No Outcome As Princeton Prospect Ave. Plan Discussion Continues

PRINCETON, NJ – After a four-hour-long discussion, Princeton University’s Prospect Avenue Plan faced yet another stalemate, as the Planning Board did not reach a decision and proposed to continue the debate on Oct. 21.

Thursday evening’s meeting was attended by over 100 residents and around 45 panelists. Save Prospect Coalition made a presentation of an alternative approach to the University’s plan. Their proposal included moving 91 Prospect around 30 feet east to create a wider road into the new ES-SEAS complex, while also allowing the University to add the Theorists Pavilion. This would save the three Victorian homes from demolition.

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).

The second option included keeping Court Clubhouse in place and then adding the Theorist Pavilion to the south side of Prospect Avenue.

“This would be beneficial to the public because the three historic buildings would stay in place, Court Club would stay in place and the University could still have a new building,” said Clifford Zink, architectural historian, who present the plan on behalf of Save Prospect Coalition.

Zink noted various benefits to the plans he presented including reduced costs of relocation and Prospect Avenue remaining largely intact.

However, Christopher DeGrezia, the attorney representing the University, said the institution evaluated the alternative plans but it doesn’t work. He said the designs presented by Save Prospect Coalition do not meet the University’s programmatic needs.

Meanwhile, residents were vocal about their disapproval of the University’s plan.

Alan Medvin, a resident of Princeton since Aug. 1955, said Prospect Avenue was always “special” as it defined the community “in terms of character and beauty.”

The resident said the attitude of the University was distressing. “In this case not only is our university an 800-pound gorilla, they are a bully. They don’t come to negotiate, they come to threaten. Grant this application they say, or we’ll bring in our bulldozers and tear down the Court Club,” said Medvin who served as head coach of Princeton University Mock Trail team.

In June, DeGrezia had said if the application was not approved, the University would have to demolish the structure on 91 Prospect Avenue.

“They are bullying the Planning Board because they can. I suggest that it’s time to stand up to the University and just say no.”

Ronald McCoy, University architect said the University embraces its responsibility as stewards of historic resources. “But historic preservation is also about managing change,” he said. “Successful and beautiful towns, cities, and campuses have managed to work through change in a partnership between creative, civic-minded individuals, organized community groups, institutions, and developers working in balance with zoning regulations and historic districts.”

McCoy said the University has relooked at its plans and determined that the building 116 Prospect Avenue can be saved and rehabilitated. “We believe it’s a meaningful opportunity, it’s very much in the spirit of compromise. It shows that we are listening and continuing to work for solutions.” He said the University’s current plan provides the opportunity to save two of the four buildings.

The Planning Board hopes to make a final decision on the matter during the Oct. 21 meeting.

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