilized properties back to productive use, thereby reducing the need for new development at these locations.
Created under the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020 (ERA), the HPRP is designed to work in conjunction with the Federal Historic Tax Credit Program and is subject to an annual program cap of $50 million, with annual unused amounts included in the amounts available for approval in the subsequent year.
120 East State is a community-based, community-centered investment in the heart of Trenton.
