Trenton NJ is my hometown, where I was born and where I currently reside.  As the Capital City of New Jersey I can comfortably say we have our challenges like any other "post industrial city" but we are full of many positives a few of which I will share in this post.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-industrial_society

Plenty of people in multiple sectors have eyes fixed on Trenton NJ, this includes the speculators, investors, business owners, 1st time homeowners, current residents and business owners alike.  Because of this our Elected Officials have some challenging times ahead, more on that later.

Today I gave a tour to an investor looking at Trenton as a potential "niche market" for a fast growing segment.  My apologies for the vagueness however our current marketplace dictates that we should be cogneceinent of IP - Intellectual Property.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niche_market

Our tour began with a walk in the "Downtown Area" where I highlighted several potential development sites including some that are vacant and abandoned as well as the thriving areas where people can be seen throughout the day and night.  I focused quite a bit on the Tourist/Historical Sites with hyper focus on my personal connections the "Arts and Non-Profits."

We continued the tour via automobile visiting each of the 4 Wards chatting about the demographics, what is happening in the neighborhoods and what I know about the "Master / Comprehensive Plan" which was well received.

http://trenton250.org

Throughout the tour it came up as to why Trenton is in the current state that it is.  I am asked this question often and my reply is the same.

1. We do not know who or how many people are here
2. We have a disenfranchised population of Blacks/African Americans
3. We have a rapidly growing population of Latino Hispanics from various Countries and the communications between them is not great
4. We have a growing population of people from the Caribbean, Asia, Eastern Europe and the African Continent who are not encouraged to be civically engaged
5. We have a growing negative opinion about ourselves 
6. Our largest print media outlets are more focused on the negative than the positive
7. We lack a Benefactor
8. The perception of safety 
9. The tax rate
10. The educational system

A few images from a November 2017 Tour

https://photos.app.goo.gl/JVha8qgLKJuq8Uec9

A few images from a September 2018 Tour