Princeton University Planning Major Renovation, Expansion of Dillon Gymnasium

Posted on October 18, 2021 by walkableprinceton
Proposed plaza at north entrance to Dillon Gymnasium, Princeton University

Princeton University has submitted an application to the Princeton NJ Planning Department for a major modernization of its Dillon Gymnasium (map). Constructed in 1947, the existing Dillon Gym was among the last buildings on Princeton University campus to be built in the ‘collegiate gothic’ style, and is probably one of the only gyms in America to be constructed with battlements. Dillon is the main site where Princeton University students can participate in campus recreation activities, but it has not been updated substantially since it was built. With an increasing student body, the University now aims to refurbish and expand Dillon, to provide improved fitness and wellbeing offerings to students and faculty.

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Princeton Council Agrees To Modify Intersection Design At Witherspoon St and Nassau St

Posted on October 8, 2021 by walkableprinceton
Part of Princeton Engineering Department Presentation from Oct 8 Council meeting. Bollards might be used to ‘neck down’ Witherspoon St near the intersection with Nassau St.

With $1 million of state funding on the line, Princeton Council has agreed a last-minute change to the proposed new intersection design at Witherspoon St and Nassau St. The decision was made at a special Council meeting this morning, which was held ahead of an October 8 deadline to respond to the state Department of Transportation (NJDOT). The new intersection will have curb extensions to approved safety for pedestrians (see previous report from March at walkableprinceton.com). There was disagreement, however, about how wide Witherspoon St should be at the point where it meets Nassau St. The town had hoped for a pedestrian-friendly 13.5-ft street width, but NJDOT are apparently insisting on a wider 22-ft width, to make life easier for trucks turning into Witherpoon St from Nassau St.

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First Look: 18-unit Inclusionary Apartment Proposal At Former Princeton HiTops Site on Wiggins Street

Posted on October 6, 2021 by walkableprinceton
Design of a proposed 18-unit infill apartment development at Wiggins St & N Tulane St in Princeton.

A proposal for a new 18-unit apartment complex will be considered next Wednesday, October 18 by the Princeton Site Plan Review Advisory Board. The site is 21 Wiggins St, at the corner of Wiggins St and North Tulane St (map). The applicant is ‘Princeton Property Partners‘ of Ewing, NJ, for whom the managing partner is Aubrey Haines, a long-standing member of the Princeton business community. If the redevelopment is ultimately approved, it could provide an outstanding opportunity for walkable living just a block away from the heart of downtown Princeton. The redevelopment contains a number of attractive sustainability features, and four of the new apartments would be designated as below-market-rate affordable housing.

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Posted in Affordability, architecture, Density, planning, Princeton, Real estate, Smart Growth, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Town of Princeton Considering Major Revisions to Witherspoon Street Road Design After Intervention From Planning Expert Jeff Speck

Posted on October 5, 2021 by walkableprinceton
Urban planner Jeff Speck (center) chats to Princeton Mayor Mark Freda (right) at a talk at the Nassau Inn last week organized in large part by local businessman Aubrey Haines (left).

Princeton Council may be about to tear up its plan for a redesign of Witherspoon Street after local business leaders and elected officials heard a talk last week from internationally-famous planner and urbanist, Jeff Speck. Invited by local business leaders to tour Princeton and offer comments on planning matters, Speck gave a lively talk to an audience of around 100 people at the Nassau Inn last Tuesday, followed by a second talk to the local merchant community on Wednesday. Speck’s talk, titled “Towards A More Walkable Princeton” touched on many hot-button issues, including permit parking, the new Graduate Hotel, and Princeton University’s new Environmental Sciences Complex off Prospect Ave. The audience were regularly moved to laughter and applause. But it was his comments on the Witherspoon Street redesign which may have most impact on local policy…

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Posted in Beautiful Walkable Princeton, Complete Streets, Downtown Vibrancy, Events, People, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, The Parking Question | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Princeton Council Aims To Rent Surface Parking Lots At Abandoned Westminster Choir College

Posted on October 1, 2021 by walkableprinceton
The surface parking lots for Westminster Choir College, off Franklin Ave in Princeton, could become parking for local employees or students / staff of Princeton High School (top right of image). Via Google Maps.

The town of Princeton is in advanced negotiations with Rider University to make the parking lots at the Westminster Choir College site available for local residents and employees. The agenda for the regular Princeton Council meeting on Monday, September 27 included “Resolution 21-309: Approving a Temporary Revocable License Agreement with Rider University for Public Parking“. This resolution was pulled from the final agenda, because the town has not yet come to a final agreement with Rider University about the terms, but it became clear during the meeting that Council is actively pursuing the idea, and the resolution is likely to return to the agenda of another Council meeting in the near future.

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NJ Transit Report On Options To Replace Princeton Dinky Train Now Expected In ‘November’

Posted on October 1, 2021 by walkableprinceton
The Dinky Train at Princeton Rail Station. The existing Arrow III trains may be replaced.

NJ Transit is expected to provide preliminary findings of its ‘Princeton Transitway’ study in the month of November 2021. That was the news from Council Member Mia Sacks, the liaison between the Princeton Transit Advisory Committee and Princeton Council. Speaking on Monday evening, at the regular Princeton Council meeting, Council Member Sacks advised her colleagues that the Transit Advisory Committee had been in touch with NJ Transit, and had learned last week that a report was expected in November.

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Can Jeff Speck Help Solve Princeton’s Walkability Issues?

Posted on September 27, 2021 by walkableprinceton
Planner Jeff speck will give a free talk at the Nassau Inn in Princeton on Tuesday, Sep 28 at 6.30 pm.

Princeton business leaders have invited the internationally-recognized planner, Jeff Speck, to give two talks in Princeton this week. Having worked on over 75 town master plans, and authored one of the best-selling popular planning books of the last decade, Speck has the credentials to provide insight into ways that Princeton could redefine itself for the 21st century. This moment is particularly important, because last week the Princeton Planning Board made a recommendation on consultants to oversee a re-write of the Princeton community master plan (the Clark Caton Hintz firm of Trenton, NJ, who previously helped implement the town’s affordable housing settlement). But can any outsider, no matter how expert, understand what makes Princeton tick?

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Posted in Complete Streets, Downtown Vibrancy, Events, People, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Princeton NJ population reaches 30,681 in 2020 Census

Posted on August 12, 2021 by walkableprinceton

IMG_0199

The population of Princeton, NJ has increased to 30,681 residents. That’s the headline local figure from the US Census Board’s redistricting data, released today. Continue reading →

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Princeton University Plans New ‘Health Services Building’ on Campus to Replace McCosh Health Center

Posted on July 1, 2021 by walkableprinceton

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Rendering of proposed new ‘Health Services Building’ on Princeton University campus.

Princeton University has submitted plans to construct a new ‘Health Services Building’ to provide larger and improved space for University Health Services. When completed, the new building would replace the McCosh Health Center, which has been the principal site for University Health Services since 1920. 
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Princeton Council Votes For Compromise Plan With Substantially Wider Sidewalks On Lower Witherspoon Street

Posted on June 28, 2021 by walkableprinceton

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Impression of the proposed new street layout for Witherspoon St between Nassau St and Chambers St, via Princeton Engineering Department.

On Monday night, Princeton Council unanimously voted to advance a new design concept for the downtown blocks of Witherspoon Street, between Nassau St and Green Street (Map) (Council Meeting Agenda Packet). The Princeton Engineering Department has been consulting on a new street layout for Witherspoon Street since February 2020. As noted in a report to Council from chief municipal engineer, Deanna Stockton, the most popular option in a public poll conducted in 2020 was for a fully-pedestrianized area. In response to intense lobbying from downtown businesses, the town instead voted in December of last year to maintain one-way traffic in a northbound direction. A second lane would be dedicated to loading and/or parking, to serve local businesses. Continue reading →

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