walkableprinceton

Revisiting The First Princeton Jane Jacobs Walk

Posted on May 11, 2016 by walkableprinceton

‘The Warehouse‘, former home of Michael Graves, Patton Avenue, Princeton. (click to expand)

On Saturday, the first Princeton ‘Jane Jacobs Walk’ took place, honoring what would have been the 100th birthday of the famed urbanist. I’ve never been on a Jane’s Walk before, so it was a whole new thing. But it was great to get together with some local residents, and enjoy the great stuff that exists in our town. Although Princeton is a small town, there is much to discover, and in a group its even better because different people can point out different things that they know about. On this walk, we started from Small World Coffee East Nassau, at 254 Nassau St. Our group considered the nearby busy commercial area, much of which is zoned as ‘special services’ reflecting its history as a strip of automotive garages, gas stations and car dealers. (It is now a top dining destination in Princeton). The group was conflicted over the current plan to build a roof deck and screen in the front Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, Community, People, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Real estate, Walking | Tagged jane jacobs, Princeton | Leave a comment

Limiting Undergraduate Parking Is Consistent With Princeton University’s History

Posted on May 10, 2016 by walkableprinceton

This section of College Road, on Princeton University campus, was closed to traffic in 1964. (click to expand)

Princeton University undergraduates and the ‘Daily Princetonian’ editorial board are protesting about a plan by the University to limit undergraduate car parking on campus. This is nothing new. Students have been protesting for decades about plans by the University to restrict car use. Despite that, the University’s historical lack of interest in easy car use is a major reason why the present campus is so great. Let’s consider the reasons why… Continue reading →

Posted in Princeton, Sustainability, The Parking Question | Tagged Parking, Princeton | 2 Comments

First Princeton ‘Jane Jacobs Walk’ Is This Saturday, May 7!

Posted on May 3, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Scenes of Princeton's East Nassau St neighborhood. (click to expand)

East Nassau St scenes. (click to expand)

This Saturday, May 7, the Walkable Princeton team will be leading the first-ever Princeton ‘Jane Jacobs Walk’! The short walk is an opportunity for people who love our town to explore some of the things that make it great, such as the mix of local stores, character-laden residential areas, and the University campus. What things that exist today do we want to protect, and what opportunities are there to make the town even better? Starting at the excellent Small World coffee shop at 254 Nassau Street, our 1.3-mile ‘walking conversation’ will commemorate the life of Jane Jacobs. May 4 marks what would have been the 100th anniversary of her birth. Through her life, Jacobs stood up for community planning and supported fine-grained, walkable places. Her grassroots campaigning and influential books made her a legendary figure in planning circles.

Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Events, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Walking | Tagged Events, jane jacobs, planning, Princeton, Walking | Leave a comment

Walkable Central Princeton Leads Local Area For Increases In Home Values

Posted on May 2, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Central Princeton (08542 zipcode) has seen 32% increase in property values since 2004 (click to expand)

Central Princeton has seen a 32% increase in property values since 2004. The price jump downtown, which greatly surpasses anything else in the local area, was revealed in data published by ‘The Washington Post’ last week. By taking a long-range view of property prices, the study goes beyond the effects of the crash of 2008, and subsequent recovery. Compared to the former Township, which posted gains of 14% over the same period, the downtown area, which was formerly known as ‘Princeton Borough’ is showing much more significant price increases. This reflects the growing demand for walkability among home-buyers, particularly in amenity-rich places like Princeton. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Real estate | Tagged Princeton, Real estate | Leave a comment

The Sights And The Scenery Of The Upcoming Princeton ‘Jane Jacobs Walk’

Posted on April 29, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Gas station at East Nassau St with ‘soulful humanitarian’ Bruce Springsteen bust. (click to expand)

On Saturday, May 7, the Walkable Princeton team will be leading the first-ever Princeton ‘Jane Jacobs Walk! The even commemorates the 100th anniversary of the birth of the legendary urban advocate. It’s not so much a tour as a ‘walking conversation’, where we aim to celebrate and talk about the thing we like in Princeton and the things we’d like to improve upon. Jane Jacobs wrote books from the 1960s until her death in 2006. Her insights, drawn from years spent observing cities, are still considered essential today. Our walk will start at 9 a.m. outside the East Nassau branch of Small World coffee at 254 Nassau Street. All are welcome Look for the tour leader with the rainbow umbrella! . Click here for a full map of the route and more details!
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Posted in Complete Streets, Events, People, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Sustainability | Tagged jane jacobs, Princeton, Walking | Leave a comment

Edgerstoune Road Neighbors Divided Over Possible Sidewalk

Posted on April 26, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Three new streetlights were recently installed on Edgerstoune Rd. But some residents are calling for a sidewalk. (click to expand)

How best to make Edgerstoune Road a safe street? That question has been concerning neighbors, who have held several meetings with Princeton municipal staff, and engaged in a vigorous online debate that has now involved Mayor Liz Lempert as well. After some discussion, the town has installed three new streetlights (see photo above). Some neighbors are calling for a sidewalk as well, but this is fiercely opposed by other residents who say ‘neighborhood character’ trumps any potential safety benefit.
Continue reading →

Posted in Complete Streets, People, Princeton, Walking | Tagged Complete streets, Princeton | Leave a comment

The Jane Jacobs Approach To Exploring Princeton

Posted on April 21, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Boston’s North End: much-appreciated by Jane Jacobs. Photo credit

May 7 will mark the first Princeton ‘Jane Jacobs Walk’. Starting at Small World East (244 Nassau Street), we will be exploring Princeton’s East Nassau neighborhood. The tradition of the Jane Jacobs Walk began in Toronto, Canada, where Jane moved in 1968 after being arrested for leading opposition to a freeway that was planned through her local park. Jane Jacobs Walks now happen in several countries, commemorating Jane as a community organizer and advocate for livable places. But who was Jane Jacobs? And what would she have made of Princeton? Continue reading →

Posted in People, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Walking | Tagged jane jacobs, planning, Princeton, traffic, urban renewal | Leave a comment

Nassau Street Sidewalks Blocked By Unannounced Construction

Posted on April 15, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Closed sidewalks on Nassau Street in Princeton. (click to expand)

Sidewalks closed off with yellow tape on Nassau Street in Princeton. (click to expand)

Pedestrians on Nassau Street got a surprise this week. The sidewalks on both sides of the road were dug up, blocking access to walkers. The affected area was in and around the intersection with Scott Lane / Wilton Street. Pedestrians could still pass by walking in the road, although Nassau Street carries one of the heaviest volumes of traffic in Princeton. Continue reading →

Posted in Complete Streets, Princeton, Walking | Leave a comment

Time For Town Of Princeton To Stop Funding Opposition to Affordable Housing

Posted on April 11, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Affordable housing at Princeton Community Village, off Bunn Drive. (click to expand)

The question of affordable housing continues to rattle around local Council Halls, after last year’s decision to give courts the power to set municipal affordable housing obligations. Some estimates suggested that NJ towns would have to allow a lot more affordable housing under this process. In response, a number of New Jersey municipalities formed a consortium to hire experts to advise them on how much affordable housing they should be building. Princeton was part of this group, and tonight, Council will vote on whether to extend funding to the project. Continue reading →

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

Announcing The First Walkable Princeton ‘Jane Jacobs Walk’ – May 7

Posted on April 6, 2016 by walkableprinceton

Princeton's East Nassau Street neighborhood - where the first 'Jane Jacobs Walk' will happen! (click to expand)

Princeton’s East Nassau Street neighborhood – where the first Princeton ‘Jane Jacobs Walk’ will take place! (click to expand)

On May 7 this year, mark your calendar for the first Princeton ‘Jane Jacobs Walk’! We are teaming up with the national ‘Jane Jacobs Walk’ organization to encourage local residents to come together to talk about what we love about Princeton, and what we want to see more of. We’ll be walking and talking around Princeton’s eclectic East Nassau Street neighborhood, checking out walkable developments from the last century to the present day. The walk is named after the legendary grassroots planning advocate, Jane Jacobs, whose 100th birthday would have been this year. Jane Jacobs was against top-down planning, and argued that the best way to learn what works in any place was by observing. We’ll be doing the same, in a “moving conversation” that will be organically based around the sites that we pass on our walk! Continue reading →