Petition Urges Princeton U. To Not Demolish Three Historic Homes

PRINCETON, NJ — Residents in Princeton have started a petition urging the university to reconsider its proposal to demolish three Victorian houses in Prospect Avenue as part of its East Campus development plan.

Princeton University plans to move the Court Clubhouse, which is currently across the street, to the site of the three nineteenth-century homes, located at 110, 114, and 116 Prospect Avenue.

The Court Clubhouse was formerly an eating club called Court Club and was operational between 1921 to 1964. The building is currently the Office of the Dean for Research.

Princeton University is seeking a variance from the planning board to move Court Clubhouse and that land would be used as part of the School of Engineering and Applied Science (SEAS).

According to the petition, the university’s plan would “intentionally” destroy the “three lovely Victorian houses.” The large building it proposes to build would “irreparably” harm the “Historic District and Prospect Avenue aesthetics and streetscape,” said the petition.

“But if they can move and save one large historic building, why can't they move or save three smaller ones — instead of destroying them?”

Petitioners said that “moving #91 to gain only another ½ acre... doesn't make sense,” because there is already a vacant lot at 111 Prospect avenue.

According to the petition, the university’s proposal “continues the trend of the University encroaching into residential neighborhoods with the demolition of longstanding houses and development of new academic buildings.”

In a memo dated May 18, Princeton municipal staff expressed concern about the university’s plans. The memo was presented to the site plan advisory committee and staff members suggested preserving the three Victorian homes, and including the current Court Clubhouse structure in the SEAS complex.

“Similarly, the row of eating clubs along Prospect Avenue are eligible for historic designation and will be impacted by the development,” the memo said.

The memo also said that the Princeton Community Masterplan, Historic Preservation Element recommends the designation of “Club Row Historic District” along prospect Avenue to “protect” and “preserve” the houses.

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

In the past, the university has demolished homes on Olden Street and Alexander Street for campus development, the petition noted.

The Special Historic Preservation Commission will be meeting on June 7 from 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. to discuss the university’s application.

A planning board hearing is scheduled for June 17, at 7:30 p.m.

“All of these historic structures contribute significantly to the fabric and character of Prospect Avenue and deserve proper preservation and protection, not denigration and destruction,” the petition said.

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