Volume LXXVII, Number 4
James Steward to Deliver Talk on PU Art Museum Project . . . 5 Many Princetonians Cheer Governor’s Proposal to Expand Liquor Licenses . . . . . 8 Princeton Schools Are Out in Front on Media Literacy Bill . . . . . . . 10 PU Men’s Swimming Star Khosla Primed to Go Out with a Bang in Ivies, NCAAs . . . . . . . 23 Winters Helps PHS Girls’ Hoops Top HoVal as Kosa Gets 300th Win . . . . . 26
Listening to Both Sides of Jeff Beck (1944-2023) . . . . . 13 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . 16-17 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 20 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 32 Interior Inspirations . . 18-19 New & Noteworthy. . . . 2-3 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 21 Obituaries . . . . . . . 30-31 Performing Arts . . . 14-15 Police Blotter . . . . . . . 10 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 32 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Town Council Approves Overlay Zone for Witherspoon-Jackson Princeton Council passed two ordinances at its Monday night meeting. One lowers speed limits on Witherspoon Street and John Street to 25 miles per hour; the other approves creation of a new affordable housing overlay zone along portions of Witherspoon Street. Before those actions were considered, several members of the Princeton Police Department were sworn in, in front of numerous family members and colleagues. Chief Jon Bucchere and Mayor Mark Freda presided, swearing in four new officers and promoting four others to new positions. Sergeant Tom Lagomarsino is now police lieutenant. Corporal Don Mathews is now police sergeant. Patrol Officer Darwin Kieffer and Detective Eric Dawson were named police corporals. The ordinance related to the affordable housing overlay zone was approved following several comments, some in favor and some not, by members of the community. Housing overlay zones are added layers on top of existing zoning ordinances that provide incentives for developers to build housing, particularly affordable housing, within specific districts. Maria Juega spoke in support of the action, but expressed concerns about a possible negative impact to residents of properties along Witherspoon Street who could be displaced. “It inevitably raises the specter of urban renewal projects which are well intentioned but result in displacement of low-income ethnic minority populations,” she said. Her concerns were echoed by Veronica Olivares, of the town’s Human Services Commission. “The neighbors have no idea this is happening,” she said. “I’d like Council to consider a plan to have additional conversations with the developers, and also have talks with residents, with a Spanish interpreter.” Resident Michael Floyd said he was worried about the 45foot height allowance, urging Council to cap it at 35 feet. Architect and resident Joshua Zinder applauded Council for the proposal. “This is a creative plan to improve our affordable housing situation and community landscape,” he said. “I would encourage endorsement.” Ingrid Reed, a policy analyst who lives in Montgomery Township but was a Princeton resident for many years, spoke in support, Continued on Page 10
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Wednesday, January 25, 2023
Development Along Route 1 is Far-Reaching A lawsuit seeking to reverse approval for the Bridge Point 8 project, a 5.5 million-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in West Windsor Township, was recently filed in Mercer County Superior Court by two Township residents. The suit against the Township, its Planning Board, the developer, and the owner of the 539-acre property has focused much attention on the massive project bordered by Quakerbridge Road, the Northeast Corridor train tracks, and Route 1. But the Bridge Point 8 development is only one of several construction projects currently underway, or awaiting final approval, along the highway. From Princeton University’s 107-acre Lake Campus in West Windsor to the site of the demolished Sleepy Hollow Motel in Lawrence Township, there is activity up and down the heavily traveled thoroughfare. Hotels, convenience stores, retail stores, condominiums, and apartments are among the projects listed on West Windsor Township’s website and confirmed by the Township’s Land Use Manager Sam Surtees. Plans for the Lake Campus at Route 1 and Plainsboro Road, the University’s first
development in West Windsor, include housing for graduate and post-doctoral students, a racquet center with a fitness space, a softball stadium, rugby fields, a cross-country course, a central utility building, and a parking garage with more than 600 spaces. Construction is ongoing and a completion date has not been announced. Further south on the southeast corner of Route 1 and Washington Road is the Penn’s Neck Plaza, a 33,000-square-foot
retail center projected to have a gas station with a convenience store to be decided, a drive-through restaurant or possible urgent care center, and other establishments. The project will go in front of the Planning Board soon, Surtees said. A former farm field next to the headquarters of NRG at Carnegie Center West is to be a Korman Suites extended stay hotel, recently approved by the Township’s Planning Board. Ground is scheduled to be broken this summer. Across from the Continued on Page 11
Town Wins $552K Climate Solutions Grant To Fund Community Park North Project
Princeton will be receiving $552,000, one of the state’s first Natural Climate Solutions (NCS) grants, to be used for the ecological restoration of 40 acres at Community Park North. Wendy Mager, president of the Friends of Princeton Open Space (FOPOS), which collaborated with the Municipality of Princeton in applying for the grant, explained why the award is so important. “It demonstrates that Princeton is recognizing and acting on the fact that open space, which
happily we have a substantial amount of, doesn’t just take care of itself,” she said. “It has to be taken care of.” She continued, “That’s particularly true because the impacts of invasive species and deer have made it difficult or impossible for forests and other open spaces to naturally regenerate, and this area in Community Park North is a dramatic illustration of that. There are big open areas where the forest canopy is gone because of natural events like wind storms. Continued on Page 9
CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES: Work is progressing at the new Graduate Hotel at Nassau and Chambers streets, which is projected to open in May 2024. It is one of several construc tion projects underway in the area. (Photo by Charles R. Plohn)