Why No New Jersey Towns On ‘Top 100 Best Places To Live’ List?

Posted on September 17, 2014 by walkableprinceton
White Plains

White Plains, NY, the nearest town to Princeton to rank in the livability.com ‘Top 100 Best Places To Live 2015’.

Livability, a website that “explores what makes small-to-medium sized cities great places to live” has published its annual ‘Top 100 Best Places To Live” list. The list examined places with populations of 20,000 – 350,000 residents. The top two places to live turned out to both be in Wisconsin: Madison and Rochester. After that, Arlington VA; Boulder, CO and Palo Alto, CA rounded out the top 5. Cambridge was there too, at #40. Noticeably absent from the ‘Top 100’ list was any town from New Jersey. What is going on? Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Downtown Vibrancy, Local, Placemaking, planning, Traffic | Tagged | 2 Comments

Howard Hughes Launches Website About Redevelopment of American Cyanamid Site Near Princeton

Posted on September 16, 2014 by walkableprinceton
Screenshot of Howard Hughes website about redevelopment of their American Cyanamid site property. (click to expand, via .com)

Screenshot of Howard Hughes website about redevelopment of their American Cyanamid site property. (click to expand, via hhcwestwindsor.com)

The Howard Hughes Corporation have launched a new website to inform local residents about their ongoing plans to redevelop the American Cyanamid site in West Windsor. Last year, Howard Hughes Corp made a presentation to the West Windsor Council, in which they argued that the existing zoning for the site, which is for light industrial and commercial uses, is not suitable for current needs. They are seeking to modify the zoning to allow construction of a mixed-use development including stores and new homes. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Community, Density, Local, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Real estate, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Traffic, Transit, Zoning | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Princeton’s In-Town Living Scene Gets Profiled In ‘The New York Post’

Posted on September 11, 2014 by walkableprinceton
View of Princeton Public LIbrary and Hinds Plaza from the 'Residences At Palmer Square', one of several downtown living developments highlighted by 'The New York Post' in a recent article about Princeton. (click to expand)

View of Princeton Public LIbrary and Hinds Plaza from the ‘Residences At Palmer Square’, one of several downtown living developments highlighted by ‘The New York Post’ in a recent article about Princeton. (click to expand)

“From College Town To Boom Town” – that’s the description of Princeton that ran earlier this week in the ‘New York Post’. This venerable news organ  took the time to profile our town, highlighting how downtown living has become a major growth area. Several local realtors were quoted, describing how walkable living has become a major growth area.

Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Downtown Vibrancy, Princeton, Real estate | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Princeton Forrestal Village Set To Welcome New Homes

Posted on September 10, 2014 by walkableprinceton
Village Boulevard at Princeton Forrestal Village. (click to expand.)

Village Boulevard at Princeton Forrestal Village. (click to expand.)

People looking for a place to live in the Princeton area that is walkable to stores and restaurants will soon have a pretty great new option. The management company of Princeton Forrestal Village, located in Plainsboro just off Route 1, have announced that 394 new apartments will be added to the site. Continue reading →

Posted in Density, Downtown Vibrancy, Local, People, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Real estate, Smart Growth | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Tiny Houses In Real Life.

Posted on September 9, 2014 by walkableprinceton
Minim House, via Boneyard Studios (click to expand).

Minim House, via Boneyard Studios (click to expand).

Princeton resident Anne Neumann wrote an article in the “Princeton Packet” last week singing the praises of ‘Tiny Houses’. Long-time ‘Walkable Prineton’ readers will remember that we have written about micro-apartments and the Tiny House movement several times in the past, and it’s great to see the concept get more exposure. But are Tiny Houses a realistic solution to urban housing problems, like those faced in Princeton? Continue reading →

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

Why Do Some Students Reject Offers From Princeton University?

Posted on September 8, 2014 by walkableprinceton
Despite its outstanding reputation, students are regularly turning down offers to study at Princeton U. in order to go to other schools. (click to expand.)

Despite its outstanding reputation, students are regularly turning down offers to study at Princeton U. in order to go to other schools. (click to expand.)

Princeton University has a #1 university rating from US News, a beautiful walkable campus, and offers amazing financial support to its students. But given the choice, students are choosing to attend Harvard, Yale, Stanford or even the University of Chicago instead. Why are students turning down Princeton U?

Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

New Trail On Princeton’s Quaker Road Offers Picturesque Views

Posted on September 5, 2014 by walkableprinceton
The multi-use trail on Quaker Road in Princeton was recently substantially extended (click to expand)

The multi-use trail on Quaker Road in Princeton was recently substantially extended (click to expand)

As part of a recent resurfacing project on Quaker Road in Princeton, a gravel trail for pedestrians and cyclists has been significantly extended, linking the D&R canal trail to trails in the Institute Woods. The new path is a substantial amenity for people who want to explore this beautiful corner of Princeton on foot. But some questions remain about how useful the trail will be for cyclists and people in wheelchairs. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, Princeton, Trails, Walking | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

AvalonBay Launches New Website For Their Princeton Apartment Construction Project

Posted on September 4, 2014 by walkableprinceton
Screenshot of the new AvalonBay 'AvalonPrinceton' website, which has just launched. (via www.avalonprinceton.com)

Screenshot of the new AvalonBay ‘Avalon Princeton’ website, which has just launched. (via http://www.avalonprinceton.com)

Housing developer AvalonBay, having recently signed off on a contentious developer’s agreement with the town of Princeton, has launched a new website to inform local residents about the apartment construction project.  Continue reading →

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Construction Shows Distance Between Old And New Princeton ‘Dinky’ Rail Stations

Posted on September 3, 2014 by walkableprinceton
The old and the new: with construction moving along, the distance between the new and old Princeton Dinky train stations can be seen in real life. (click to expand)

The old and the new: with construction moving along, the distance between the new and old Princeton Dinky train stations can be seen in real life. (click to expand)

As construction continues on Princeton University’s new addition on Alexander Street, local residents can now see for themselves how far apart the new Princeton rail station will be from the old station at University Place. The relocation of the ‘Dinky’ station has been controversial in the town, in part because moving the station further away from downtown will mean a longer walk for people accessing the station by foot or bicycle. On the other hand, supporters of the project have argued that the extra distance is not particularly burdensome.

Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Princeton, Transit | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Massive Houses On Mt Lucas Drive In Princeton Are A Feature Of Zoning, Not ‘Conservative Values’.

Posted on August 28, 2014 by walkableprinceton
Another old home in Princeton's Mt Lucas Drive gets demolished for new-build construction. Summer of 2014. (click to expand.)

Another old home in Princeton’s Mt Lucas Drive gets demolished for new-build construction, summer of 2014. (click to expand.)

Princeton’s ‘Town Topics’ newspaper is running a great series about housing in Princeton, which this week focused on Mount Lucas Drive, at the northern end of the former Township. Here, many old houses from the 1950s – 1960s are being demolished and replaced with larger, new-build homes that usually sell for a greatly-increased price. This is a trend which is seen all over town. The ‘Topics’ report featured a local resident- a self-described ‘diehard conservative’- who cheerfully endorsed the changes in the neighborhood, based on his strong belief in property rights. But replacing old homes with ‘McMansions’ is rarely an expression of conservative values. It is instead a result of government interference in its most blatant form.

Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Zoning | Tagged , , | 1 Comment