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Proposed Housing on Princeton Ridge Would Fail to Satisfy Seniors’ Needs

To the Editor:

Careful consideration should be given to the points made in the recent letter to your paper (Town Topics, September 26) from David Breithaupt, Casey Hegener, and William Wolfe, all members of relevant Township committees. There is a real need for housing in Princeton that is specifically designed and set aside for seniors. The proposed housing in the Princeton Ridge “overlay zone” does not serve that need. As the writers point out, we seniors need housing that is closer-in, near the amenities that make Princeton such a desirable community. I suggest that we have not exhausted all possibilities for accomplishing this. But if it turns out that we can’t manage in-town senior housing, it certainly does not create an excuse for plundering the environmentally sensitive Princeton Ridge.

As for lowering the age restriction to 55+, this would also be counter to the purpose of a senior housing project. I am 74 years old. If the limit were lowered to 55, in a few short years my children — my children! — would be able to compete with me for that housing. As life expectancies continue to increase, the limits of what constitutes “senior” should be rising, not falling. Even the federal Social Security program recognizes this and has adjusted the limits upward.

The writers propose removing the overlay zone. It is the correct thing to do.

RONALD FLAUGHER
Mt. Lucas Road

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