I wasn't able to make the meeting but many of my Mill Hill neighbors did and from all reports there was a lot of support for the project. Architect Frank Moya is winning over the community which is significant given the developer, Michael Fink is such a scoundrel. (some day I'll stop complaining about Leewood Devopment and Fink, but not just yet).

No news on schedules, prices and floor plans yet. I would assume that the developer will want to pre-sell the units but I'll let you know. If they do, I'm sure they'll easily sell out just like all the other new construction in Mill Hill has.

Most of the houses aren't lofts but there's a possibility that one of the lofts from the Labor Lyceum will be on the tour. Also, the Mill Hill neighborhood anchors much of Trenton's future loft development. For instance the Broad Street Bank building and the Bell Building are one block away from the Mill Hill Playhouse where house tour check-in is located. Anybody there can point out the buildings. The site for the Whittaker is on S. Broad St., again anybody on the tour can point it out. My project at 324 S. Broad is nearby (not much to see there yet). Even the Caola building which reportedly will house a luxury loft or two is within eyesight of the Mill Hill Playhouse.

You don't want to jump into living in Trenton without trying it out a little bit. The Mill Hill house tour and Trenton-2-Nite are great ways to do that.

This is another Dan Brenna project but isn't ready for marketing. Dan's promised to get me the info as soon as it's ready, so stay tuned to trentonlofts.com.

So when's it going to be done? Hopefully by 12/15.

My vision for Trenton is for it to be a small city roughly double its current population with enough cool spots to keep an energetic city dweller happy but not too much so you never know your neighbors. This is ambitious but the Trenton Lofts movement is part of making it happen.

However, at least one night a month Trenton is already the most happening spot in central Jersey. Trenton-2-Nite happens the second Friday of every month rain or shine. It's become somewhat of an institution and I've written about it in this space before.

Last Friday was something special though. On a mild November evening Trenton played host to five free jazz concerts, three of them with free food and drink. When was the last time that happened in Princeton?

Michelle and I started the evening at The Trenton City Museum where Doris Spears was giving a free concert along with Joe Zook. Next, we went to Gallery 125 on S. Warren for some more blues and a new gallery show of American themed art. Maxines 2 across the street had a band. The Gallery on Lafayette, around the corner had a singer and the usual hors d'oeuvres and wine and the Marriott had jazz in the Archives Bar. Each of the venues drew big crowds which made for quite a festive evening in Trenton. After a night like that you're thankful that you live in the city and aren't facing a long drive home to the suburbs.

Trenton-2-Nite started as an effort by downtown merchants to bring people into the city at night. The Trenton Downtown Association has taken over management of the event and has done a lot to make it bigger. For us Trenton regulars, its become a monthly social hour were we count on seeing all of our friends. Like I said, Trenton can be cool without the impersonal scale that you'd have in that other city.

Here's what I do know. One of my sources tells me that the project is going before the planning board on November 28 at city hall. Hopefully I can make the meeting to see how much substance there there is behind this grand plan.