Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy was the keynote speaker Monday as Trenton kicked off its annual Business Week
TRENTON -- In a matter of decades, Pittsburgh went from one of America's most economically depressed and environmentally polluted cities to one of the most livable cities. The question is whether it can serve as a model for Trenton and other cities as they grapple with how to redevelop.
Former Pittsburgh Mayor Tom Murphy, who was the keynote speaker Monday as Trenton kicked off its annual Business Week, shared about his city's efforts to recover from the decline of its industrial base.
"We were a city that was going off the cliff ... and we were a city that needed to redefine ourselves," he told a room of business and community leaders. "We needed to think about who we were and what we were going to do."
He said Pittsburgh's transformation hinged on creating partnerships with business, political and university leaders, much like how Greater Trenton, the new independent nonprofit launched Monday, will play a role in the capital city's revitalization.
PLUS: Private funds, public purpose: Nonprofit aims to revitalize Trenton
Greater Trenton, which brings together corporate, academic and philanthropic organizations, will leverage private funds to promote economic development and revitalization projects.
"If you look at the success of Pittsburgh, that leadership came from different places working together and sharing the effort and vision," Murphy said. "It's about strong partnerships."
Murphy, who served as mayor from 1994 to 2006, said that Pittsburgh reduced its workforce and partnered with businesses and foundations to create a $100 million fund.
"You can spend all your money as a city on police, paving roads, fire and nothing changes," he said. "If you have a downward trend, you need to take some of those resources and think about what it means to invest in the future."
The city purchased a long-vacant steel mill and worked with the community and several developers to turn it into what is now an open-air retail, office, entertainment and housing complex. The local universities were used to help drive the economy and technology research and what was once the city's red-light district is now home to an arts and cultural district that annually attracts two million people to 2,000-plus events and activities.
The city also invested in its riverfront, Murphy said, urging Trenton to do the same.
"The rivers are a place of magic," he said. "You have to capture yours."
He said that Trenton, like every city, is a puzzle and the challenge lies in figuring out how all the pieces fit together.
"Developers own a piece of property and their focus is how do I make money from that piece of property and rarely do they think about what is happening with their neighborhood," he said. "Someone needs to be the grown-up in the room and understand how they all fit together and how to be strategic rather than transactional."
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find The Times of Trenton on Facebook.