TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Governor-Elect Mikie Sherrill is defending her approach to housing development, saying new high-density projects make more sense in suburban areas with existing infrastructure than in Trenton’s struggling core.
The comments come as New Jersey suburbs remain under the forceful thumb of Trenton to continue clear-cutting in wooded suburban communities to build massive new affordable housing projects.
She said the issue isn’t about avoiding Trenton, but about targeting regions already equipped with sewer systems, transit access, and facilities capable of handling larger populations.
During a recent neighborhood walk with residents and city officials, Sherrill said she saw firsthand how red tape and property conditions have stalled projects meant to revive the capital city.
Infrastructure, not intention, drives decisions
Sherrill noted that Trenton’s population once approached 190,000 but now sits near 80,000, leaving large areas underused but not easily redeveloped.
She said millions in redevelopment funding have been tied up because many older buildings share walls or structural connections that complicate renovations.
“They’re fencing off these buildings even though they have millions of dollars supposed to go to this,” she said.
Her comments came as part of a broader discussion about directing housing funds toward “transit-oriented” development — dense housing built near train and bus routes that connect to major job centers.
Transit-oriented growth in suburban hubs
Sherrill said that while Trenton remains a strong transit hub, its connections don’t always lead to where people work, creating a gap between available housing and employment opportunities.
She described “microtransit” systems — small-scale public transportation services — as key to bridging that divide.
She pointed to suburban municipalities with strong infrastructure and existing commuter lines as better suited for immediate high-density development. “There’s a lot of areas that have traditionally had more dense development, that have the sewering, that have the facilities to handle it,” she said.
Focus on functional redevelopment over expansion
The governor-elect emphasized that she supports urban revitalization in cities like Trenton and Atlantic City but wants to ensure federal and state funding is actually usable for those projects. She said it’s not about clearing undeveloped land in conservation areas but about making sure development happens where it can realistically succeed.
Sherrill’s comments reflect a balance between revitalizing urban centers and managing growth responsibly in communities that can sustain it.