Demolition has begun on three units at the Princeton Luxury Apartments on U.S. 380, while the Housing Standards Commission convened a public hearing on a notice of violation issued in May, a year after construction was halted. The vacant lot was rezoned for multifamily housing in 2015, with construction set to begin in 2022.
After hearing from professional engineers that some of the structures could be repaired and completed, a committee made up of Princeton City Council members issued an order setting a timeline for the completion of the weather-beaten complex just east of Walmart.
The order applies to current property owners as well as any future buyers. Two potential buyers took to the stage at the three-hour meeting on Thursday, August 22.
The three buildings undergoing demolition, along with one that does not have its foundation completed, are scheduled to be completed in February 2026. The four remaining buildings and the clubhouse are in good condition and are scheduled to be completed by April 2025, the order states. The other three buildings are scheduled to be completed in September 2025.
The commission voted 3-2 to issue the order, with Commissioners Steven Defibaugh, Ben Long and Carolyn David Graves voting in favor. Commissioners David Kleiber and Marlo Obera voting against. Commissioners Ryan Garfers and Brian Washington did not attend the public hearing, which included 30 minutes of public comment.
Many of the comments were in support of the project so subcontractors could be paid. More than 25 contractors have filed for contractor liens for $6.8 million.
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