Littlebrook Elementary School in Princeton. (click to expand)
Donna Simon (R) who represents Princeton in the New Jersey Assembly, is proposing new legislation to set up a task force to study the possibility of regional school boards (via NJ.com). Her goal is to promote efficiency and save taxpayer dollars. Continue reading
“#WeAreN” – Linden Lane, Princeton, 2014. (click to expand)
One of the things that makes downtown Princeton so walkable is the mixture of houses old and new, gardens, parks and many different things to draw the eye of the walker. Walking is enjoyable, because there are many things to draw your interest. When walkability guru Jeff Bezos talks about the things that make walking appealing, he invariably talks about how walking must be ‘interesting’. (as well as ‘safe’, ‘comfortable’, and ‘useful’. A walk through Princeton’s Tree Streets neighborhood is invariably more interesting than a trek up Bunn Drive, because there is a constantly changing environment. One house in particular caught the eye on a recent stroll… Continue reading
The former American Cyanamid site, between Route 1 and Clarksville Road in West Windsor, NJ. From Howard Hughes Corporation presentation of 9.22.14 (click to expand.)
One of the most significant redevelopments in the Princeton area moved a step closer yesterday as the Howard Hughes Corporation announced plans to seek a special planning process for their land holdings at the former American Cyanamid site in West Windsor. Continue reading
Waiting for the bus on car-free day September 20, 2014. (click to expand.)
Carf-ree Day 2014 has come and passed. Did you replace your car trip? I did, and by switching to a combination of bicycle/Dinky/NJ Transit train/bus/walking, I managed to save a full gallon of gas. Lifting a gallon of milk from the refrigerator for comparison, I was simultaneously proud of my achievement, and horrified that I really burn this much fossil fuel on my regular commute every single day. What makes me particularly glum is that, like many New Jerseyans, driving a car seems like the only practical way for me to get to work. Here are 5 things I learned on #carfree day: Continue reading
Historic Hightstown, NJ. (click to expand)
Hightstown, NJ has taken the first step toward a Masterplan amendment that aims to revitalize its historic downtown. The forward-thinking planning changes aim to preserve the character of the Borough while activating central commercial areas. Continue reading
The scene at the old Valley Road garage in Princeton this morning. (click to expand)
The municipal garage at Valley Road and Route 206, which had stood since 1963, has been demolished. The structure, which was used for the storage and refueling of vehicles belonging to the town, disappeared in a single day, as part of ongoing efforts to construct a new base for Princeton First Aid and Rescue Service (PFARS). Continue reading
Municipal tax trends in Mercer County. From Princeton Citizens Finance Advisory Committee
2014 Budget Newsletter (click to expand)
When Princeton Borough and Township consolidated to form one municipality on January 1, 2012, the rest of New Jersey looked on. The Garden State has an astonishing 565 municipalities, and Governor Christie has championed the cause of consolidation as a way to reduce the cost of administration and drive down taxes. But so far, the marriage of the Princetons has been the only consolidation. That is something of a pity from a planning perspective, because the balkanized municipal landscape makes it hard to confront regional planning issues (think: traffic, transit planning) that cross municipal lines. On the other hand, New Jersey has a lot of municipalities for a reason: people like having hyperlocal control over their neighborhoods. The main question for towns considering consolidation, however, is tax. Does consolidation reduce tax bills? Continue reading
Elementary School in Cranbury, NJ. For high school, Cranbury kids are bussed ten miles away to Princeton High, by-passing several other school districts on the way. (click to expand)
Despite a recent study showing that Princeton’s Public Schools will not see major increases in student numbers, petitioners at Princeton Council meetings continue to argue that Princeton High School is over-burdened. According to this argument, development projects in town, including much-needed affordable housing, should be delayed or down-sized because of lack of space at the High School. But this would be a very strange way to make development decisions, especially because 1 in every 6 students at the High School comes from Cranbury, a town ten miles to the south-east, which doesn’t even share a border with Princeton. There would be space for hundreds more students at the High School if the sending-receiving relationship with Cranbury School Board was allowed to lapse.
This parking lot on Franklin Avenue is the subject of a potential plan to build new affordable housing in Princeton (click to expand.)
At the Princeton Council meeting on September 8, there was a lively discussion about a plan to set up a task force to consider the possibility of adding affordable housing at two sites that Princeton’s municipal authorities have recently acquired. A parking lot at Franklin Avenue and Harris Road was donated to the town by Princeton University. And a plot at North Harrison Street and Clearview Avenue was given to the town by Princeton First Aid and Rescue Service as a result of a land-swop deal that will see the town underwrite construction of a new PFARS station at Valley Road and Route 206. Continue reading
Go car-free on Monday, September 22, 2014! (click to expand)
World Car-Free Day is happening this coming Monday, September 22. Many of us are very dependent on our cars to get to work and do our daily business. But it is possible to make this the one day when we leave the car at home. It will probably require a little bit of thinking and planning, so here are some things to consider this weekend… Continue reading
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