By Philip Sean Curran, Staff Writer
A 22-year-old program that provides housing opportunities in Princeton to middle-income earners should be phased out, the Princeton Affordable Housing Board recommended Tuesday.
Started in the former borough, the program involves 17 condominiums that are owned and occupied by people who meet income guidelines.
“We’re trying to make sure that everything conforms with the Mt. Laurel rules,” said Alvin McGowen, chairman of the housing board in reference to the state Supreme Court decisions on affordable housing. He said the middle income program does not comply.
One supporter of the recommendation says the board’s suggestion is not further squeezing out Princeton’s disappearing middle class to where only the rich and poor can afford to live here.
“We’re not trying to divide the haves and the have nots,” said Councilman Lance Liverman, a voting member of the housing board who voted in favor of the recommendation that goes to the planning board and then the full council.
He and the rest of council must decide whether or not to eliminate the program. There is no schedule for action by the governing body.
The housing board took up the issue as the town is in the midst of harmonizing ordinances from the old borough and the township, said Mr. McGowen. The middle-income program was started in 1993 and created by the former Borough Council.
The town does not get affordable housing credit from the state for having the program, nor can the money the town collects in developer fees be used in any way to provide financial assistance to would-be buyers. For affordable housing, the town can provide loans to buyers to help with their down payments.
Based on how the program is set up, eligibility is income-based. For example, a family of four would have to have an income 80 percent to 200 percent of the median $92,614 that is established by the state Council of Affordable Housing.
Mr. Liverman said Wednesday that he supported the recommendation that the board took this week. He said “it looks kind of strange” to have subsidized housing for people earning $100,000.
The occupants of the 17 condominiums would not be affected by any potential change, Mr. Liverman said. Going forward, it is not clear how those 17 condos would be marketed and to whom once the current owners sell.
“I think we should be taking care of the less fortunate,” said Mr. Liverman, also a landlord in town who rents apartments.
