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Greenview condos? Foes emerging early

Charmed by Hillier, but not his plan

By Nick Norlen
Staff Writer
   Despite his intention to simply gather neighborhood input about the plan, Architect J. Robert Hillier’s preliminary meetings with residents about his proposed condominium project on Greenview Avenue in Princeton Borough have left several of the nearby homeowners ready to oppose the plan even before it reaches the formal review process.
   An application filed with the zoning office by Mr. Hillier’s personal development company in late July shows a plan to replace four lots used for rental housing with a three-story condominium with 11 market-rate and three affordable condominium units on the short street bordering Princeton Cemetery.
   The project requires three use variances: increasing the floor-to-area ratio from 45 percent to 90 percent, increasing the coverage area from 30 percent to 38 percent, and increasing the number of units per structure from three to 14.
   Borough Zoning Officer Derek Bridger said Thursday that the application has yet to be deemed complete, but requires only minor changes, and will likely reach the zoning board later in the fall.
   In a letter supplementing his application, Mr. Hillier says his plan “is about meeting an unfulfilled need for downtown housing for a senior segment of the Princeton population that cannot find appropriate housing into which to ‘downsize’ for their ‘empty nester’ years.”
   Although he acknowledges the needed bulk and density variances, Mr. Hillier states in the letter that the plan is designed to be as “socially and environmentally responsible as possible while seamlessly blending into the neighborhood by complying with all the setbacks and by carefully taking into account the concerns and issues of the neighbors.”
   To that end, Mr. Hillier notes that he held two neighborhood meetings and “several one-on-ones” with individual property owners before the application was made.
   But some of those who attended the meetings and even met with Mr. Hillier in person said the project is anything but in conformity with the rest of the neighborhood.
   Greenview Avenue resident Julie Fox, who shares a driveway with one of the rental properties included in the plan, called the proposal “monolithic” and “shockingly huge.”
   She added, “I don’t think it would fit with this neighborhood at all. These rental properties are so important to Princeton. This has always been a neighborhood for artists, more non-conventional people.”
   One of those artists is graphic designer Tara de la Garza, who lives on Humbert Street, within 200 feet of the project.
   ”It destroys the look and feel of the neighborhood,” she said, calling the project a “homogenized, flat-roofed building.”
   While she admitted the project likely won’t directly affect her property, she said she’s troubled about the precedent the project could set if such variances are granted.
   ”Let’s not talk about this like it’s going to happen, because its not going to happen,” she said, noting her belief that Mr. Hillier approached the neighborhood process like the project “was a fait accompli.”
   She added, “It was just going to go ahead the way it was. He isn’t interested in listening to what we want as a community.”
   However, Ms. Fox did concede that Mr. Hillier was “nothing but nice and gracious” during the neighborhood meetings.
   ”They haven’t kept any secrets,” she said. “They could have left it all a mystery to that day of the zoning board meeting.”
   Greenview Avenue resident Barbara White agreed.
   ”I would want to make sure to say that I recognize that Hillier’s firm has made a real effort to communicate with those of us living here,” she said. “Given that they’re wanting to make a huge building out of proportion with the street, they’re doing a good job of it.”
   Despite environmentally friendly aspects of the plan included by Mr. Hillier — a sod roof, underground parking resulting in less impervious coverage — opponents see little they like about the proposal.
   ”No, there isn’t anything he can do that would make it work for me,” said Ms. Fox.
   Ms. White said she’s “trying to keep an open mind.”
   ”It’s hard for me to imagine combining three lots into one big building in a way that would be palatable,” she said.
   Still, the opponents acknowledge that some residents support the project.
   Ms. de la Garza said she sympathizes with neighbors who would like to see aesthetic improvements, such as the removal of a “really ugly,” run-down shed on the street.
   Greenview Avenue resident Lynn Smith said she welcomes the project for those reasons. Although she admitted she is “in business” with Mr. Hillier — he is a shareholder in Town Topics newspaper, where she is the publisher — Ms. Smith said her “first concern is the street, because that’s where I live.”
   She added, “I think it would be an upgrade for the street,” noting that she isn’t concerned that the new condo project wouldn’t fit in with the area. “A couple of those houses are quite run down. It would probably increase the value of my home if this project is built.”
   She also said she believes there are some residents who are in favor it, but who are “just not as outspoken.”
   She added, “I think that there are just one or two people that are against it and they’re just making a lot of noise,” she said.
   Either way, those who have stated their opposition seem committed to continuing to do so as the plan progresses to its hearing.
   ”We are going to go to the borough and let them know that this project is not going to go ahead,” said Ms. de la Garza.
   According to Mr. Bridger, Mr. Hillier is bifurcating his application, meaning he will apply for a site plan only if he is granted the use variances.
   Mr. Hillier is away and was unavailable for comment on this story.