walkableprinceton

‘Subway’ Now Open At East Nassau Street Location In Princeton

Posted on May 22, 2014 by walkableprinceton

New Subway sandwich store at 252 Nassau Street in Princeton. (click to expand.)

Princeton may not have a ‘Chipotle’, but we now have two ‘Subway‘ sandwich stores after a second branch of Subway opened on East Nassau Street. Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown Vibrancy, Princeton, Zoning | Tagged Princeton, subway, walkable | 1 Comment

Princeton Democratic Council Candidates Offer Contrasting Approaches to Zoning Reform

Posted on May 20, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Princeton Council candidates (left to right) Jo Butler, Bernie Miller, and Sue Nemeth at the recent candidate forum. (Click to expand.)

It’s widely recognized that Princeton housing has become unaffordable to many people who work in town- but what are the solutions? At a recent forum for the three Democratic Party candidates fighting for the chance to take part in the November election to Princeton Council, some differences in approach seemed to emerge. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, People, planning, Princeton, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Traffic, Zoning | Tagged democratic primary, planning, Princeton, smart growth | 2 Comments

Robbinsville Expanding Walkable ‘Town Center’ Development With New Apartments

Posted on May 19, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Plan for ‘Town Center South’ development; developer’s rendering via Times of Trenton. (Click to expand.)

Robbinsville, NJ has approved a new 64-unit apartment complex to add to its ‘Town Center’ development. Continue reading →

Posted in Density, Placemaking, planning, Smart Growth | Tagged planning, robbinsville | 7 Comments

Walkable Princeton On TV!

Posted on May 9, 2014 by walkableprinceton

David Keddie (left) interviewed by Michele Tuck-Ponder (middle) and Ingrid Reed on ‘Reed and Ponder’ (Click to expand, image from Princeton Community Television).

‘Walkable Princeton’ has made it to the small screen on the “Reed and Ponder” show on Princeton Community Television! David Keddie, founder of Walkable Princeton, was interviewed by Ingrid Reed and Michele Tuck-Ponder as part of their regular show focusing on politics, policy and people. The show airs Friday night at 7 p.m. but you can view it online below. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Community, People | Tagged Princeton | 2 Comments

Trenton Unveils Pretty Cool New Community Planning Website

Posted on May 1, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Screenshot of Trenton Community Masterplan website ‘Trenton250.org‘ (click to expand.)

The City of Trenton has unveiled an impressive website aimed at getting the input of residents into the latest update of the municipal Masterplan. Why would a broke city spend money on a fancy website about a mundane municipal matter- and why would anybody care? The answer is simple- because the municipal Masterplan, more than any other political document, will shape the lives of local residents. Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Local, planning | Tagged planning, Princeton, Trenton | 1 Comment

Princeton Needs At Least 900 Affordable Homes…But Where And How?

Posted on April 29, 2014 by walkableprinceton

These little houses make up an affordable housing project that was built at Franklin Avenue, Princeton, in the 1930s. They may be redeveloped as a modernized affordable development in the near future. (Click to expand.)

The Witherspoon-Jackson Neighbors’ Association heard last Saturday from affordable housing advocates, as the issue of Princeton’s housing imbalance came up once more. Surprisingly, Princeton has a number of income-restricted homes available to buy, but there have been no takers! Homes in Washington Oaks are available from $81,216.00 – $117,807.00, and in Griggs Farm for a similar rate. Why is nobody buying them? Is it because they don’t know about them? Or does it reflect the situation of working people, who can’t commit to even a reasonably-priced unit like this? Many people are renting who might do better trying to buy their own place. And the situation for renters is dire. Market rates are through the roof, and the waiting list for affordable units is measured in years. How many units would it take to make a substantial difference? Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Density, Princeton, Smart Growth, Zoning | Tagged affordability, planning, Princeton, Real estate | 1 Comment

Princeton Can Easily Gather More Money From The University…Here’s How.

Posted on April 23, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Princeton University's campus. (click to expand.)

Princeton University campus, just off Nassau Street. (click to expand.)

This week, we are awaiting the announcement of a new agreement detailing the amount of financial support that Princeton University will contribute to Princeton’s municipal finances. The amount of money that Princeton University gives the town is a regular source of discussion and controversy. In 2013, the University offered a ‘voluntary payment’ of $2.475 million to the town, up from a sum of about $200,000 to the former Borough and Township in 2003. There are still many people in the town who demand that the University should pay more. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, People, Princeton, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Zoning | Tagged eisgruber, planning, Princeton, Princeton University, Zoning | Leave a comment

The ‘New York Times’ Doubles Down On Walkable Suburban Places

Posted on April 21, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Apartments next to the Princeton Public Library. (click to expand.)

The ‘New York Times’ has picked up on the growing demand for walkable paces with a pair of articles in less than a week. The first, ‘Suburbs Try to Prevent an Exodus as Young Adults Move to Cities and Stay‘, discusses the growing trend for young adults to move out of suburban towns like Princeton to big cities to study or seek work opportunities. In many cases, they don’t come back. Continue reading →

Posted in Density, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Zoning | Tagged New York Times, planning, Princeton | 1 Comment

Princeton’s 2014 Democratic Party Candidates Discuss Walkable Living

Posted on March 26, 2014 by walkableprinceton

Princeton Democratic Party Candidates for Council 2014- left to right- Jo Butler, Bernie Miller, Sue Nemeth. (Click to expand.)

Princeton Democratic Party Candidates for Council- left to right- Jo Butler, Bernie Miller, Sue Nemeth. (Click to expand.)

Princeton is scheduled to elect two Council members this November. The Princeton Community Democratic Organization will meet Sunday March 30 to endorse candidates ahead of their Primary in June. We got in touch with the Democratic Party candidates ahead of this key meeting, to get their opinions on three questions relating to walkable living in Princeton. The candidates are incumbent Council Member Jo Butler, the current Council President, Bernie Miller, and Sue Nemeth,who was previously Deputy Mayor of the old Princeton Township. Their answers are below, and we hope that they will help voters in making their decision about who to endorse! The candidates clearly took some time to give thoughtful answers, and we thank them for being so forthcoming. (Note: ‘Walkable Princeton’ will not be making an endorsement.)

Continue reading →

Posted in Density, People, Princeton, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Traffic, Zoning | Tagged democratic party, pcdo, Princeton, smart growth | Leave a comment

Forty-One Residents In Six Downtown Princeton Apartments? We’re Not Surprised.

Posted on March 21, 2014 by walkableprinceton

A sign at Princeton’s ‘House of Cupcakes’ on Witherspoon Street shows that the store is closed after a recent fire. (click to expand.)

A recent fire at Princeton’s famous ‘House of Cupcakes’ on Witherspoon Street resulted in the evacuation of six nearby downtown apartments. Fortunately, there were no injuries to residents, although many commentators were surprised that the six apartments were home to no fewer than 41 residents. But why the surprise? Continue reading →