Bordentown, NJ: Inspiration for Smart Growth Towns

Buying a house can be a harrowing experience, especially as a soon-to-be first-time homeowner.

At least in experience.

The mortgage company wouldn't take into account my wife's income; our price range would be limited to my salary alone. Let me tell you, there isn't much you can purchase on a teacher's salary. At least not in New Jersey. The mortgage company gave us an allowance well under the $200k mark, placing several town out of our reach. Goodbye Princeton. Goodbye Lambertville. Hell, I couldn't even afford to live in the same town where I taught. I felt shut out.

We redirected our search to the historic section of Bordentown. With a prayer and a buck we managed to purchase the hose well under our mortaged allowance before the house even officially hit the market. Call it luck. Call it a miracle. I call it home. We've now owned the house for well over three years, and every day I am astouded that we own such a beautiful and unique home in such a cool little town.

The "city" is approx. one square mile of Main Street USA meets This Old House. The main drag, Farnsworth Avenue, is pepperred with various bistros, botiques, and antique book and furniture stores. It has the feel of a small-scale Princeton or Lambertville, but without the pricetag. So, it was to my amusement that Bordentown should appear in the living section of the New York Times as "This Old Town's a Model for Copycats".

Apparently developers have referred to Bordentown as a model to create "Smart Growth" towns. In other words, they want to create new construction to emulate all the charm and small-town feel of Bordentown. Only these new houses run 2 to 4 times the amount we paid for our house.

You can't buy historical character. You can't buy a tight-knit community. It's only an illusion. I'm living in the real deal that others are so willing to shell out top dollar to purchase. All I can say is that I am so grateful for my cool little house in this cool little town.

...and, sometimes life manages to work itself out.

Tags: New York Times, Bordentown, smart growth, housing, developments