To the Editor:
We are indebted to the historians who remind us of Princeton’s unusual legacy of historic landmarks and neighborhoods. I, too, moved to Edgehill Street 20 years ago because of its historic associations and inviting character.
Though I grew up in the country nearby, many of my friends lived in this neighborhood. It was a joy to come to town to ride our bicycles on the side streets and back alleys and play baseball on the Seminary field at the corner of Mercer Street and Hibben Road. That was in the 1950s.
Since then I have watched Princeton grow from town to city. With the University expanding, that was inevitable. And with this growth, the need for affordable housing became an imperative. For too long, elderly, young people, and families have been priced out of Princeton’s housing market. Now Princeton’s governing body seems dedicated to addressing this critical public issue.
It’s curious that to date most affordable housing has been built in the East End of Princeton and virtually none in the more affluent West. Has this been a deliberate public policy or a concerted effort by “West Enders” to assure that little changes in this area mostly of homes for the wealthy?
Now comes a proposal (the Herring Project) to build 238 apartments in a well-designed though admittedly dense configuration on the corner of Stockton Street and Hibben Road. Though I am an abutting neighbor, I am not opposed to this project. Here’s why:
This writer has dedicated much of his professional career as a policy planner to the advancement of affordable housing in New Jersey against the intractable opposition of many.
For this reason, it would be hypocritical of me to oppose such a project near my neighborhood. The Herring Project is planned to include 48 below market units (20 percent of the total). The Herring Project inarguably contributes to Princeton’s need.
Back to history. As you can see from its map, delineation of the Mercer Hill Historic District deliberately excluded the former Seminary property. And who would have argued that these large drab buildings were little more than an eyesore, with no apparent historic value.
Regarding the present proposal, design issues likely remain. The lack of a financial contribution to the school district is deplorable and one would hope that this would be remedied by the Council.
It’s hard to balance legitimate values when looking at a project like the one at hand. Reasonable people can differ in their opinions. But this resident believes that the Herring Project will bring some diversity to the neighborhood and in time blend in and become an asset to the town.