Princeton’s Prospect Avenue Plan Discussion Postponed By 2 Months

PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton Planning Board has postponed further discussion on the controversial Prospect Avenue plan until September 23.

At the board meeting held Thursday, July 8, members decided to continue with the discussion in September and dedicate the entire meeting to application.

Princeton University plans to move the Court Clubhouse, a former eating club currently on 91 Prospect Avenue, across the street to the site of the three nineteenth-century homes. The Court Clubhouse land will then be used as part of the Environmental Science (ES) and School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS).

But the University’s plan has met strong opposition from residents who are against the demolition of the three nineteenth-century homes. According to residents, "many luminaries" lived in the homes the University plans to raze.

Attorney Christopher DeGrezi, who represents the University said the two-month gap was a “big gap,” said asked if the board could find an earlier date. But the board said there were other proposals it needs to consider on other dates. “A two-month pause, where you’re right at the very end, is pretty tough,” said DeGrezi.

“These are significant delays,” said Ronald McCoy, University architect. “We submitted this project almost a year ago. This is not a concept design; we are holding up the construction.”

Municipal Planning Director Michael La Place said that while he understands the frustration of the University, “the whole east campus development is multiple components.”

“I’m really proud of not only municipal staff but this volunteer board, for the time it’s put in to hear all the multiple components of the plan,” La Place said. “Ron needs to be fair. We’ve really worked hard to accommodate the University.”

Councilmember Mia Sacks shot back at McCoy’s comment saying the municipality operates on a shoestring budget and does not have the “resources that the University has.”

“The amount of time that has been spent on University applications in the past year supersedes everything else, including our affordable housing applications,” said Sacks.

At the public comment section of the meeting, more residents expressed concern over the University’s plans.

“For me, the public detriments far outweigh any public benefits. This is exactly the opposite of what the municipal land-use laws require,” said John Heilner, a resident and alumnus of the university. “Only one party, the University, benefits. They can derive the same benefits from any number of alternative plans.”

The Court Clubhouse is currently listed on the National and New Jersey Register of Historic Places.

Read More Here: Princeton U. Defends Prospect Avenue Plan As Resistance Mounts

However, the University has maintained that the structures it plans to raze are not in a "historic district." "It is important to note that the structures at 110-116 Prospect are not in any historic district," Michael Hotchkiss, a university spokesperson had told Patch earlier.

More than 120 people logged into Thursday’s meeting.

In early June, the township's Historic Preservation Committee said they cannot approve the University's plan. Following that, at the planning board meeting held on June 17, the University said it would have to demolish the structure on 91 Prospect Avenue if the plan was not approved.

Read More Here: Princeton U. Prospect Ave Plan Not Endorsed At Special Meeting

"If the application is approved, 91 Prospect will have a new home, if it's not approved 91 Prospect will be demolished — which will be unfortunate because the University has gone through great lengths to try to save it," DeGrezia had said.

Read More Here: Princeton U. Says Will Demolish 91 Prospect If Plan Not Approved

Since the University’s application came up for hearing, not only have residents opposed the plan but petitions too were circulated to stop the demolition of the homes.

The Princeton Prospect Foundation also put together a 19-page presentation on the University's proposal and has argued against moving Court Clubhouse across the street. More recently, a group of Princeton residents came together to form a coalition to advocate for "responsible development. The Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development was formed after a spate of redevelopment projects were met with resistance from residents, most notably the University's Prospect Avenue plan.

Read More Here: Princeton Residents Form Coalition For Responsible Development

Planning board members said they will dedicate the Sep. 23 meeting to discussing the University’s application in the hope of coming to a resolution.

Thank you for reading. Have a correction or news tip? Email sarah.salvadore@patch.com

Get breaking news alerts on your phone with our app. Download here. Sign up to get Patch emails so you don't miss out on local and statewide news.