A vote to approve an ordinance that would allow Princeton to purchase a property in the Witherspoon/Jackson neighborhood and expand the adjacent Mary Moss Park was tabled by Council Monday night, following a round of objections from neighborhood residents and historic preservation advocates.

The property at the corner of Lytle and John streets is next to the small park, which has a wading pool that is said to be deteriorating and unsafe. Under the proposal, the town would appropriate $600,000 from the Princeton Open Space Trust Fund to purchase the plot from R.B. Homes, and tear down the existing house on the property to make room for a “spray ground” for children.

At a press conference earlier in the day, Mayor Liz Lempert expressed enthusiasm about the proposal, which has been under consideration for over a year. But opponents of the idea, some of whom had just attended a meeting of the town’s Historic Preservation Commission (HPC), were quick to express their concerns at the evening meeting. The HPC had just passed a resolution recommending to Council that they purchase the land but not tear down the house, which was built in 1870 and is “really just a classic of that period,” said Princeton resident John Heilner during the public comment period. “If you tear it down, you will actually be destroying a significant piece of history.”

Several opposed to the demolition said they would like to see the house saved and turned into two units of affordable housing. “Purchase the property but do not tear the house down to expand Mary Moss Park,” said Hendricks Davis, who lives across the street. “There is a tremendous need for affordable housing in this community, and not just in our neighborhood.” His sentiments were echoed by former Mayor Jim Floyd, Princeton resident Kip Cherry, and others.

Some Council members had reservations. “I will say that spending $600,000 plus the cost of rehabilitation is a lot to pay for two units of affordable housing,” said Council president Bernie Miller. Councilwoman Jenny Crumiller said it was unlikely that the house could be turned into affordable housing. “I support the idea of the park but I am taken aback by the comments tonight,” she said. “I would want to table this to have discussions with the neighbors.”

Councilman Lance Liverman said he is in favor of the plan to tear the house down and build a spray park. “This house was going to be torn down before we got involved,” he said. “We felt that for the good of the community, this would be a park where children and families could go. I don’t think this program has to say we don’t support affordable housing. We do support it. This park would be an asset to the community. I’m for this project.”

Councilwoman Jo Butler, who is the liaison to the HPC, said using the building for affordable housing is only one option. Mayor Lempert commented that the Witherspoon/Jackson area is one of the town’s densest neighborhoods, and the spray park would provide a service for a lot of children.

R.B. Homes has filed for demolition permits with the town, said Municipal Engineer Bob Kiser. “We would have no reason to deny them,” he said, because all of the requirements have been met. The owner could raze the house and build something in its place if the town decides not to purchase the property, a possibility that worried people at the meeting.

The matter will be taken up again at the next Council meeting on March 23.

Council also heard an update on the 2015 budget, which is on track to be introduced at the next meeting. The budget currently totals approximately $60.9 million, Princeton Administrator Marc Dashield said. That figure represents a rise from $59.2 last year, which Mr. Dashield attributed to a new trash removal contract, health and liability insurance, and higher capital debt, salary, and wages.

A discussion of signage in town, which has been under consideration by the code review committee working on harmonizing ordinances of the former Borough and Township, drew comments from merchants and residents. Ms. Crumiller, a member of the committee, said that while changes to permanent signs were not being proposed, temporary signage was another matter. The issue will be raised at a meeting of the Princeton Merchants Association before recommendations are made.