To the Editor:

Many residents and visitors enjoy Princeton’s downtown. Its many attractive, older buildings give it a unique quality. Now, however, some new plans for large, multi-storied buildings have come to light which may significantly change the architectural character and bring increased traffic to the downtown. These include a new, multi-storied building on the current parking lot at Witherspoon and Hulfish, a proposal to demolish historic 71-74 Witherspoon which currently houses Terra Momo Bread Company and A Little Taste of Cuba and replace it with a multi-storied/use building, as well as approved plans to convert the existing office/retail building on Chambers Street to a new hotel.

But have residents been afforded an opportunity to weigh in on these plans for dramatic change? Will current parking be adequate to serve the needs of these new buildings? Will the small-town character of the downtown area be altered? How will the proposed demolition of the current building at 71-74 Witherspoon and its replacement alter the character of Witherspoon on the Paul Robeson end? Will these changes bring an urban “corridor” feel to the neighborhood, blocking out the sky, light, and views? Will they change the sense of a preserved village, changing what many consider to be the best of Princeton?

Are other solutions possible, or has the Planning Board, Princeton Council, and Historical Society given these changes the green light? Is there time for residents to question the character-altering scale of these changes? Should some sort of “cultural landmarking” be considered before these changes to the look, feel, and traffic are adopted?

We hope that the government will offer the chance for more citizens to weigh in before some downtown sections are unfortunately changed.

Huck Fairman
Mount Lucas Road

Janet Robertson
Moore Street