By Donald Gilpin
The Witherspoon-Jackson Neighborhood Association (WJNA) will be holding a public meeting open to the whole Princeton community at 9 a.m. on Saturday, June 28 at the Arts Council of Princeton. A number of hot issues are on the agenda.
Among the WJ-related topics up for discussion are engineering and infrastructure, the tree canopy, ongoing renovations at the Paul Robeson House, the work of the Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society (WJHCS), a new project to construct a WJ laundromat, and a review of plans for this summer’s Joint Effort Safe Streets program.
The agenda item of greatest interest, however, according to WJNA co-chair Leighton Newlin, who is also a member of Princeton Council, is a report from the Witherspoon-Jackson Development Corporation (WJDC), whose mission is “to preserve, restore, and sustain the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood’s historic character, diversity, and quality of life.”
Calling for more transparency and accountability on the part of the WJDC, Newlin stated that he had “been barraged by questions” from members of the community, and many of those questions were focused on a house at 31 Maclean Street that the WJDC bought in 2019 for about $400,000 with the plan of making renovations and selling at an affordable price to a qualified buyer.
“As a neighbor, a resident of the neighborhood, and an elected official I get inquiries,” said Newlin. “People need to be informed. More than a few people are wondering about this.”
The WJNA’s major source of funding has been a settlement of approximately $1.25 million paid by Princeton University in three installments from 2017 to 2019.
Newlin acknowledged that the WJDC has been paying taxes on the house and making some repairs, as well as providing tax assistance for lower income WJ residents, but he and his constituents, he says, will be eager to learn more at the June 28 meeting.
“The most important thing that should happen at this meeting is an update about what’s going on with the house at 31 Maclean,” he said. “People want to live there, and nothing’s happening. It’s been vacant for a long time. A lot of people are very upset with the fact that they got $1.25 million in the settlement from Princeton University, and no one knows what’s being done with that.”
Newlin stated that WJDC Chair Yina Moore had promised more feedback and transparency at the last WJNA meeting in November 2023 but had provided no further information. “People want to know, and there are people in the neighborhood who want to consider becoming homeowners there,” said Newlin.
In a June 13 phone conversation Moore, who along with Newlin is also co-chair of the WJNA, stated that the WJDC had not made a decision about the disposition of the 31 Maclean Street house but that there had been several applicants to purchase it and that they hoped to sell it in the coming months to a longtime resident or descendant, member of the school system, a first responder, or someone who has been in service to the neighborhood.
The house has required more repairs than anticipated. “We rebuilt the rear deck to code yet need to repair the front porch decking and railing to historic standards, after which the siding will be painted,” Moore said. “The interior is being painted, lead paint remediated, a cracked sewer main line repaired, and a new oven range and bathroom sink, both donated by a member, installed. American Water has just notified us that the lines from the street may be lead pies, so those will need to be repaired.”
She went on to note that WJDC has paid out almost a half million dollars in property “relief” payments to approximately 50 longtime WJ neighborhood homeowners. She added that the WJDC directors continue to update the website wjdcnj.org to increase interactivity and that this summer they are embarking on a yard cleanup program led by a landscaper who has offered his services to the organization.
“We value and seek participation from all over the community and encourage volunteers, such as the landscaper, to come forward with time, skills and pro bono services,” said Moore.
In addition to Moore’s eagerly anticipated updates on the WJDC, the June 28 agenda includes an overview from a representative of the municipal engineering department and a presentation, probably led by a member of the Princeton Shade Tree Commission, on the status of the WJ neighborhood tree canopy, which, according to Newlin, has been identified as “suffering” and “needing an upgrade.”
“We need more tree cover,” said Newlin. “White neighborhoods have more trees and are cooler than Black neighborhoods. If you live in the neighborhood and you don’t have a tree in front of your house, then let’s try and get one there.”
Also featured at the June 28 meeting will be Paul Robeson House of Princeton Board President Ben Colbert discussing plans for completing renovations and opening the house to the public, and WJHCS Board President Shirley Satterfield discussing recent initiatives of the organization.
Also on the agenda is a presentation prepared by Joshua Zinder Architecture + Design describing the construction of a laundromat on the corner of Witherspoon Street and Leigh Avenue. “This will be the first time in many years that we’ve had a laundromat in that neighborhood, and what a joy it will be,” said Newlin, especially for individuals and families that have had to travel across town to use laundry facilities.
The final item currently on the agenda is a preview of the 2025 edition of John Bailey’s popular Joint Effort Safe Streets summer program of athletics, culture, education, and celebration coming up for the WJ community in August.