walkableprinceton

Despite Increased Meter Rates, Drivers Still Prefer To Park On The Street In Princeton

Posted on April 15, 2019 by walkableprinceton

Cars parked on Hulfish Street in Princeton on April 13 2019. (click to expand)

Princeton Council meets Monday night to consider the impact of recent changes to street parking in downtown Princeton, which included the first increase in parking meter rates for many years. Local merchants have sent letters to local media, arguing that “fewer people are coming to our downtown to shop” and commenters on social media have argued that they are no longer coming to Princeton to shop because of the higher parking rates. If the new meter rates were really scaring away potential customers of downtown Princeton stores, you might expect to find lots of empty street parking spaces. The reality was rather different on Saturday afternoon, however, as every available metered parking space in downtown Princeton seemed to be taken. Continue reading →

Rutgers University Dedicates “Paul Robeson Plaza” in New Brunswick, NJ

Posted on April 12, 2019 by walkableprinceton

“Paul Robeson Plaza” in New Brunswick, NJ, which was dedicated today. (click to expand)

Rutgers University today dedicated a new plaza in downtown New Brunswick in honor of Paul Robeson. The famed former Princeton resident graduated from Rutgers as class valedictorian 100 years ago, in 1919. He became internationally famous as a singer, actor, and activist for social justice, before his career was cut short by harassment from government agencies. The construction of ‘Robeson Plaza’ was enabled by a gift of the Rutgers Class of 1971 and the work of the Rutgers African-American Alumni Alliance. Continue reading →

Posted in Local, People, Placemaking | Tagged New Brunswick, paul robeson, Placemaking, Princeton | Leave a comment

Princeton Residents Express Anger After Town Builds Gas Station In Residential Area

Posted on March 19, 2019 by walkableprinceton

The new municipal fueling station on Mt Lucas Road in Princeton. It was built without any consultation of neighbors. (click to expand).

Laurel Road residents attended the Princeton Council meeting last Monday to express fury at the unexpected construction of a new gas station at the bottom of Mt Lucas Road. The gas station – which is in a residential R-6 zone – was built without any public consultation. Many neighbors only found out about it when a construction crew appeared in February to start building. It replaces a grassy area where trees had grown and where sculptures were on display. The residents were also angry that the town was closing part of Terhune Road without having any alternative circulation plan in place. Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Complete Streets, planning, Princeton, Traffic, Zoning | Tagged planning, Princeton, trails, Zoning | Leave a comment

Princeton Council Planning 65-Unit Affordable Housing Project Off Mt Lucas Road

Posted on March 10, 2019 by walkableprinceton

Proposed site of new affordable housing zone, from 2019-03-10 Council meeting materials. (click to expand)

The Governing Body of the town of Princeton will consider an ordinance on Monday night (March 11, 2019) to create a new affordable housing zone at the intersection of Mt Lucas Road and Herrontown Road. The proposed ordinance would re-zone a 3-acre parcel to allow construction of up to 65 units of medium-density, multi-family affordable housing. It is not clear at this time how construction of affordable housing at this site would be funded. The site appears to be the former home of the SAVE animal shelter, which was vacated in 2015. The neighboring sites include homes on Old Orchard Lane, an office park on Herrontown Road, and the Acorn Glen assisted-living community. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Density, planning, Princeton, Zoning | Tagged affordability, Affordable housing, planning, Princeton | Leave a comment

Site Plan And Details of Princeton Ridge ‘Lanwin’ Development Proposal

Posted on March 7, 2019 by walkableprinceton

Boundaries of site for proposed new houses off Herrentown Road in Princeton. (click to expand)

The Lanwin Development corporation is proposing to build a new subdivision on the Princeton Ridge, which will be discussed in the Princeton Planning Board meeting tonight (March 7, 2019 – but may be continued to the meeting on April 4). The project site would be at the top of Bunn Drive on Herrontown Road, on what is currently a wooded site (see photo above). The site is across the road from the Stone Hill Church of Princeton. There are existing homes in the area, on Herrontown Lane, and to the north, the townhouse developments off Blue Spring Road in Montgomery Township. This is one of the most car-dependent parts of Princeton, with a walkscore of just 5 out of 100. Decades ago, former residents tried to farm this rocky area, and two derelict dwellings still stand on the land. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, planning, Princeton, Real estate, Sustainability, Trails, Transit, Zoning | Tagged planning, Princeton, sustainability | 3 Comments

Proposed Downzoning Would Block Construction of Many Traditional Princeton Homes

Posted on February 25, 2019 by walkableprinceton

Homes on Leigh Avenue in Princeton. (click to expand, image via Google Maps)

Princeton Council will tonight hold a hearing on a revision to the town’s zoning code, to further restrict the types of houses that can be built in town. Based on a perception that there are too many large houses being built, members of Council are aiming to make it much harder for people with smaller-than-average plots of land to build bigger homes. The problem is that in this case, the proposed change would make it illegal to build many traditional Princeton homes. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Density, planning, Princeton, Zoning | Tagged affordability, Princeton, Zoning | Leave a comment

Rat Protest At Under-Construction Gas Station In Princeton

Posted on February 22, 2019 by walkableprinceton

Union protest at Witherspoon Street and Terhune Road, Princeton. (click to expand)

Demonstrators from a local labor union showed up at Witherspoon Street and Terhune Road in Princeton today, bringing their giant inflatable rats with them. Shouting “No Justice! No Peace!” and “Princeton is a Union Town”, the protestors waved placards at passers-by. The protest appears to be focused on the construction of a new gas station at the site, which is at the top of Witherspoon Street near the intersection of Mt Lucas Road, Cherry Hill Road and Route 206. Continue reading →

Posted in planning, Princeton | Tagged labor union, Princeton, rat | 2 Comments

Concept Plan for New Princeton University Residential Colleges

Posted on February 21, 2019 by walkableprinceton

View of new Princeton University Residential Colleges, via ‘Concept Plan’. (click to expand)

The Princeton Planning Board will tonight consider a concept plan, submitted by Princeton University, for two new student residential colleges at the interesection of South Drive and Elm Drive. We have known for several years that Princeton University wants to build two new residential colleges. In early 2018, the University revealed that Deborah Berke Partners would be the lead architects for the project. This is the first time that members of the public have been able to see what they have designed so far. Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Density | Tagged Density, planning, Princeton University | 1 Comment

University: Princeton Bikeshare Program Used 673 Times Per Week

Posted on February 20, 2019 by walkableprinceton

Zagster bikeshare bikes outside Princeton City Hall at 400 Witherspoon St. (click to expand)

In late 2014, Princeton University launched a shared bike program, which allows members to borrow a bicycle for a short time to cycle around town. The program uses bikes provided by Zagster, a company that operates bikeshare programs around the country. Anybody can become a member, for a one-time fee of $20, which allows unlimited rides of less than 2 hours duration with no additional cost. Over the years, the University has expanded the program so that there are now 125 bicycles available. The bikes can be borrowed and returned to any of 21 stations located around the wider Princeton region. But how often do people use them? The University provided statistics on usage to the town as part of a meeting that University President Chris Eisgruber held with town officials last week.

Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, planning, Princeton | Tagged Bicycle, bikeshare, Cycling, Princeton | 1 Comment

Town Of Princeton Searching For Traffic Plan After Closing Terhune Road at US-206

Posted on February 14, 2019 by walkableprinceton

Intersection of Terhune Road and US-206, which was recently closed off for construction of new Princeton First Aid and Rescue Service (PFARS) garage. (click to expand)

Traffic in Princeton from Terhune Road to State Road 206 has been permanently detoured to allow construction of a new garage for Princeton First Aid and Rescue Service (PFARS). The new PFARS station is being constructed at a site on Valley Road, directly opposite the Princeton Police Station. The town closed part of Terhune Road to allow construction of a parking lot for the new PFARS station. The new development has no suitable traffic plan, and Princeton Council recently voted to fund a new ‘corridor plan’ to ensure safe traffic flows around the new ambulance station.

Continue reading →