Marina Rubina

Testified to Princeton's Shade Tree Commission about preserving trees during construction. Advocated leaving affected trees in place for two to three years, holding replacement money in escrow and designing around trees.

April 28, 2026Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: princetonnj.gov

Moved to recommend a three-home subdivision on Bayard Lane. Conditions covered shorter driveways, mature trees, green stormwater measures and shared maintenance of drainage and driveways. The advisory recommendation passed 7–1.

December 8, 2021Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: princetonnj.gov

Voted against recommending a 65-unit affordable-housing plan at 900 Herrontown Road. Sought a different building location to preserve woodland, reduce runoff and provide more usable outdoor space. The advisory recommendation passed 4–2.

June 5, 2019Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: princetonnj.gov

Authored a published column advocating factory-built housing, adaptable layouts and efficient design. Proposed reducing construction waste, energy use and housing costs.

May 21, 2014Supports Environment and Public Health

Source: princetoninfo.com

Recommended three lots at 39 Linden Lane and criticized zoning rules that had produced a poor design. No approval recommendation followed that night. Urged earlier project reviews and an applicant checklist during discussion of dissolving the Site Plan Review Advisory Board.

January 12, 2022Supports Government Efficiency

Source: princetonnj.gov

Presented at the 2026 New Jersey Planning and Redevelopment Conference with Affordable Housing Alliance CEO Randi Moore. Advocated smaller homes, separately owned accessory apartments and more efficient land use to expand homeownership.

June 30, 2026Supports Housing Affordability

Source: njfuture.org

Worked with the Jugtown developer and preservation advocates to separate a new apartment building from the historic Horner House. The redesign reduced the proposal from fifteen homes to ten, including two affordable homes. The Historic Preservation Commission recommended the revised variances 4–1.

December 1, 2025Supports Housing Affordability

Source: princetonnj.gov

Supported a statewide coalition's published zoning reform agenda. It sought accessory homes, housing on underused commercial properties and reduced residential parking requirements near public transportation.

September 2, 2025Supports Housing Affordability

Source: njfuture.org

Prepared plans and testified for the North Tulane housing project. An initial fourteen-home plan with three affordable units was approved in 2022. After the applicant abandoned it, she testified for the replacement four-home plan approved in December 2024.

December 12, 2024Supports Housing Affordability

Source: princetonnj.gov

Testified as architect for an accessible accessory dwelling unit at 760 Mount Lucas Road. Explained its one-story design and wheelchair ramp. The Zoning Board granted the setback variances 7–0, with conditions.

October 23, 2024Supports Housing Affordability

Source: princetonnj.gov

Designed a 2,100-square-foot main house and an 800-square-foot accessory dwelling unit on a small Princeton lot. Created separate yards and privacy. The completed homes were sold as separate condominiums to two households.

February 25, 2024Supports Housing Affordability

Source: houzz.com

Signed a coalition letter asking New Jersey's governor to prioritize statewide legislation allowing accessory dwelling units. The letter sought more housing options and help for older residents to remain in their communities.

December 12, 2023Supports Housing Affordability

Source: rpa.org

Testified as architect for four homes behind the commercial building at 217 Witherspoon Street. Explained the housing layout, pedestrian connections and landscaped yards. The Planning Board approved the plan 8–0, with conditions including green roofs and permeable walkways.

April 13, 2023Supports Housing Affordability

Source: princetonnj.gov

Presented at Princeton Future's Housing Justice meeting with Richard Rein and Matt Mleczko. Discussed more housing near the town center, affordable housing overlays and accessory dwelling units.

January 21, 2023Supports Housing Affordability

Source: princetonfuture.net

Organized a Walk to Coffee community walk and spoke at Princeton Future's March 5 community meeting. Advocated walking connections, housing choices and a larger role for children and teenagers in planning.

March 5, 2022Supports Housing Affordability

Source: princetonfuture.net

Pursued a legal challenge to Princeton's owner-occupancy rules for accessory apartments with attorney Christopher Tarr. The case contributed to changes in the town's accessory dwelling unit rules.

December 13, 2021Supports Housing Affordability

Source: stevenslee.com

Voted to recommend a new apartment building at Princeton Community Housing's Bunn Drive campus. Conditions covered daylight, roof space for solar panels, walking connections and rain-garden maintenance. Moved to recommend eight apartments and shops at Griggs Corner, with a public pedestrian connection, additional storefronts and screened trash storage. Each advisory recommendation passed 7–0.

February 10, 2021Supports Housing Affordability

Source: princetonnj.gov

Seconded and voted for advisory recommendations on a 221-unit Thanet Road development and an adjacent 80-unit senior affordable-housing building. Recommended safer walking and bicycle access, less paved parking and improved outdoor space. Both recommendations passed without opposition.

October 6, 2020Supports Housing Affordability

Source: princetonnj.gov

Testified for allowing separate ownership or rental of the two existing homes at 23 Leigh Avenue. Argued for broader housing choices without changing the building or occupancy. The Zoning Board unanimously denied the requested variances.

November 13, 2019Supports Housing Affordability

Source: communitynews.org

Presented zoning research at a Princeton Future meeting. Found most houses she examined on Leigh Avenue and Western Way exceeded proposed floor-area limits. Advocated removing parking minimums and replacing required on-site parking with payments into an accessibility fund.

February 27, 2019Supports Housing Affordability

Source: communitynews.org

Designed an apartment within a Grover Avenue home for clients facing retirement housing costs. The clients reported that rent helped with their housing costs.

August 28, 2017Supports Housing Affordability

Source: communitynews.org

Co-signed a published Princeton Progressive Action Group letter urging zoning changes to expand middle-income housing. Proposals covered secondary apartments, separately owned duplexes and reduced parking requirements.

June 29, 2017Supports Housing Affordability

Source: planetprinceton.com

Authored a published column advocating factory-built housing, adaptable layouts and efficient design. Proposed reducing construction waste, energy use and housing costs.

May 21, 2014Supports Housing Affordability

Source: princetoninfo.com

Testified as architect for an accessible accessory dwelling unit at 760 Mount Lucas Road. Explained its one-story design and wheelchair ramp. The Zoning Board granted the setback variances 7–0, with conditions.

October 23, 2024Supports Civil Rights

Source: princetonnj.gov

Voted to recommend accessibility and parking improvements at 145 Witherspoon Street. Plans included accessible entrances and parking, covered bicycle parking, and runoff and lighting controls. The advisory recommendation passed 7–0.

March 10, 2021Supports Civil Rights

Source: princetonnj.gov

Organized a Walk to Coffee community walk and spoke at Princeton Future's March 5 community meeting. Advocated walking connections, housing choices and a larger role for children and teenagers in planning.

March 5, 2022Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: princetonfuture.net

Voted to recommend a new apartment building at Princeton Community Housing's Bunn Drive campus. Conditions covered daylight, roof space for solar panels, walking connections and rain-garden maintenance. Moved to recommend eight apartments and shops at Griggs Corner, with a public pedestrian connection, additional storefronts and screened trash storage. Each advisory recommendation passed 7–0.

February 10, 2021Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: princetonnj.gov

Seconded and voted for advisory recommendations on a 221-unit Thanet Road development and an adjacent 80-unit senior affordable-housing building. Recommended safer walking and bicycle access, less paved parking and improved outdoor space. Both recommendations passed without opposition.

October 6, 2020Supports Public Infrastructure

Source: princetonnj.gov

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from Fern and Larry Spruill.

September 30, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Served on Experience Princeton's economic development committee. Received a published Princeton Council endorsement from Sarah Torian and Bland Whitley.

September 30, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from Naba Sharif and Sumra Tayebaly.

May 20, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from Matt Mleczko.

May 13, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from Pallavi Nuka.

May 6, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from Evan Anderson.

May 6, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from Simin Gul and Noreen Khan.

April 29, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from architect and planner Anton Nelessen.

April 29, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from Alice and Joe Small.

April 22, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Helped relocate Tigerlabs by finding space and financial partners, obtaining permits and managing construction. Received a published Princeton Council endorsement from Chris Sturm.

April 22, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from Suzanne Lehrer.

April 15, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Participated in Senator Andy Kim's inaugural NextGen leadership program in 2025. Received a published Princeton Council endorsement from Karen A. Jezierny.

April 15, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from Felicia A. Spitz and Helen Heintz.

April 1, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from former council member Eve Niedergang.

March 11, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from Sam Bunting.

March 11, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Received a published endorsement for Princeton Council from attorney Valerie W. Haynes.

March 11, 2026

Source: towntopics.com

Hosted a live conversation with Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority director Elmer Moore Jr. at its Madison conference. Discussed how states finance and expand housing.

November 12, 2025

Source: starterhomepodcast.podbean.com

Launched the Who Killed the Starter Home? podcast with a published conversation with builder and planner Aaron Lubeck. Discussed smaller local housing development and barriers faced by small builders.

February 2, 2025

Source: starterhomepodcast.podbean.com

Revised plans for two Ewing Street houses with accessory dwelling units. Moved crawl-space access out of bicycle storage, corrected floor-area calculations and added building sections and dimensions for municipal review.

June 27, 2024

Source: princetonnj.gov

Presented examples of how places and buildings affected mental health at the Main Street Now conference. Used several Princeton examples in discussion with other panelists and attendees.

June 1, 2024

Source: isaackremer.com

Prepared revised architectural plans for a detached main home, an accessory dwelling and a garage at 8 Valley Road. Incorporated zoning-board comments and included layouts, floor-area calculations, elevations and building sections.

March 31, 2024

Source: princetonnj.gov

Participated with Josh Wilton and Ingela Kostenbader in Princeton Home Connections' first published discussion of accessory dwelling units. Covered housing choices, design and homeowner considerations.

December 1, 2023

Source: podcasts.apple.com

Co-moderated a Princeton Future meeting and presented examples of existing housing density. Discussed housing, parking, transportation and access to schools with residents.

November 18, 2023

Source: princetonfuture.net

Worked as Herring Properties' strategic consulting architect on redevelopment of the former Princeton Theological Seminary property at 108 Stockton Street.

October 17, 2023

Source: princetonrecreation.com

Testified as Galaxy Tile II's architect for a new retail and storage building at 820 State Road. Submitted architectural drawings and a green-development statement for its green roof and permeable paving.

October 5, 2023

Source: princetonnj.gov

Moved to recommend Tenacre Foundation's reconstruction of its Main House and Post Office buildings. Conditions covered bicycle storage, solar-panel details, landscaping and tree review. The advisory recommendation passed 6–0.

July 10, 2019

Source: princetonnj.gov

Voted for an advisory recommendation on the Hun School's Science Center and Theatre plans. Changes covered drainage, pedestrian access, bicycle storage and the drop-off drive. The recommendation passed 7–0.

May 8, 2019

Source: princetonnj.gov

Designed a spa at the Princeton Shopping Center with interior designer Giedre Miller. Spaces included treatment rooms, a float room, sauna, cryotherapy room and salt room.

October 17, 2017

Source: mrubina.com

Designed a modular addition on Prospect Avenue, installed in one day and finished over several months. Retained the existing foundation and family room and reused parts of the original kitchen and mechanical equipment.

January 19, 2017

Source: mrubina.com

Worked as a project and staff architect at KieranTimberlake. Designed and detailed Yale's Morse and Ezra Stiles Colleges, UNC Charlotte's Center City Building and UC San Diego's Keeling Apartments.

January 15, 2017

Source: mrubina.com

Helped Habitat for Humanity obtain change-of-use approval for its Trenton ReStore. Designed the store and documented building-code updates for the former warehouse. It opened in January 2013, selling donated building materials and household goods to support Habitat's housing work.

January 6, 2017

Source: mrubina.com

Designed the conversion of an unused cooling tower into an Artworks Foundry residence for visiting artists while at Noll and Tam Architects. The project reinforced the structure, added a roof and stairs and reused the original redwood siding.

January 5, 2017

Source: mrubina.com

Designed a modular home on Mountain Avenue, installed on March 22, 2016, replacing a former Sears catalog house. Combined private rooms and shared space for a seven-person multigenerational household.

March 22, 2016

Source: mrubina.com

Earned master's degrees in architecture and structural engineering at UC Berkeley and taught an undergraduate structures course there. Worked with Berkeley architect Peter Brock, then as project architect for Richardson Smith. Converted Princeton Academy of the Sacred Heart's chapel into a library.

May 21, 2014

Source: princetoninfo.com

Received an AIA New Jersey design award for her Quarry Street house. Her architecture firm reported the award in a dated project-news update.

September 1, 2012

Source: mrubina.com

Designed a modular house on Quarry Street, installed on June 16, 2011. Factory fabrication took less than a month.

June 16, 2011

Source: mrubina.com