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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Princeton Council Approves Inclusionary Development Concept for Harrison St / Terhune Rd with 124 New Homes

Posted on June 17, 2021 by walkableprinceton
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Rendering of concept for multifamily housing on Terhune Road, approved by Princeton Council on 6.14.21

A concept plan for a 124-unit multifamily residential building was approved by Princeton Council at their regular meeting on Monday night (link to meeting agenda and packet). The site, at the corner of Terhune Road and North Harrison Street (map), was already designated as a location for an inclusionary affordable housing development as part of the town’s 2020 Fair Share Housing Plan. The new plan shows significant new details, however, including the required architectural standards, and the proposed road network that will connect the development to the surrounding neighborhood. Continue reading →

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Planning Decision on Humbert Street Townhouse Proposal Delayed Until July

Posted on May 6, 2021 by walkableprinceton
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23-25 Humbert Street, the possible site for three townhouses proposed as part of an application under consideration by the Princeton Planning Board.

An applicant seeking to build three townhouses on Humbert Street in Princeton advised the Princeton Planning Board tonight that the application is to be revised and reconsidered at a later date. The Planning Board had been expected to vote on the proposal tonight, after a lengthy hearing and extensive public comment last month. 
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NJ Transit Launches Public Consultation to Identify Potential Upgrades to Princeton ‘Dinky’ Rail Line

Posted on April 26, 2021 by walkableprinceton
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The current Princeton ‘Dinky’ train, at Princeton Station.

NJ Transit has launched a public consultation (link) to get input into what the best options are for upgrading the Princeton ‘Dinky’ train service. The ‘Dinky’ is the two-car train that runs back and forward between Princeton rail station on Alexander Street and the main northeast corridor rail line at Princeton Junction station (map). The 2.7 mile-long, single-track route is said to be the shortest commuter rail service in the USA. The trip takes about 6 minutes in each direction and there are currently no intermediate stops between Princeton station and Princeton Junction station. According to NJ Transit, continuing the service with the existing equipment is not viable, because the Arrow III trainsets are 43 years old and are being decommissioned from the network. Continue reading →

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Princeton Planning Board Advances “Area In Need of Redevelopment” Designation for Princeton Shopping Center

Posted on April 23, 2021 by walkableprinceton
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Consultant Carlos Rodrigues, at an online meeting of the Princeton Planning Board, discusses criteria for designating the area around Princeton Shopping Center as a redevelopment area.

Should the Princeton Shopping Center on North Harrison St (map) be designated as a ‘Redevelopment Area’? That was the question considered by the Princeton Planning Board at their meeting last night. Princeton Council had referred the question to the Planning Board, to judge whether New Jersey state law on Redevelopment Areas might apply to the Princeton Shopping Center, and several adjoining properties, including Gover Park and the old PFARS Building. After a lively discussion, the Board ultimately agreed that the proposal met the requirements of New Jersey law, and could be designated as an ‘Area In Need of Redevelopment”. 

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Humbert Street Neighbors Lambaste Princeton Townhouse Proposal

Posted on April 19, 2021 by walkableprinceton
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Back in the USSR? One Humbert Street neighbor called this 2.5 story townhome proposal “a Soviet-era type of structure”

A proposal to construct three townhouses at 25 Humbert Street (map) was considered at a meeting of the Princeton Planning Board last Thursday. As discussed in ‘Walkable Princeton’ last week (“Three-unit Townhouse Development Proposed for Humbert Street in Princeton“), a developer recently purchased the dilapidated duplex on this site, and hopes to redevelop it with three 2.5 story townhouses. The total number of residences would therefore increase by one, from the previously-existing duplex, to three townhomes, which would be a 5-min walk from downtown Princeton. In public comment, however, nearby residents did not seem impressed with the plan. Continue reading →

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Three-unit Townhouse Development Proposed for Humbert Street in Princeton

Posted on April 14, 2021 by walkableprinceton
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Rendering of proposed townhouse development on Humbert Street in Princeton (click to expand)

Princeton Planning Board will consider an application on Thursday night for a three-home townhouse development on Humbert Street (map) in central Princeton. The plan would bring three compact homes to a site just off Wiggins Street that is within 2 minutes walk of downtown, but municipal staff have raised concerns about the density of the proposal. Continue reading →

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Princeton Council Gives Thumbs Up To Curb Extensions At Nassau St / Witherspoon St Intersection

Posted on March 26, 2021 by walkableprinceton
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Shematic showing proposed new layout of intersection of Nassau St and Witherspoon St in downtown Princeton. Notice new curb bulbouts on either side of the road. (click to expand)

An improved walkable layout is likely to appear at the intersection of Nassau St and Witherpoon St in downtown Princeton (map). On Monday night, Princeton Council approved Resolution 21-109, in support of a concept plan by New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) to improve pedestrian safety at this key intersection. Continue reading →

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Town Planning Board Approves New Sir David Adjaye-Designed Princeton University Art Museum

Posted on March 22, 2021 by walkableprinceton
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View of the new Princeton University Art Musuem, which has just been approved by the Princeton Planning Board. (click to expand)

Earlier this month, Princeton University presented plans for a new University Art Musum. The new museum would be built on the existing 4.5 acre site (map). The current museum (which has been closed since last April) and adjoining McCormick Hall would be demolished, with only the Marquand Art Library being retained. The Cooper Robertson firm and Ghanaian-British master architect Sir David Adjaye designed for the new museum. Adjaye has previously designed the Smithsonian National Museum of African-American History and Culture in Washington DC, and the Studio Museum in Harlem, NYC. The new Princeton University Art Museum would be 144,000 sq. ft, one of the biggest buildings on campus, and located in the heart of the historic university area behind Nassau Hall.

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Engineers Present Latest Concept Plan for Witherspoon Street Downtown Thoroughfare

Posted on March 16, 2021 by walkableprinceton

Concept plan for redesign of Witherspoon St between Nassau St and Spring St, showing proposed use of pavers across the street width. (click to expand)

 

Last year, Princeton Council voted to advance a plan to permanently convert the downtown part of Witherspoon Street into a one-way traffic pattern. The decision was made ahead of a large engineering project to upgrade sewers, which will require the street to be dug up and re-laid. A 9-month public consultation showed enthusiasm for a more walkable street design, an idea that was further supported by a petition signed by more than 1,000 local residents and support from several downtown merchants. Princeton engineers have advanced design concepts for the project, and updated Council last month on their progress.  Continue reading →

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