By Staff Report
Princeton University is seeking to almost double the number of units in it’s Hibben Magie graduate student housing and build a parking deck with a concept proposal it made to the Planning Board last week.
The proposed design has 16 buildings with 329 units and 715 beds for graduate students. Units would be two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartments and two-level, three-bedroom, three- bathroom townhouses in two- to five-story buildings scattered throughout the 20-acre site. The apartments would range in size from 650 to 1,100 square feet and townhouses would range in size from 1,300 to 1,600 square feet.
The existing two eight-story buildings, built in the 1960s, sit in a row on the shores of Lake Carnegie with 192 units and 512 beds. The site is located south of Faculty Road and east of Alexander Street.
The proposed plan locates taller buildings toward the lower part of the grounds and smaller buildings toward the higher ground levels, minimizing the perception of mass, using the natural slope of the site. The two- and three-story townhouses will be constructed primarily of wood frame and four- to five-story apartment buildings will be constructed primarily of structural steel framing
There will also be 432-space parking deck constructed on the site. The area is also served by the university’s shuttle system.
Stormwater rain gardens and muti-purpose outdoor common areas will be added. Common areas may include a fitness center, social lounge, multi-function room, computer cluster, children’s playroom, and outdoor social and recreation areas.
The site design optimizes woodland preservation and restoration with limited site disturbance.
The project is looking to obtain LEED certification using sustainable strategies for lighting, plumbing, heating and cooling.
After construction is completed in 2014, university officials intend to tear down the 70-year-old Butler Tract housing development, which is located by Harrison Street, Hartley Avenue and Sycamore Road.
”I thought it was a well- thought out plan,” said Township Councilman Lance Liverman “I think for what they are trying to do, keeping buildings low and impervious coverage down to where it is now, I think it’s doable. I was even excited, they are looking to have LEED certification. I don’t see any negative impact that we couldn’t overcome.”
”For what we have there now and for what they are proposing, I see it as an improvement,” he added.
Studio Ma of Phoenix and Princeton has been chosen as the architect and planner for the project. Construction is slated to begin in 2012.
Another development project in the works is the renovation of the Stanworth apartments and the former Merwick nursing home.
The Georgetown Co. of New York City as the developer for this project.
Stanworth is a 16-acre site on Route 206 that includes 23 buildings with 154 units with a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two- bedroom and three- bedroom apartments. Currently, 103 of the units are occupied with mostly faculty and their families. University officials intend to use most of Stanworth for short-term housing for graduate students during the redevelopment of Hibben-Magie.
The nine-acre Merwick site, which was acquired from the Princeton Healthcare System last year, is adjacent to the Stanworth Apartments. Merwick served as a transitional and long-term care facility that recently moved to the hospitals new site off Route 1 north in Plainsboro.
In the future, Stanworth and Merwick will be used for faculty/staff housing.
Officials anticipate developing the two sites together and plans have not been finalized. The university hopes to select an architect and planner for the project this spring, and to begin work on the Merwick site in 2014 with expected occupancy in 2016.
The university formulated a housing master plan in 2005.

