PRINCETON, NJ – Peggy Hughes-Fulmer has lived in Princeton for the better part of 50 years.  With her daughters now grown and living with their children close by, Ms. Hughes-Fulmer’s expansive single-family home on two acres of property in a quiet, serene part of Princeton no longer seemed necessary — or all that appealing.

“I was ready for a new adventure,” said Ms. Hughes-Fulmer.  “My late husband loved the big house and the acres.  I’m a city girl at heart.”

An active member of the community, including serving on the Boards of the Princeton Symphony and McCarter Theatre, Ms. Hughes-Fulmer had no intention of leaving Princeton.  What she desired was a new lifestyle experience, which is where her professional and personal lives intertwined.  Working as a real estate broker at what is now Callaway Henderson Sotheby’s International Realty in Princeton for 40 years, Ms. Hughes-Fulmer was quite familiar with Palmer Square, the vibrant epicenter of downtown Princeton featuring boutique shops, restaurants and a new collection of townhomes, single-level flats and rental residences – all situated directly across from Princeton University.

“Before The Residences at Palmer Square opened, there really wasn’t an opportunity to live in the heart of downtown,” Ms. Hughes-Fulmer points out.  “When the new homes were introduced, I brought many customers to see them, and always thought how much I’d like to live there.”

Deciding earlier this year that there was no time like the present, Ms. Hughes-Fulmer moved from the no-longer-needed single family home to an elegant-yet-manageable single-level residence in Palmer Square.

“Palmer Square offers what we never had before but so sorely needed; the ability to live within walking distance of all that downtown Princeton has to offer,” she said.   “And I am taking full advantage of it, attending McCarter Theartre, lectures at the library, visiting the Princeton Art Museum, enjoying the Princeton campus with the various activities offered, running errands, all of which I do walking.  What could be more appealing?”

Ms. Hughes-Fulmer also appreciates the energy associated with living downtown.

“On a recent Saturday evening, I realized I had nothing to eat in my refrigerator and decided to go out for a meal,” she recalls.  “I walked outside my door and there was a band playing, people were dining outside at the many eateries, kids were playing in the Square.  It was such a lively atmosphere, it felt a little bit like New York.”

While Ms. Hughes-Fulmer is embracing the downtown lifestyle she often dreamed about, she also appreciates the privacy and scenic beauty of Palmer Square’s residential enclave.

“The residences are surrounded by beautiful landscaping that is extremely well maintained, which creates a picturesque buffer from the shops and restaurants,” she said.  “It’s just a very desirable place to live and has added to the overall image of Princeton, becoming a destination in its own right.” Continue reading →