Draft Princeton bike facilities network (click to expand)
A map of proposed facilities for bicyclists in Princeton has been released. The draft map was drawn up by consultants funded by a grant awarded to the town by the New Jersey Department of Transportation. It proposes a network of bike lanes and other facilities that are intended to make streets safer for people on two wheels. Continue reading
New entrance to Princeton Shopping Center from North Harrison Street- with no matching sidewalks. (click to expand)
Recent attempts to freshen up the ‘Princeton Shopping Center’ on North Harrison Street have seen remodeling of the parking lots and the arrival of new businesses, such as the instantly-popular Nomad Pizza (see photo above). But when it comes to providing for people on foot or on bicycles, the redesign has been something of a failure. Although a sidewalk extends all along North Harrison Street, there is no path connecting them to the entrance of Nomad Pizza. Instead, pedestrians must become nomads, wandering through the parking lot. This kind of glaring error fits with statistics that show that New Jersey is the state with the highest rate of pedestrian victims as a share or total traffic casualties. Continue reading
Mary Moss Park concept (via Recreation Department website) (Click to expand)
The town of Princeton has revealed competing designs for a rebuild of ‘Mary Moss Playground’, a small park on John Street. Consultants hired by the town gathered community input at a public meeting earlier this year, before developing two potential concepts for the redesign. In both cases, the park would be expanded slightly, using land that the town acquired by buying and knocking down an historic home on adjoining Lytle Street. Members of the public were shown the new plans at a second public meeting at town hall on May 3, but input can still be provided by emailing the Recreation Department. Continue reading
‘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
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
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.
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
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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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.
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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
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