Judge Upholds Princeton Zoning In Another Dinky Court Case

Posted on August 1, 2014 by walkableprinceton
The Dinky train at Princeton Junction station. (click to expand.)

The Dinky train at Princeton Junction station. (click to expand.)

A judge has upheld local zoning that allows Princeton University to build an arts extension on the former Dinky right-of-way. The zoning had been challenged by local residents, with a view to halting construction of the University project. The judge’s ruling is the latest in a string of setbacks for opponents of the Dinky relocation. Just three weeks ago, a federal board refused to intervene in the shortening of the Princeton branch line, in what was seen at the time as a mini-victory for the University.

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Does Affordable Housing Around Princeton Have To Come At The Expense Of Green Space?

Posted on July 31, 2014 by walkableprinceton
The former Kooltronic site in Hopewell Township, which is a likely site for meeting affordable housing obligations. (click to expand.)

The Pennytown-Kooltronic site in Hopewell Township, a likely site for hundreds of new homes. (click to expand, via hopwelltwp.org)

New Jersey’s Council On Affordable Housing recently released updated figures for how many income-restricted homes should be provided in every municipality in the Garden State. Princeton was told that it didn’t need to build any new income-restricted housing, even though there are 2,000 people on the waiting list there. Meanwhile, Hopewell Township, a semi-rural area that borders Princeton to the west, was told to build up to 1,500 new homes. That is likely to represent a huge difference in a community which currently has just 17,000 residents. Hundreds of new homes will have to be built in the township, which is one of the last remaining areas in Central Jersey with large amounts of green space. Is this what we want? Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Density, Local, planning, Princeton, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Transit, Zoning | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Princeton Could Use A Dose Of Reality About COAH And ‘Affordable’ Housing

Posted on July 30, 2014 by walkableprinceton
Homes offered through Princeton Housing Board, at Redding Circle. (click to expand.)

Income-restricted housing at Redding Circle, offered through Princeton Housing Board. Homes such as these are subject to a huge waiting list. (click to expand.)

New Jersey’s Council On Affordable Housing (COAH) recently updated the numbers of income-restricted homes that each municipality in the state must provide. For Princeton, the headline was simple: no new income-restricted homes are required. This is because Princeton has more income-restricted homes than many municipalities of equivalent size, and because there is little undeveloped land in Princeton (click here for full report). Princeton’s elected officials expressed concern at the COAH decision, as 2,000 people are on waiting lists for income-restricted housing in Princeton.  But this reaction completely misses the point: COAH’s rules are not the most important thing determining housing affordability in Princeton.

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‘Little Free Libraries’ Come To Princeton

Posted on July 29, 2014 by walkableprinceton
A 'Little Free Library' on Prospect Avenue in Princeton. (click to expand.)

A ‘Little Free Library’ on Prospect Avenue in Princeton. (click to expand.)

Are you familiar with the ‘Little Free Library’ Movement? It’s a way for neighbors to share books- something which might seem like a good idea in a brainy town like Princeton. And indeed- Little Free Libraries are now springing up in the area! You might see one on a walk around your neighborhood. Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Local, Placemaking, Princeton, Walking | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Demographer: New Princeton Apartments Will Have No ‘Earth-Shattering’ Impact On Schools

Posted on July 25, 2014 by walkableprinceton
A friendly bear at the door to Community Park Elementary in Princeton. (click to expand.)

A friendly bear at the door to Community Park Elementary in Princeton. Community Park’s enrollment will grow only modestly in the next 5 years (click to expand.)

We hate to say “I told you so”, but according to a report produced by a demographer retained by Princeton Public Schools, the decision to approve 280 walkable apartments at the old hospital site will not produce an unmanageable flow of new students to the school district.  Continue reading →

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Today’s Princeton v AvalonBay Court Case – Bad News For The Town

Posted on July 22, 2014 by walkableprinceton
Hoardings covered with drawings by local kids surround the old Princeton Hospital on Witherspoon Street as asbestos removal takes place. (click to expand.)

Demolition is still on hold at the old Princeton hospital, after a judge ordered Princeton officials and the developer to try to work out their differences with a mediator. (click to expand.)

Thanks to Philip Curran at the Princeton Packet for getting the story. Princeton and AvalonBay were back in court today to sort out their disagreements regarding the developers agreement for redevelopment of the old Princeton hospital. Continue reading →

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Princeton Back In Court Against AvalonBay Today at 11 a.m.

Posted on July 22, 2014 by walkableprinceton
Hoardings covered with drawings by local kids surround the old Princeton Hospital on Witherspoon Street as asbestos removal takes place. (click to expand.)

Hoardings covered with drawings by local kids surround the old Princeton Hospital on Witherspoon Street as asbestos removal takes place. (click to expand.)

Princeton municipal representatives are due in court this morning for the latest legal battle over redevelopment of the old Princeton Hospital Site on Witherspoon Street. The site was purchased by developer AvalonBay earlier this year with a view to building apartments under a plan that was approved by the Princeton Planning Board last summer. Demolition at the site is on hold as AvalonBay challenges the terms of the developer’s agreement drawn up by Princeton Council, which required more soil testing and environmental controls than AvalonBay had anticipated. The disagreement will be resolved in court, starting at 11 a.m. in Trenton in Mercer County Superior Court, with Judge Mary Jacobson again overseeing the proceedings. Continue reading →

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Beautiful Walkable Princeton: Stony Brook Trail

Posted on July 21, 2014 by walkableprinceton
Part of Stony Brook Trail, near the Hun School in Princeton. (Click to expand.)

Part of Stony Brook Trail, near the Hun School in Princeton. (Click to expand.)

One of the nicest trails in Princeton starts at the parking lot of D&R Greenway Meadows and continues through uninterrupted green space along the Stony Brook and then by the Jasna Polana golf course all the way to Route 206- some 2.3 miles in all. (Click here for a full map). The trail was dedicated in 2010 after 15 years of planning and implementation led by Friends of Princeton Open Space in cooperation with Township engineers. The trail criss-crosses across beautiful waterways on a number of bridges including the wooden one shown above. Continue reading →

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Princeton ‘Advisory Planning District’ Report Offers Positive Change

Posted on July 15, 2014 by walkableprinceton
How can Princeton residents give input on planning issues? (Click to expand.)

How can Princeton residents give input on planning issues? (Click to expand.)

‘Advisory Planning Districts’ have been suggested as a new way for Princeton neighborhood residents to provide input on planning matters. Tonight, based on their interim report, an ‘Advisory Planning Districts Task Force’ looks set to recommend against setting up new committees, but has a bunch of positive ideas about how to make planning in Princeton more transparent. Continue reading →

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Another Defeat For Princeton ‘Dinky’ Train Campaign Group

Posted on July 10, 2014 by walkableprinceton
The Dinky train departing Princeton Station. (click to expand.)

The Dinky train departing Princeton Station. (click to expand.)

Princeton’s “Save The Dinky” group, who have been waging a legal campaign to reverse the relocation of the Princeton rail station, have suffered another court setback. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, planning, Princeton, Transit, Zoning | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment