Resident raises safety and maintenance complaints about Avalon on Harrison development; city staff to follow up

A resident identified as Jeff Grocer (follow-up exchange; resident name provided to staff) raised multiple maintenance and safety concerns about Avalon on Harrison, a recently opened high-rise at the Princeton Shopping Center. The resident described repeated electrical malfunctions that triggered fire alarms, elevator failures, malfunctioning electronic locks and door chains that can constitute fire risks, and disputes over parking fees charged to residents in a garage that is part of a park-and-ride arrangement.

Council members and staff acknowledged the concerns and said municipal housing inspection and other departments would follow up with the resident to investigate. The resident said specific incidents included a 4 a.m. alarm that forced building evacuation and multiple elevator entrapments; staff did not present inspection findings during the meeting.

Why it matters: the resident said electrical failures and door malfunctions present fire and safety hazards, and described broader concerns about building management practices and effects on local rental pricing. Municipal staff said they will follow up with the resident and the property management and noted that affordable-housing compliance and inspection processes exist to address tenant complaints.

Ending: The council invited the resident to leave contact information for follow-up and said relevant municipal departments would investigate and report back to the resident and council as appropriate.