Free Parking Can’t Save Central Jersey Malls- Even On Black Friday

Posted on December 18, 2013 by walkableprinceton
Mall on Rt 27 near Princeton on Black Friday with loads of free parking spaces. (Click to expand.)

Mall on Rt 27 near Princeton on Black Friday with loads of free parking spaces. (Click to expand.)

Cross posted at Strong Towns Network.

On Black Friday- traditionally a day marked by a surge of post-Thanksgiving shopping- our friends at www.strongtowns.org launched a nationwide appeal for members to send in photos of parking lots in their local areas. Photos flooded in, with a common theme- even on this busiest of shopping days, malls across the country had parking lots that were half-empty or worse. How can this be possible? And what does it mean? Walkable Princeton participated, focusing on malls along Route 27 north of Princeton. The results were amazing. Continue reading →

Posted in Downtown Vibrancy, Local, Princeton, Smart Growth, The Parking Question, Zoning | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Princeton Community Housing Annual Report: Progress, But Much Work To Do.

Posted on December 17, 2013 by walkableprinceton
This house at 135 Bayard Lane was renovated and rented as affordable housing by Princeton Community Housing in 2013. (click to expand.)

This house at 135 Bayard Lane was renovated and rented as affordable housing by Princeton Community Housing in 2013. (click to expand.)

Princeton Community Housing is the largest organization providing affordable housing in Princeton. Their 2012 Annual Report, titled ‘Celebration and Opportunity’ offers an insight into the operations of the non-profit, including detailed breakdowns of their different communities, and resident profiles. We caught up with PCH executive director Edward Truscelli to find out more about what’s been going on.

Continue reading →

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

‘The B Home’ And How We Build Houses In Princeton

Posted on December 16, 2013 by walkableprinceton
The 'B Home' in situ at D&R Greenway Park in Princeton. (Click to expand.)

The ‘B Home’ in situ at D&R Greenway Park in Princeton. (Click to expand.)

What is a house? In Princeton, it’s typically a one/two story structure with a sloping roof and some ornamental shutters that don’t actually close (see also ‘The Princeton‘ model from stack ’em housing constructor, Toll Brothers). However, occasionally, an innovator comes along and questions the entire idea of how we build homes…

Continue reading →

Posted in architecture, People, Princeton, Sustainability | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Homes For Diversity And Inclusivity Part 3: Subdivide Large Lots.

Posted on December 13, 2013 by walkableprinceton
Homes on Jefferson Road in Princeton. (click to expand.)

Homes on Jefferson Road in Princeton. (click to expand.)

Princeton planning and zoning has had unintended exclusionary outcomes, making it hard for local middle-class workers to live in town, and incentivizing car-dependency and traffic. In this series, we explore options for adding more walkable housing in Princeton to enable diversity and inclusivity, while maintaining and enhancing Princeton’s historic charm. (See also Part 1  and Part 2.)

Take a look at the photo above. What do you see?  Low-rise single-family homes, gardens and mature trees. A typical Princeton neighborhood scene. But this photo also shows the location of a recent doubling in housing density. How did this happen?  Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, how-to-add-density, Smart Growth, Zoning | Tagged , | 4 Comments

Who Needs A Car To Haul A Christmas Tree??

Posted on December 12, 2013 by walkableprinceton
Who needs a car to move a Christmas tree? (click to expand.)

Who needs a car to move a Christmas tree? (click to expand.)

Cross-posted at Strong Towns Network.

Compact, walkable development reduces municipal infrastructure costs, builds the tax base, and allows for efficient, green, car-free transportation. On the other hand, it has been argued that compact walkable housing does not reduce traffic, because people who live in such developments still drive cars all the time. Locally, this idea is completely contradicted by data on how people get to work, but there is still a persistent belief that cars are essential for the majority of journeys. How, for example, could you go to the supermarket without a car? Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Downtown Vibrancy, Princeton, Sustainability, Walking | Tagged , | 5 Comments

New Princeton Circulation Element Proposes Reopening Province Line Road To Cars

Posted on December 11, 2013 by walkableprinceton
Province Line bike-ped bridge could become a road for cars again according to Princeton's Circulation Element. (Click to expand.)

Province Line bridge could become a road for cars again according to Princeton’s recently-revised Masterplan Circulation Element. (Click to expand.)

The bridge you see in the photograph above provides a crossing over the Stony Brook on Province Line Road in Princeton. It was built in Berlin, Connecticut in 1903 and is the longest of three surviving Warren pony truss bridges in Mercer County. It was closed in 1981, but rehabilitated and re-opened (to bikes and pedestrians only) in 2012. What happens to this route now could be an indicator of the direction that Princeton’s transportation policy is going to take in the coming years. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, Princeton, Traffic, Transit, Walking | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Princeton PhD Students Let Down By University, Town Housing Policies

Posted on December 10, 2013 by walkableprinceton
The little cabins of Princeton's Butler Apartments look set to face the wrecking ball in summer 2014. (click to expand.)

The little cabins of Princeton’s Butler Apartments look set to face the wrecking ball in summer 2014. (click to expand.)

Princeton University is planning to demolish graduate student housing at their Butler Apartments site on S Harrison Street, but not everybody thinks it’s a good idea. Writing in ‘The Daily Princetonian’, University Professor Anthony Grafton expressed disappointment that the University was reducing its provision for housing for graduate students. Meanwhile, graduate students are circulating a petition to keep Butler open, because it provides a large amount of affordable housing. Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Community, Density, People, Princeton, Smart Growth, Zoning | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Walkable Princeton Meet-Up RESCHEDULED to Monday, December 16.

Posted on December 10, 2013 by walkableprinceton

Hi everybody- sorry to post again about our upcoming Happy Hour, but given the pretty substantial snow out there, we have decided that it’s for the best if we postpone tonight’s meet-up to next Monday, December 16. We’re going to do it at the same time (7 p.m.) and the same place (Yankee Doodle Tap Room). Just next Monday. Hope to see some of you there! (Full, up-to-date details here.)

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Walkable Princeton Meet-Up *RESCHEDULED* to Monday, December 16!

Posted on December 9, 2013 by walkableprinceton
Come join us at Yankee Doodle Tap Room on Tuesday evening. (click to expand.)

Come join us at Yankee Doodle Tap Room on Tuesday evening. Picturesque snow guaranteed. (click to expand.)

NOTE: Our meet-up has been rescheduled to Monday, December 16 because of the blizzard! Hope to see you then, and apologies if you made plans for tonight (12/10/13)

This week Next Monday, we are hosting the third of our Walkable Princeton meet-ups. This time, we are going to get together at Yankee Doodle Tap room in the heart of walkable downtown Princeton.  Why not swing by while you’re doing some holiday shopping in some of our great local businesses? We’ll be chatting about ways to make Princeton more walkable and livable. Full details are below: Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Princeton | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Meet-Up Time! Join Us At Yankee Doodle Tap Room – Tue, Dec 10.

Posted on December 7, 2013 by walkableprinceton

We are going to hold our next Walkable Princeton get-together this coming Tuesday, December 10 at the Yankee Doodle Tap Room in downtown Princeton. Come join the WP team from 7 p.m. as we talk livability and walkability in Princeton! More details on Monday…

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