A recent letter to the editor in Princeton raised concerns about growth in town and made a particularly strong comparison: that accessory dwelling units, commonly called ADUs, can make neighborhoods look like “trailer parks.”
That caught my attention.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I think it is important to look at how ADUs are actually being used by Princeton residents.
I’ve seen families use accessory dwelling units in very practical ways. In one case, a family moved into an ADU on their property and rented out the main house, giving them another way to afford staying in Princeton.
In another situation, grandparents moved from Colorado to Princeton so they could live closer to their grandchildren. An additional living space on the property gave the family a setup that worked for multiple generations.
Other homeowners may choose to live in the main house and rent the ADU for additional income.
Those examples show why the conversation around ADUs is more complicated than simply whether people like the appearance of additional housing.
Princeton is also dealing with larger questions surrounding growth, housing availability, development costs, taxes, and affordable housing requirements. The debate is not only about whether development happens, but also how Princeton accommodates that growth and who ultimately pays for it.
There are reasonable concerns on both sides involving density, neighborhood character, infrastructure, property taxes, and affordability.
So I want to hear from Princeton residents and homeowners:
Do you think ADUs are a good addition to Princeton neighborhoods, or are they contributing to too much development?
Keep the conversation respectful and let me know what you think.
