Volume LXXVIII, Number 30
Thomas George Exhibition, Sale at Arts Council. . . . . . . . . 5 “Table Talk Histories” Previews Changes at Washington Crossing Park . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Princeton Student Film Festival Coming To PPL . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Hemingway at 125 — Don’t Give Up and Don’t Forget to Dance . . . . . 11 NJ Symphony Showcases Rising Composers In Cone Concert . . . . . 12 Exceeding Expectations in Move to Women’s Pro Soccer, Former PU Star Curry Making Impact for Angel City . . . . . . . . . 20 Producing Superb Final Season for Williams Men’s Lax, PDS Alum Caputo Enjoyed Some Highlight Moments . . . . . . . . . . 22
Former PU Star Reelick Rowing for U.S. Women’s 4 at Paris Games . . . . 19 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 17 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 18 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . 25 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Performing Arts . . . . . 13 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 25 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Summer Bites . . . . . 14, 15 Topics of the Town . . . . 5 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . 6
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Meadows Neighborhood On Washington Road In Full Swing This Fall Almost three years since groundbreaking and many more years in the planning, Princeton University’s Meadows Neighborhood on Washington Road is ready to welcome a full complement of graduate students, athletics teams, and more this fall. “The Meadows Neighborhood will provide a place that is experienced as a natural, yet distinctive extension of the existing campus,” wrote Associate Vice President for Capital Projects Dozie Ibeh. “The initial projects encourage a lively community of living and learning.” Construction is complete at the Meadows Apartments, with 379 new housing units for graduate students. Students began moving in in late April and full occupancy is expected by the fall semester. With the new apartments the University can house many more graduate students and also offer “a number of features that enhance the residential experience and contribute to building a sense of community,” according to Dorian Johnson, executive director of housing and real estate services. The apartments are equipped with inunit laundry services, study rooms, community spaces, a children’s playroom, a retail cafe, outdoor green space, covered bike racks and an indoor bike room, barbecue grills, and the Racquet and Recreation Center, to be completed this fall. It will be the new home of the University squash and tennis teams and will include indoor courts, locker rooms, coaches’ offices, sports medicine facilities, and a fitness center. Also slated for completion in the fall semester are the softball stadium, Haaga House (home of the varsity women’s rugby team and the men’s rugby club), and adjacent rugby fields. A second phase of roads, pathways, landscaping, and infrastructure is also expected to be completed in the coming months. “The site placement of buildings on Meadows has been optimized to reduce the overall development footprint and create a walkable campus,” Ibeh wrote. ”Roads are designed as ‘complete streets,’ with facilities shared between cars, bicycles, pedestrians, and generous landscaping and green infrastructure elements.” Meadows Apartments residents and Continued on Page 9
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Wednesday, July 24, 2024
Council Votes in Favor of Seminary Apartment Project Following a public hearing Monday evening, Princeton Council voted to adopt a redevelopment plan for properties at Princeton Theological Seminary (PTS) that includes a 238-unit apartment complex on Stockton Street at Hibben Road. The unanimous vote came after comments from numerous residents of the surrounding neighborhood and other areas of Princeton. Most spoke in opposition to the plan, while some others expressed support. The Council meeting came a few days after the Planning Board reviewed the plan and voted that it was consistent with the town’s Master Plan. Many of the same people who attended the Planning Board meeting turned out at the public hearing to express their concerns, urging Council to delay its decision. The contract purchaser for the property, Jamie Herring of Herring Properties, would designate 48 of the apartments affordable. Neighbors who are part of the group called the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development (PCRD) have stressed that they are not opposed to affordable housing. Their concerns, they said, are about density, stormwater, traffic, tree removal, and sensitivity to the historic fabric of the neighborhood — many of which were addressed by members of Council before the vote was taken.
The issue dates back six years, to when PTS first announced plans to build 105 student apartments at the location, known as the Tennent-Roberts-Whiteley Campus. Following meetings with residents, the project was scrapped and PTS entered into a contract with Herring. Among the speakers at the public hearing was Robert Simon, an attorney with Herold Law in Warren. Simon said he had filed a “protest petition” on behalf of PCRD earlier in the day against Council.
Such an action is “very serious,” Simon said, but “in turn, provides an opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue, not just three-minute comments.” [Council allows speakers three minutes at public hearings]. Last January, PCRD filed a suit against the Planning Board, Mayor Mark Freda, and Council for work on the Master Plan. The charges against the mayor and Council were dismissed by Superior Court Judge Robert T. Lougy. Some of those who spoke complained Continued on Page 9
Three New Candidates Set to Run for BOE; Betsy Baglio Will Step Down After Nine Years
Amidst recent upheavals on the national political scene, Princeton has its own election excitement coming up in the local race for positions on the Princeton Public Schools (PPS) Board of Education (BOE). With the filing deadline for the November election just a few days away, the campaign for three spots on the BOE has three new candidates in the race, two incumbents stepping down at the end of the year, and a third incumbent not available for comment. Betsy Baglio, BOE member for the past nine years, wrote in a July 22 email to Town Topics that she would not be
running for a fourth term. “While I look forward to seeking other opportunities after completing my Board service at the end of this calendar year, I will always remain committed to the success of the Princeton Public Schools as a parent, community member, and educator,” she said. “I will continue to advocate for the well-being and achievement of PPS students (Including equitable access to all opportunities) and support our dedicated faculty and staff.” Two -term BOE member Brian McDonald announced in January of this Continued on Page 9
MUSIC ON THE GREEN: Ess Gees performed last Saturday in Palmer Square’s Summer Music Series, which continues on Saturdays from 12 to 2 p.m. through September 21. (Photo by Sarah Teo)