Since 2002, The Old Mill Hill Society has funded an Historic Preservation Grant Program to promote the historic preservation and restoration of properties. Within the Mill Hill neighborhood. The guidelines for this program were revised in January 2008 to focus on the restoration and repair of the exterior of homes or the de-conversion of houses from multi- to single-family use within the neighborhood.
Grant applications will be reviewed by a committee of OMHS members and elected officers chosen by the OMHS Executive Board. The members of the OMHS Neighborhood Grants Committee are:
Committee Chair | Austin Edwards | Email: ajedwardsesq@gmail.com
Charlie Romanow | Email: romanowc@gmail.com
Typically, several grants are awarded each cycle.. Grants will be awarded to fund a maximum of 75% of a project’s cost. Only complete applications will be reviewed by the Committee.
For 2024, the amount available for grants is $ 10,000. The deadline for Grant applications has not been established.
Residential, commercial and non-profit properties located in the Mill Hill neighborhood are eligible to apply for grants. All applicants must have become or renewed their OMHS membership by April 1, 2024.
All property owners and residents in the Mill Hill neighborhood are eligible for membership. Annual membership dues are $10 and must be paid by the deadline in the OMHS bylaws or as extended by the OMHS. Members of the OMHS Neighborhood Grant Committee, the OMHS Executive Board, the OMHS Board of Trustees and members of their respective households are not eligible to apply for grants.
Only one grant will be awarded to an individual or organization in any one calendar year. Applicants may also seek other grants without effect on this grant application.
Depending on the funds available for grants and the number of applications, applicants may be offered a grant amount less than what they requested. An applicant may decline the grant or modify their project. Applicants who decline or are not awarded a grant during a grant cycle may reapply during the next grant period as long as the project for which the grant is being sought has not been begun. The Committee will notify the applicants in writing or by email.
In evaluating grant applications, Mill Hill and Trenton residents will be given preference. For vacant property, preference is given to owners who intend to occupy the property.
Priority will be given to projects in the following order:
- Rehabilitation of a vacant property for owner-occupancy.
- Conversion of an inhabited house from multi- to single-family use.
- Bringing a non-complying pre-existing exterior feature into compliance with standards set by the Trenton Landmarks Commission. Click here for some examples of projects in this category.
- Repair or restoration of an exterior feature to comply with standards set by the Trenton Landmarks Commission. Click here for some examples of projects in this category.
The Grant Committee members will individually score each application, listing any questions that will significantly influence their scoring of the application. The Committee will compile a list of questions, when necessary, and request answers to those questions from the applicant. All responses from the applicant must be made within two weeks from the date that they are supplied with the additional questions. Once the questions are answered and the application is re-scored, the Grants Committee will make its final decision. The decision of the Grants Committee is final.
Recipients of grants are required to begin work within six months of receiving the grant and complete work within 18 months of receiving the grant, except for the rehabilitation of a vacant property and deconversion of an inhabited house from multi-family to single-family use, for which work must within 12 months of receipt of the grant and be completed within 24 months of receipt of the grant. The Grants Committee will consider extensions of these time periods for good cause.
All grant recipients must submit a progress report to the OMHS every six months until the project is completed. The award of grants is subject to the following conditions:
Grant Recipients will receive 50% of grant upon submission to the OMHS of permit approval, including landmarks permits, and, if applicable, a signed contractor’s agreement.
The balance of the grant will be disbursed to the recipient after the work has been completed as outlined in the grant application, in any permit applications with the city of Trenton and upon any inspection required by the Trenton Landmarks Commission. Grant Committee members will also confirm that the work has been completed.
Unless an extension as described above has been requested and granted by the Grants Committee, work not undertaken within 6 months (or12 months for de-conversions as noted above) will cause the grantee to forfeit the entire grant amount and the grantee must return any portion of grant disbursed. Unless an extension as described above has been requested and granted by the Grants Committee, work undertaken but not completed within 12 months (or 24 months for exceptions noted above) will cause the grantee to forfeit the portion of the grant that has not been disbursed.
All forfeited grant amounts will be rolled over into the next Neighborhood Historic Preservation grant cycle.
Grant recipient(s) must allow OMHS to use their name, property location, grant amount, nature of grant and photographs of the property for any and all OMHS publicity purposes. Grant recipient(s) are encouraged to put their houses or gardens on the OMHS House and/or Garden tours.
Andres Lomi, Trenton Landmarks Commission (609-989-3528; alomi@trentonnj.org) is responsible for inspecting and enforcing the landmarks code for the city. Doug is a good resource to discuss and review historically appropriate features and requirements in the Mill Hill Historic District and entire City of Trenton.
[1] The Mill Hill neighborhood, as defined in the Old Mill Hill Society by-laws, is the area from the Freeway East (Route 1) to the Clay Street Circle; North on the west side of Stockton Street to Front Street; Front Street to South Broad Street; and South Broad Street to the Freeway.
Please also review the historic restoration guidelines Historic Restoration Guidelines .pdf as adopted by the Old Mill Hill Society. Feel free to contact any Committee Member, listed in the guidelines, with any questions.
