Council Discusses 2 Housing Projects At Princeton Shopping Center

PRINCETON, NJ — Council on Monday voted in favor of two inclusionary housing projects at Princeton Shopping Center. Both projects were previously approved by the Planning Board.

Council voted in favor of two resolutions and four ordinances, taking the final step to allow the developments to obtain financing and proceed with the projects.

The WinnDevelopment project, also known as the Alice, will be located at the corner of North Harrison Street and Terhune road. The project will have 125 units with 25 earmarked for affordable housing.

The four-story multi-family residential building will have 36 one-bedroom units, 26 one-bedroom units with a den, 29 two-bedroom units and 28 two-bedroom units with a den. The development will have 27 electric vehicle charging stations and solar panels on the roof. There will be indoor and outdoor bicycle storage units along with amenities like business centers, conference rooms, fitness center, billiards room, children's room and more.

A quarter of the total lot will be turned over to Princeton for use as public space for the neighborhood. This space will have a dog park, more landscape and green features. The dog park will be a 2,000-square-foot fenced park, with two areas - one for larger, and another for smaller dogs. It will have access to water and shaded areas.

The linear park will also feature park benches and picnic tables for the community, a tot lot with playground equipment for ages 2-5. The park will be open and accessible to the public with access to bike and walking paths.

There will be also significant improvements made along both roads, expanding pedestrian and bike lanes.

The second project is within the Shopping Center by developers Avalon. However, in this project, there is no land available for the developers to give to Princeton.

Instead, as part of the agreement, the developer has committed $1.2 million to Princeton to make enhancements and imporvements at Grover Park.

The four-story multifamily residential building will have 200 total units, with studio, one bedroom, two bedroom and three-bedroom apartments. The building will have a 300-space parking garage.

Developers hope to begin construction on the projects sometime later this year, going into spring.

Councilmembers said they were enthusiastic about the projects.

“If you looked up ‘affordable housing done right' in the dictionary, this is what you would see. This is a remarkable opportunity for us,” Councilman Leighton Newlin said.

The projects will help Princeton meet its affordable housing obligations.

A second reading and public hearing will be held on Aug. 22.

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