Proposal for Two New Homes on Valley Road Survives Close Vote of Princeton Zoning Board

Posted on June 10, 2024 by walkableprinceton
View of the proposed new home (left) and ADU (right), at 8 Valley Road, Princeton

The Princeton Zoning Board of Adjustment has approved a new home with accessory dwelling unit at 8 Valley Road (map). The proposal was considered at the Zoning Board meeting of May 22, and the outcome was anything but a foregone conclusion. The plan had already been considered at a Zoning Board hearing in February, and failed to find approval at that time. Even with substantial revisions, the new plan, as shown above, was still considered unacceptable by several neighboring homeowners and members of the Board.

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Inside the New “Floyd House” at Princeton Community Village

Posted on May 30, 2024 by walkableprinceton
The new ‘Floyd House’ at Princeton Community Village

The last few years have seen several new apartment buildings rising in Princeton, but one that a lot of people may not have noticed is the new ‘Floyd House’ at Princeton Community Village. Located in the existing Sassafras Row neighborhood (map), the new building opened in September 2023, and offers 25 apartments, a mixture of 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and 3-bedroom units. It is named for Jim and Fannie Floyd, two renowned community leaders. Jim Floyd, the first Black mayor of Princeton Township, was a founder of Princeton Community Housing. Trustees at Princeton Community Housing worked for over 6 years using contributions from local people and the town to complete the project, which includes a comprehensive set of neighborhood enhancements, including a new pavilion, and improvements to the community clubhouse.

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New Princeton Objector Group Takes Aim at Proposed Jefferson Road Subdivision

Posted on April 17, 2024 by walkableprinceton
Proposed new single-family homes at 479 Jefferson Road in Princeton

A proposal to build two new homes in Princeton North has come under attack from an anonymous objector group. The group, which calls itself “Save Our Streetscapes” has launched a website (link: “Save Our Streetscapes“) and Facebook group urging residents to Zoom into a meeting of the Princeton Planning Board on Thursday night, April 18, when the application is on the agenda for discussion.

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Town of Princeton has 15 Months to Identify New Affordable Housing Sites, After Murphy Signs Landmark “Fair Share” Legislation

Posted on March 20, 2024 by walkableprinceton
Mixed-income apartment building under construction at Princeton Shopping Center. This building counts towards Princeton’s previous round of state-mandated affordable housing.

The town of Princeton faces a tight deadline to identify potential sites for hundreds of new affordable housing units, after the New Jersey State government approved legislation to streamline the state’s “Fair Share” housing rules. Signing the bill today, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy called it “a monumental piece of legislation that will make housing more affordable and more accessible for working families all across New Jersey.” The requirement for towns in New Jersey to provide affordable housing dates to legal rulings in the 1970s. Towns that ignore the requirement become open to “builder’s remedy” lawsuits, which allow developers to ignore local zoning and land use regulations.

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Units Going Fast At New, 100%-Affordable Princeton Senior Living Complex

Posted on February 23, 2024 by walkableprinceton
View of the new ‘Princeton Senior Living’ apartment development on Thanet Circle

A new 55+ community, “Princeton Senior Living”, is now open at 500 Thanet Circle in Princeton (map). At an opening reception on Wednesday, February 21, local elected officials, representatives of area non-profits, and members of the local community had a chance to tour the new apartment complex and meet with management, who shared details about how quickly the new units are being filled.

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Posted in Affordability, architecture, Placemaking, planning, Princeton, Smart Growth, Sustainability | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Princeton North: Where Convenience Meets Walkable Living

Posted on February 8, 2024 by walkableprinceton

Guest post by Nicole Wolf, Berkshire Hathaway Fox & Roach Realtors

Welcome to Princeton North, an area of convenience and walkable living in the heart of Princeton, NJ. Nestled amidst charming streets and a vibrant community, Princeton North stands out as one of the most sought-after neighborhoods for environmentally conscious residents who cherish a predominantly walkable lifestyle. In this exploration, we’ll dive deeper into why this neighborhood is the perfect blend of accessibility, amenities, and eco-friendly living.

Spotlight on Local Businesses, Parks, and Landmarks

Witherspoon Street Wonders: Sakrid Coffee Roasters & Homestead

Indulge your senses at Sakrid Coffee Roasters on Witherspoon Street. This neighborhood coffee shop

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Princeton University Unveils Concept Plan for New ‘Quantum Institute’ on Ivy Lane

Posted on January 18, 2024 by walkableprinceton
Rendering of proposed Princeton University ‘Quantum Institute’, via princetonnj.gov Planning Board

Princeton University has signaled its intention to continue the expansion in the so-called ‘East Campus’ neighborhood near the Princeton Stadium. Based on a new ‘concept plan’ submitted to the Princeton municipal planning department, the University envisions a substantial new complex that will be called the ‘Quantum Institute’. The new Institute will be on Ivy Lane, between Fitzrandolph Road and Stadium Drive (map).

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Ten Things To Watch For In Princeton In 2024!

Posted on December 31, 2023 by walkableprinceton
Princeton University campus became a hive of construction in 2023 as the University advanced numerous projects.

A new year beckons, and what could 2024 bring for the town of Princeton? Let’s consider the possibilities…and read on to review how we did with our predictions for last year!

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Town Of Princeton Buys Two Electric Buses (At A Huge Discount) For Municipal Jitney Service

Posted on November 29, 2023 by walkableprinceton
The Phoenix Motorcars E-450 shuttle bus, an all-electric vehicle, which will service Princteon’s Municipal Bus Service

At their pre-Thanksgiving meeting on November 21, Princeton Council approved the purchase of two new electric vehicles. In particular, these are electric buses, to provide service on the town’s free municipal jitney route. The purchase will allow the service to transition from diesel buses to a clean, all-electric alternative. Local taxpayers will also pay an incredibly low price for these buses, because the town secured an enormous grant contribution from the state to offset their cost.

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Princeton Council to Discuss Plan For Redesign of Community Park South

Posted on November 26, 2023 by walkableprinceton
Concept plan for Community Park South, from Princeton Council meeting agenda packet of 11.27.2023

Princeton Council is set to consider a concept plan for a complete rebuild of Community Park South. The plan will be discussed in a work session at the Council meeting on Monday night, November 27, 2023. The concept is the preferred alternative of the Princeton Recreation Commission, which has been conducting a planning process since February. Community Park South is adjacent to Route 206, behind the Municipal Building at 400 Witherspoon Street (map). Princeton Council has intended to improve the park for many years. The current planning process involved meetings with local residents and stakeholders, and two public meetings. Seven concepts for a redesign of the park were considered, and of those, ‘Concept A’ was considered the best, although the Recreation Commission suggested that Council consider several additional questions.

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