To the Editor:

Thank you for the December 27 article “Town Sees Year of Change, Controversy, Progress” [December 27, page 1]. In it, the authors state “of all the contentious issues … the development of the former Tennent/Roberts/Whiteley (TRW) campus of Princeton Theological Seminary figures especially high.”

The destruction of the historic buildings on the Tennent/Roberts/Whitely campus and its redevelopment have been ongoing concerns for the surrounding neighborhood for the many years that we have been living in the shadow of an Area in Need of Redevelopment. We are now coming up on two years with construction fencing spread across the properties awaiting a collaborative process that was promised to us by the town in October 2021.

Since October 2021, we have been reaching out to Princeton Council after receiving an encouraging letter from the town’s attorney on their behalf. This letter was sent to a representative of the Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development (PCRD) and Jamie Herring. It states that the redevelopment of the TRW property “must be the result of a collaborative effort between the Contract Purchaser, the Coalition (Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development), the neighborhood, and the Property Owner (the Princeton Theological Seminary) as appropriate.” This has not yet occurred.

PCRD and TRW’s neighbors have relied on Council to make good on this promise and had let the neighbors know this part of the redevelopment process was pending. We still welcome and expect a collaborate effort which will lead to a “mutually acceptable plan.” Logically, this needs to take place prior to the steps outlined in the article (meetings of Council and the Planning Board, a public hearing, negotiation of a redevelopment agreement, and a regular site plan review). Let’s hope the new year starts with Council making good on their promise and initiating a collaborative process with PCRD, the neighbors, and Jamie Herring.

Karen O’Connell
Hibben Road