September 10, 2014

Resolution for Task Force On Affordable Housing Approved by Council

A resolution to establish an affordable housing task force to consider development of properties on Clearview and Franklin Avenues was passed by Princeton Council at its meeting Monday night, but only after amendments were made to broaden the resolution so that it doesn’t focus only on those two properties as possible locations for affordable units.

Several members of the public commented for and against the idea before Council members made changes to the resolution and voted it in. The Clearview Avenue properties are part of a land swap between the municipality and Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad (PFARS), in which the town gets the three buildings currently occupied by PFARS and the rescue squad gets the land at the former Princeton Township Public Works site, where they plan to build a new facility.

The Franklin Avenue site is a parking lot opposite the former Princeton Hospital, where demolition is about to begin and a 280-unit rental complex, 57 of which are affordable, will be built by the developer AvalonBay. Princeton University owns the lot but will donate it to the town for a public purpose.

Some members of Council said the focus is too narrow, and should be expanded to include all of the properties owned by the municipality. Mayor Liz Lempert said part of the reason for the resolution was “a pretty unique opportunity” presented by the Clearview Avenue and Franklin Avenue properties. “The municipality is driving the development and has control over it,” she said.

Councilwoman Jo Butler said, “We need to back up and take a more holistic look at all of the properties” owned by the municipality. “I think this is premature. I ask about it repeatedly, so it’s extremely disappointing that it was dealt with this way.”

Resident Alexi Assmus commented that while she strongly supports affordable housing, she opposes “Princeton’s growth into a small city.” The schools are already overcrowded and the town does not have the infrastructure to support the kind of increased density more units would bring. Leighton Newlin, chairman of the Princeton Housing Authority, said that more low-income housing is crucial and the organization would like to work with Princeton Community Housing to develop such units at the Franklin Avenue site.

Other residents urged Council to wait a few years to see what the impact of the rental community at the hospital site is going to be before making a decision. Anita Garoniak, who lives on Harris Road, expressed concerns about increased density. “Nothing should be constructed at the Franklin lot until we see what the impact of AvalonBay will be,” she said. Carol Golden of the town’s Affordable Housing Board said, “There is an urgency. There are people who need housing now, not in five years.”

Scott Sillars of the Citizens Finance Advisory Committee suggested there are other properties in town including the old firehouses on Chestnut and Harrison streets, as well as other surplus sites, that should be considered.

Council accordingly amended the resolution to look at all municipal properties in Princeton rather than just the Franklin and Clearview avenue sites, and the measure was passed. Anyone interested in serving on the task force can get information from the town’s website (www.princetonnj.gov), said Mayor Lempert. The final list of people who will serve on the task force will be announced at the next meeting on September 22.