TRENTON, NJ — Donnelly Homes, in North Trenton, is set to begin its long-awaited transformation with the creation of 108 new affordable apartments for senior residents.

At its September 3, 2026, Board meeting, the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) approved $15.8 million in permanent financing for Choice Junior One to go with a prior allocation of federal 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credits worth $19.9 million. This is first step in a broader effort to revitalize one of Trenton’s longtime public housing communities and bring new investment to the surrounding neighborhood.

“Choice Junior One epitomizes how affordable housing investments can preserve a community’s history while, simultaneously, creating new opportunities for its future,” said NJHMFA Executive Director Melanie R. Walter. “By transforming this site into quality senior housing, we are helping older Trenton residents remain connected to the city they call home while supporting a broader vision for the revitalization of North Trenton.”

Originally built in 1941, Donnelly Homes is a 376-unit public housing community that has been part of Trenton’s landscape for more than eight decades. Generations of Trentonians have called the community home, making it an important part of the history and fabric of North Trenton.

The multi-phase plan will replace aging housing and create a modern, mixed-income neighborhood in North Trenton. In addition to the 108 new affordable senior apartments, this phase of the redevelopment will also include approximately 2,460 square feet of commercial space and a 7,351-square-foot daycare facility.

In total, the first phase is expected to cost $55.6 million and is also supported by financing from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s ASPIRE program and the Federal Home Loan Bank. Construction on Choice Junior One is anticipated to begin in the fall of 2026, with completion expected in fall 2028.

As the first phase of the broader redevelopment, Choice Junior One will help lay the foundation for the long-term transformation of Donnelly Homes and the surrounding North Trenton neighborhood, creating new affordable housing while supporting a more vibrant, connected community for current and future residents.

About Us: The New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency (NJHMFA) advances the quality of life for residents of and communities throughout New Jersey by investing in, financing, and facilitating access to affordable rental housing and homeownership opportunities for low and moderate-income families, older adults, and individuals with specialized housing needs. To learn more about NJHMFA, visit: njhousing.gov