Downtown Development Authority

Welcome to Downtown Trenton, Michigan, a business district filled with history, tradition and an exciting outlook for the future!

Located along the Detroit River just north of Wayne County’s scenic Elizabeth Park, Downtown Trenton is the historical heart of the city, which was founded in the early 1800s. A shipbuilding hub through much of that century, Trenton later became an important player in the country’s automotive and steel-making industries throughout the 20th Century. Throughout it all, the city has maintained a core business district near the river, primarily along what is now W Jefferson Avenue.

Central Business District

The central business district is a key component of Trenton’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) district, which includes more than 120 businesses along Jefferson, West Road and Fort Street. 

Revitalizing Downtown

The DDA, formed in 1997, has been working in conjunction with the city government and the business community to revitalize Downtown for the 21st century. We are in the midst of an exciting growth phase that has included new business and residential development as well as comprehensive infrastructure improvements.

With many people just starting to realize the vast potential of our Downtown, we think the best is yet to come!

About Us

The Trenton Downtown Development Authority was created by City Council in 1996 to serve as a mechanism for the revitalization of the city’s treasured downtown area.

The enabling legislation for such authorities is Public Act 197 of 1975, which allows the creation of DDAs to "correct and prevent deterioration... promote economic growth and revitalization (and to) encourage historic preservation."

The Act is intended to provide communities with "the necessary legal, monetary and organizational tools to revitalize downtown districts either through public-initiated projects or in concert with privately motivated development projects." Essentially, the Act allows a qualifying district to "capture" new tax revenues generated in the district for the purpose of reinvesting that money into new improvements in that district. The intent is to spur additional private investment and other economic development. This approach is called Tax Increment Financing.

The current Authority is comprimised of 11 members who were appointed by the Mayor and Council. Additional information can be obtained through the Mayor’s Office at City Hall.