Community Corner

University Unveils Plans to Redevelop Merwick, Stanworth

The plan is to build more than 300 units, including many affordable units for local residents.

 

Princeton University has unveiled its plans to redevelop 26 acres at the Merwick and Stanworth sites along Route 206/ Bayard Lane.

On Thursday, University officials outlined its concept plan during an informal discussion with the Princeton Regional Planning Board.

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The University proposes to build more than 300 apartments and townhouses: 20 percent would be affordable units available to low- and moderate-income local residents.

Plans include open space and playground areas for residents and neighbors, pedestrian walkways, improved stormwater management, road improvements and access to TigerTransit shuttle and WeCar Car Sharing Program.

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The sites include the former location of the Merwick Care Center and the Stanworth Apartments, which has housed University faculty and staff housing for more than 60 years.

Following planning approvals, construction is expected to begin first at Merwick with 128 units in two-story townhomes, two-story multifamily stacked flat homes and three-story apartment buildings. The complex is scheduled to open in fall 2014.

Work at Stanworth is expected to follow in 2014 with the redevelopment of 198 units in two-story townhomes and two-story multifamily stacked flat homes. The current 154 units would be demolished and the new structures built within the existing footprint to preserve as many trees as possible.

Stanworth will house graduate students from 2012 to 2014 while the Hibben-Magie complex is redeveloped. Once the new graduate student buildings open, Stanworth will be vacated for construction. Faculty and staff occupancy of Stanworth is scheduled for fall 2016.

University officials say the age and condition of the Stanworth units is one reason for the new construction, along with its ability to recruit junior faculty and desire to improve sustainability.

"This project allows us to add a substantial amount of publicly available affordable housing, as well as faculty and staff housing, to a well-established and historic Princeton neighborhood that is adjacent to the Princeton YW and YMCA and within easy walking distance of the campus and the downtown," University Vice President and Secretary Robert Durkee said.

The University expects to request variances for parking, building length and rear and side yard setbacks. Princeton Planning Director Lee Solow said the project requires 362 parking spaces and the University proposes to build 326 spaces and reserve space for the rest but not build them yet. The other variances are so the University can build on the existing footprint.

Most neighbors of the proposed development said they approved of the overall project and appreciated the University’s efforts to hold neighborhood meetings to solicit input.

But several people suggested the planning board to consider issues as the project moves forward: water runoff, widening the sidewalk on Bayard Lane, minimizing exterior lighting, installing flashing lights at the crosswalks for pedestrian safety and keeping the YMCA and YWCA redevelopment plans in mind.

Cleveland Lane resident Jack Morrison said Merwick once had 93 beds with 170 employees spread out over three shifts.  Now it will have more residents, plus those living at Stanworth, all entering and exiting one entrance on Bayard Lane.

“I love the project, think it’s gorgeous, thinks it fits into the neighborhood,” Morrison said “But now we have 128 bedrooms with working people. I’m certain we can get traffic experts to artgue both side, but let’s look at the facts.”

The Merwick site is approximately 9 acres and the Stanworth side is about 17 acres.


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