Highland Park, NJ Gets Small Details Right For Walkable Placemaking

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Great design means this seating area in Highland Park, NJ is more than just a bench- it’s an authentic miniature plaza. (click to expand.)

You see an ordinary bench. We see an authentic miniature plaza. Highland Park, a half hour north of Princeton on NJ Route 27, is showing how to make great walkable places. Here’s why. Continue reading →

Posted in Complete Streets, Downtown Vibrancy, Local, Placemaking, The Parking Question, Walking | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

US Route 1 In Princeton: Too Big To Fail.

US-1 next to Princeton, NJ, viewed from the bridge at Scudders Mill Road. (Click to expand.)

US-1 next to Princeton, NJ, viewed from the bridge at Scudders Mill Road. (Click to expand.)

In the coming months, the municipalities of West Windsor, NJ and Princeton, NJ will announce a new plan to expand Route 1 in association with NJDOT. While it’s easy to understand why they want to do this, expanding Route 1 continues a futile effort to relieve traffic congestion by making space for more cars. New Jersey and Princeton in particular ought to show more creativity in finding real solutions for regional transportation. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Local, Princeton, Smart Growth, Sustainability, Traffic, Transit, Zoning | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Council Decision Means Princeton’s Brick Crosswalks Will Disappear

International-type crosswalk at Nassau St and S Tulane in downtown Princeton. (Click to expand.)

International-type crosswalk at Nassau St and S Tulane in downtown Princeton. This type of crosswalk is the new design standard in Princeton based on this week’s decision.  (Click to expand.)

A common site in downtown Princeton- ornamental brick sidewalks- looks set to disappear following a Princeton Council decision earlier this week. As we reported in October, there have been behind-the-scenes discussions about standardizing the mixture of different types of crosswalks found in Princeton. The ‘international’-type standard white-striped crosswalk has emerged as the champion, and will be the default style for crosswalks installed in all municipal engineering projects going forward. Why? Continue reading →

Posted in Complete Streets, People, Princeton, Walking | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Six Princeton Things We’re Thankful For This Holiday.

Happy Thanksgiving, Princeton! (Click to expand.)

Happy Thanksgiving, Princeton! (Click to expand.)

Living in Princeton gives us so much to be thankful for every day, with our history, walkable downtown and eclectic neighbors. We’re thankful for our friends. We’re thankful for our family. And this holiday, here are six things, all of which have happened in the last 12 months, for which we give thanks this year, all of which will make Princeton more walkable, inclusive and even more wonderful! Continue reading →

Posted in Affordability, Alternative Transportation, Biking, Community, Downtown Vibrancy, Events, People, Placemaking, Princeton, Real estate, Smart Growth, Trails, Transit, Zoning | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Is That A Good Deal? ‘Charming And Cozy’

This 3-bed, 3-ba house in the John-Witherspoon neighborhood is available for rent at $2,100 per month. (click to expand.)

This 3-bed, 3-ba house in the John-Witherspoon neighborhood is available for rent at $2,100 per month. (click to expand.)

As part of an occasional series where we cast an eye over walkable rentals and real estate in Princeton, we invite you to comment on a current, local listing. You can find previous entries here and here.

This is a 3-bed, 1-ba house at Birch Avenue and John Street, in Princeton’s John-Witherspoon neighborhood. The rate is $2,050 per month, rising to $2,100 per month after July 2014, and the full listing with more photos can be viewed here. Continue reading →

Posted in Good Deal? | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Princeton University Should Not Be Allowed To Ban Cycling On Alexander Street

This unusual sign that has appeared on the Alexander Street 'temporary walking path' seems to indicate that cyclists must walk their bikes. (click to expand.)

This unusual sign that has appeared on the Alexander Street ‘temporary walking path’ seems to indicate that cyclists must walk their bikes. (click to expand.)

Princeton was recently certified as a ‘bike friendly community’, an award that should be cause for celebration but instead has raised questions about whether the town is really doing enough to make cycling a viable alternative to car use. Despite a low percentage of trips made by bicycle compared to other college towns, Princeton is slowly but surely becoming more organized about developing infrastructure for local cyclists. But a new development at the Princeton University ‘Arts and Transit’ construction zone on Alexander Street gives cause for concern about how seriously the town takes cycling as a potential mode of transportation. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Biking, Complete Streets, Princeton, Walking | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Washington Post Calls Princeton A ‘Super-Zip’, But Highlights Issues Of Living In Paradise…

The Central Jersey 'Super-Zip', as described by a special report in the Washington Post, includes Princeton, Plainsboro, Montgomery and communities west to Doylestown, PA. (Click to expand.)

The Central Jersey ‘Super-Zip’, as described by a special report in the Washington Post, includes Princeton (in red border), West Windsor, Montgomery and communities west to Doylestown, PA. (Click to expand.)

What connects Princeton, West Windsor, Hopewell and Doylestown, PA? According to the Washington Post, they are all part of a regional cluster of  ‘Super-Zips’. The Post analyzed all US zip-code areas to rank them on a scale of 0-99 based on household income and percentage of adults with college degrees. The top 5% are ‘Super-Zips’. Princeton, Skillman, and Pennington all reached this category. Plainsboro and Lawrence township narrowly missed out. What does it mean to live in a Super-Zip? Continue reading →

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

Princeton Task Force: “Expect Alexander Street Traffic To Double”

The old Delta gas station at Alexander and Faculty Road on a quiet Sunday afternoon. But rush hour traffic is expected to become overwhelming in the near future. (Click to expand.)

The old Delta gas station at Alexander and Faculty Road on a quiet Sunday afternoon. But rush hour traffic is expected to become overwhelming in the near future. (Click to expand.)

Princeton’s attention is focused on potential changes to the Dinky train line, but the committee tasked with examining traffic and transit on Alexander Street is also developing an all-new traffic model for Princeton. The so-called ‘Alexander Street / University Place Traffic and Transit Task Force’ recently hosted a public meeting at the Carl Fields Center at Princeton University. In addition to proposals to upgrade the Dinky with a streetcar, light rail, or Bus Rapid Transit, the group of residents who attended also heard alarming projections about traffic along the key Alexander Street corridor. Continue reading →

Posted in Alternative Transportation, Complete Streets, Density, Events, Princeton, Sustainability, Traffic, Transit, Walking, Zoning | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments

Princeton’s Crazy, Mazy Alexander Street Walk-O-Rama!

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Princeton University has doubled-down on signs around the Arts & Transit construction site. (Click to expand.)

Construction of Princeton University’s ‘Arts and Transit‘ project has vexed people commuting by car into Princeton along Alexander Street, and sparked revolt from fans of the Dinky train line. But we haven’t heard much about pedestrians along Alexander Street. For many students and local residents, their regular walk to work or class has been transformed into an ever-changing magical mystery tour of diversions, fencing and a remarkable array of signage (see photo above).

Continue reading →

Posted in Princeton, Walking | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Beautiful Walkable Princeton: Greenway Meadows Poetry Trail

In the fall, the D&R 'Greenway' becomes coloreed with mottled tan and brown colors. (Click to expand.)

In the fall, the ‘Greenway Meadows’ adopts seasonal shades of tan and brown. (Click to expand.)

This post is part of a series where we celebrate the many beautiful and characterful sights of Princeton, NJ. You can find previous entries in this series here and here or by searching our site for ‘beautiful walkable Princeton’.

Just off Rosedale Road in Western Princeton, a beautiful park surrounds the Johnson Education Center of the D&R Greenway Land Trust. 60 acres of open space are available for Continue reading →

Posted in Beautiful Walkable Princeton | 6 Comments