walkableprinceton

Lempert, Council Use Outdated Figures In Response To Princeton Housing Advocates

Posted on January 25, 2017 by walkableprinceton

Letter from Mayor Lempert and Princeton Council members in this week's "Town Topics" (click to expand)

Letter from Mayor Lempert and Princeton Council next to one from affordable housing advocates in “Town Topics” (click to expand)

The Town of Princeton’s ongoing litigation over affordable housing took an unusual turn this week as Mayor Lempert and the members of Princeton Council issued a letter to local newspaper ‘The Town Topics’ defending their legal fight. In response to a letter from long-time affordable housing advocates that called for a settlement in the town’s court battle, the Mayor and Council members issued their own statement aiming to ‘correct the record’. The town also published a ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ document on the municipal website, aiming to update local residents about what is happening with the court case. Unfortunately, both the letter in ‘Town Topics’ and the online ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ contain out-dated information, which serves only to confuse the matter. Continue reading →

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Princeton Council Criticizes ‘Fair Share Housing Center’ As Affordable Housing Trial Continues

Posted on January 23, 2017 by walkableprinceton

200 people sign petition urging Princeton to settle affordable housing case. (click to expand)

Over 200 people signed a petition urging Princeton to settle its affordable housing litigation. (click to expand)

Princeton Council members expressed anger and frustration at their regular meeting Monday night after being presented with a 200-signature petition urging a compromise in their ongoing affordable housing litigation. In front of a packed town hall, several Council members publicly blamed the Cherry Hill, NJ-based housing advocacy group ‘Fair Share Housing Center‘ for the lack of progress in agreeing a figure for how much affordable housing Princeton should build. But Fair Share hit back on Twitter, accusing the Council members of presenting ‘alternative facts‘, and offering a fully-public negotiation session. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, planning, Princeton | Tagged affordability, Affordable housing, coah, planning, Princeton | 1 Comment

Princeton Community Housing Board President: Town Should End Legal Opposition To Affordable Housing

Posted on January 19, 2017 by walkableprinceton

Letter from Princeton Community Housing Board President to Princeton Elected Officials (click to expand)

Rich Gittleman, the President of the Board of Trustees at Princeton Community Housing, has addressed a letter to Princeton Mayor Liz Lempert and the members of Princeton Council, urging an end to the town’s current legal fight over affordable housing. The open letter is being published in local media outlets (click here to view the full letter, or click here to read the full text at Planet Princeton), and points out that the town’s legal action is specifically intended to reduce affordable housing numbers. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, People, planning, Princeton | Tagged Affordable housing, coah, mount laurel, planning, Princeton | Leave a comment

Princeton Forms Alliance With Mercer County Towns To Fight Affordable Housing Obligations

Posted on January 9, 2017 by walkableprinceton

The Hughes Justice Complex in Trenton, where Princeton is fighting against state affordable housing obligations. (click to expand)

Princeton has teamed up with four other municipalities from Mercer County in a bid to reduce the amount of state-mandated affordable housing that must be built in town. The town has entered a syndicate, called the ‘Mercer County Municipal Group’ (MCMG), with Hopewell Twp, Lawrence Twp, West Windsor, and East Windsor. These towns will attempt to justify building less affordable housing than what is being recommended by the Fair Share Housing Center, a Cherry Hill, NJ-based non-profit. The MCMG towns will take the case to trial in Mercer Superior Court, Even as other New Jersey towns have agreed housing settlements out of court, the MCMG towns are insisting on a legal fight in Mercer Superior Court, in a case that is expected to influence the amount of affordable housing that is built throughout New Jersey. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Princeton, Zoning | Tagged Affordable housing, coah, exclusionary zoning, mount laurel, New Jersey, Princeton | Leave a comment

Princeton’s Fight To Build Less Affordable Housing Moves To Court Starting Jan 9

Posted on January 4, 2017 by walkableprinceton

The Grigg's Farm Condominium, one of Princeton's largest affordable housing developments, completed 1989. (click to expand)

Grigg’s Farm in Princeton: a development with 50% affordable and 50% market-rate housing (click to expand)

Many people are concerned that the shortage of affordable housing Princeton threatens the diversity of the town, and makes it hard for young adults and seniors to stay in town. The town, however, is currently waging two different legal battles to try to limit the amount of affordable housing that is built here. The next phase in this court battle is set to start January 9, when lawyers representing Princeton will participate in a trial at Mercer Superior Court. Continue reading →

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

Here’s What Will Happen In Princeton in 2017.

Posted on December 31, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Hinds Plaza, heart of walkable downtown Princeton. (click to expand)

Hinds Plaza in walkable downtown Princeton. What does 2017 hold? (click to expand)

With 2016 at an end, it’s time to look toward what the new year holds for walkable living and development in Princeton. Every year, we try to guess what will happen in the coming 12 months. Which of our guesses do you think are right, and what else do you expect will happen in 2017?
Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Community, Downtown Vibrancy, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Sustainability, Zoning | Tagged planning, Princeton, restaurants, uber, Zoning | Leave a comment

The 2nd Walkable Holiday Quiz: Can You Name These NJ Downtowns?

Posted on December 23, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Where is this? (click to expand)

Who said Jersey is one big sprawl? We have a ton of walkable towns – places where you can get to work, grab a beer, or hit some stores without getting in a car. Some of these towns are playgrounds for lovers of boutique shopping. Others are pretty gritty, and could use some love. But they are all authentic places, with real history, and a strong sense of place. Last year, we set the original Walkable Holiday Quiz (click here to play the 2015 quiz again). And now we’re doing it again! Your clue is that all these towns are in and around Central NJ. See how many you can get right!

#1. See photo above. What walkable place is this?

Clue: Possibly the only town in New Jersey to have regular rail service using a steam locomotive!

Answer

Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown Vibrancy, Local, Placemaking | Tagged downtown, jersey, walkable | Leave a comment

Institute Of Advanced Studies Housing Deal May Face Stream Problem

Posted on December 13, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Institute of Advanced Studies, Princeton. (click to expand)

The deal that was announced yesterday between the Institute of Advanced Study and local preservationists apparently aims to achieve 2 things: allow the Institute to build faculty housing (as it has been trying to do since 2003) and at the same time preserve a field that preservationists believe was the site of a pivotal moment in the Battle of Princeton in 1777. The agreement would suspend a court case filed by opponents of the plan, and create an opportunity to extend the Battlefield State Park through a sale of some of the land by the Institute. Continue reading →

Posted in planning, Princeton, Sustainability | Tagged historic preservation, planning, Princeton, sustainability | Leave a comment

A Walk Around ‘The Yard’ At Rutgers-New Brunswick

Posted on December 12, 2016 by walkableprinceton

‘The Yard’ at street level, Union Street, New Brunswick, NJ. (click to expand)

Earlier this semester, Rutgers University opened a significant new addition. ‘The Yard‘ replaced a parking lot at Hamilton St and College Ave in New Brunswick. Imagined as a ‘front porch’ for the campus, the project features a mixture of stores and apartments arranged around a park. But how successful is it? Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Density, Downtown Vibrancy, Local, Placemaking, Smart Growth | Tagged device, jersey, mixed-use, New Brunswick, rutgers, smart growth | Leave a comment

‘Mill Hill Holiday House Tour’ Celebrates Diverse, Affordable, Historic Trenton Neighborhood

Posted on December 9, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Historic townhouses in Trenton’s walkable Mill Hill neighborhood. (click to expand)

Last weekend was the Mill Hill Holiday House Tour. Now in its 50th year, the event allows members of the public into the homes of Mill Hill residents, offering a view of one of Trenton’s most interesting neighborhoods. Continue reading →