Hospital Developer Defends Plan

The developer hoping to build a housing development on Witherspoon Street returned to Princeton on Tuesday to defend a proposal to increase the number of units, but reduce the number of affordable ones.

Zoning rules allow 280 residential units, with 20 percent being designated as affordable units. But developer Avalon Bay wants to increase the number of units to 324 (an increase of 44), while lowering affordable housing percentage from 20 percent to 17.3 percent (a reduction of nine units to a total of 56).

“We are keenly interested in adding additional affordable units above the 17.3 percent, in the form but workforce housing,” said Ronald Ladell, senior vice president at Avalon Bay Communities,

Workforce housing would rent to those earning 80 to 150 percent of the area’s average median income- $41,000 to $98,000- for a three-person household. The units would have limitations on rent increases and could have a ‘Princeton preference’ for those living or working in Princeton, Ladell said. The preference could include Princeton's volunteer firefighters and rescue workers.

In contrast, affordable housing would typically rent at 30, 50 or 60 percent of average median income.

Market-rate studio, one-bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom apartments would rent for between $1,600 to $3,200 a month, Ladell said.

Avalon Bay is under contract to purchase the University Medical Center at Princeton once the hospital moves to Plainsboro, The plan is to demolish the seven-story 500,000-square-foot building in order to build a rental community called ‘Avalon Princeton.’

Borough Council members on Tuesday seemed receptive to requested zoning changes proposed by Avalon Bay and asked staff to draft a proposed ordinance change. 

“I hope that we will move this project along or we could end up with an empty site for years,” Council President Barbara Trelsdad said.

When it came time for public input, residents did not mince words.

“It seems to me another example of the town’s habit and the planning board’s habit to change the master plan to meet large developer’s needs,” resident Peter Marks said, noting that the Borough is primarily made up of owner-occupied homes, not renters. “I would like to ask the council to step back and ask what kind of town do you want this to be?”

“There are not a lot of rental units in town, this can serve people who might not otherwise live here,” Trelsdad said, adding the units would encourage news shops on Witherspoon Street and encourage walking.

Council Member Kevin Wilkes agreed.

“I think there’s an opportunity for us to do something interesting with these nine units,” Wilkes said.

Joe Bardzilowski, a Henry Street resident, said Avalon Bay will be a walled, separatist community.

“These are not Princetonians, not yet, but people moving in to take advantage of our amenities, our school system,” Bardzilowski, said. “I don’t want to leave, but I don’t want to live next door to that either, it’ll be a nightmare.”

Michael Floyd of Quarry Street said officials need to consider the issue more fully.

“I think you should think a little bit more because ‘Princeton preference’ is a great thing, workforce housing is a great thing, but you’re being swayed by it,” Floyd said. “Two hundred and eighty units is a lot of units. 44 more is a lot more (to add).”

Mayor Yina Moore encouraged the hospital to consider negotiating on its purchase price in order to make the project more feasible for Avalon Bay. And she said she heard residents' concerns loud and clear over the concern for increased density at the site.