1	Princeton, New Jersey Plan for Downtown & Its Neighbors Thinking about Zone 2
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4	What the Neighbors Observed: Social Justice/Affordability The purpose of a town is to live together. Right now this is a real dead zone in our town, only for cars. The J/W neighborhood is being crowded in on all sides. The neighbors want a place that we are able to expand to and to live in a harmonious way. The university’s service personnel can’t afford to live in Princeton. We need affordable housing, and not $200,000 affordable housing.
5	What the Neighbors Observed: Compatibility Paul Robeson Place (PRP) has become a geographical division, like a broad river. Palmer Square is totally unrelated physically to the J/W neighborhood. It is very unfortunate thing in the town to have backyards facing the cartway on both sides.
6	What the Neighbors Observed: Traffic, Parking, & Walking The purpose of the town is not traffic and parking- the purpose of the town is to live together. There is no significant sidewalk on either side of Robeson Place. Not only was it expropriation, it was bad planning. Robeson Place was re-designed to promote speeds that are in excess of the typical street network of downtown Princeton. I would like more pedestrian access through to Palmer Square with a nicer sidewalk. Traffic is too fast on John Street. Emergency vehicles need to get to the hospital on Robeson Place.
7	What the Neighbors Observed: mix of uses There is historical precedent for more neighborhood-oriented activity on a social level. It is an ideal site for residential uses. We have a classic “dumbbell shape” with the institutions here: Dorothea House, First Baptist Church, the Ys, the Library, and the Arts Council. A market is missing in that part of town. Down on Birch we used to have food stores, laundries, and things that people actually need on an everyday basis. I would not put my shop on Robeson Place because it is so removed. J/W is a residential neighborhood. Commercial on the north side would contribute to the commercial creep from the business district.
8	What the Neighbors Observed: Griggs Property My grandfather, Burnett Griggs, owned the property from about 1925. We believe the site’s best use would be a 5-story mixed-use building with retail or a restaurant on the first floor, offices on the 2nd & 3rd, and residences on the 4th & 5th. It would be harmonious and compatible with commercial buildings on Chambers & Witherspoon. “Your grandfather’s food was excellent!”
9	Public Principles Social justice: “heal the wound” created by the construction of Paul Robeson Place Compatibility: create a new Robeson Place that serves the needs of the J/W neighborhood and the larger community Safety: slow the traffic to speeds consistent with the rest of the community Pedestrian environment: make the sidewalks safe, comfortable, and attractive to pedestrians Livability: make the street a place to live, once again Residential Uses: provide a variety of housing options Other Uses: provide a mix of supportive uses
10	Purpose of the Planning Effort To obtain support from: John Witherspoon neighborhood Palmer Square Management Entire community
11	Comparison: Four Conditions Jackson Street: Before Palmer Square Existing Conditions Approved Plans Alternate Possibilities
12	Jackson St.: Before Palmer Sq.
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14	Jackson St.: Before Palmer Sq. site plan
15	Jackson St.: Before Palmer Sq. cross sections
16	Current Conditions site plan
17	Current Conditions cross sections
18	Current Conditions
19	Approved Plans site plan- upper floor
20	Approved Plans cross sections
21	Princeton Future: 2001 Sketch
22	Alternate Possibility site plan- ground floor
23	Alternate Possibility site plan- upper floor
24	Alternate Possibility cross sections
25	Alternate Possibility The Affordability Balance 25%-30%: Luxury owner-occupied condominiums 10%: Owner-occupied townhouses (one half: affordable) 25-30%: Market-rate rental apartments (1 & 2 BR) 15%: Affordable rental apartments 20%: Affordable rental apartments for households with incomes from $20,000-$25,000
26	Alternate Possibility A Possible Unit Mix Sale Condominiums: 60 d.u./2,500 sf (Market Rate) Town Houses: 9 d.u. (Market Rate & Affordable) Rental Apartments: 13 d.u./1 br- 800 sf (Market Rate & Affordable) 19 d.u./2 br- 1,000 sf Chambers St. Rental Apts: 28 d.u./1 br- 800 sf (Senior Housing) 21 d.u./2 br- 1,000 sf PRP Owner-occupied Houses: +/- 10 d.u. (Market Rate & Affordable) Total: +/- 150 d.u 200 parking spaces
27	Process: Possible tools to accomplish these objectives Current owner acts as developer OR: Community Development Corporations act as sponsors Alternate developers undertake project Use redevelopment powers Create public/private partnerships
28	Public Principles Social justice: “heal the wound” created by the construction of Paul Robeson Place Compatibility: create a new Robeson Place that serves the needs of the J/W neighborhood and the larger community Safety: slow the traffic to speeds consistent with the rest of the community Pedestrian environment: make the sidewalks safe, comfortable, and attractive to pedestrians Livability: make the street a place to live, once again Residential Uses: provide a variety of housing options Other Uses: provide a mix of supportive uses
29	Next Month . . . Zone 1: The Heart of Downtown