Princeton Future Changes Gears Searches for 'The Next Big Thing'

Matthew Hersh

Princeton Future, a community-based organization that has played an active role in downtown redevelopment, has begun to look outside the downtown to initiate dialogue regarding the direction of the entire community.

With several large-scale projects now unofficially on-track for completion, including the Borough garage, luxury housing in Palmer Square, and, most recently, an expanded facility to house the Arts Council, Princeton Future needs to look at the community from a greater perspective "once again," said co-Chair Michael Mostoller.

"I think we need to recognize a series of positive events," he added, making indirect references to those projects nearing fruition. "but we [also] need to take a step back and look again."

Mr. Mostoller said that since the community is growing at a relatively accelerated pace, both Princeton municipalities need to prepare to have a holistic response to "the next big thing."

He made specific references to the possibility of the hospital relocation and the advent of an intra-community shuttle system.

Interestingly, Mr. Mostoller juxtaposed the make-up of Princeton Township and Borough to that of Venice, Italy, and Irvine, Calif., suggesting that Princeton falls somewhere in between these communities in accessibility to those who do not drive: "Venice is nothing but proximity, Irvine is nothing but mobility, and Princeton is somewhere in between."

Mr. Mostoller said while several points in the community are accessible via walking and bicycling, others are reachable only through driving. Noting that Princeton's location in central New Jersey lends itself to a significant amount of through traffic, he called the often-used "bypass" Route 206 between Route 287 and I-95 the "Mobile to Montreal" short-cut.

However, Mr. Mostoller used this type of connection between communities as a way to look at connecting corridors within the Princeton community. Former Township Mayor and Princeton Future steering committee member James Floyd expanded on this by stressing that those travelling through Princeton cannot get to one part of town without travelling through another.

Mr. Mostoller supported Mr. Floyd's sentiments.

"We have created a cars-only community environment, [we should] think of [pedestrian] links within the community," he said. "What if we were to establish an intra-community walkway?"

About 40 residents with similar beliefs attended the meeting. Several expressed their beliefs regarding the need for increased pedestrian accessibility. Pam Hersh, Borough resident and Director of Community and State Affairs at Princeton University, said that the University has made efforts to move toward a more pedestrian-oriented environment by tying the campuses together through the P-Rides jitney system and parking accessibility.

"Good offsite parking and great public transportation is the only [way to] a solution," she said.

Wanda Gunning, chairperson of the Princeton Regional Planning Board also expressed the importance of a "walkable" community through an indictment of the increased car traffic in town.

"Let me point out that one of the things that determines the time that it takes to walk somewhere in town is the traffic," she said.

However, Ms. Gunning's Planning Board colleague Gail Ullman said that better traffic planning would improve walking conditions, not necessarily fewer automobiles.

"I like getting in my car," she said. She added that the presence of cars along the major corridors offers a sense of "security" to pedestrians and that while there is the convenience of walking through the downtown, a car is sometimes necessary to get from one point of town to the other.

Ms. Ullman also urged residents to recognize the pedestrian resource provided by the Princeton campus.

"The University is a far more usable [piece] of open space than any of us have ever realized," she said.

Hospital's Change?

Princeton Future co-Chair Sheldon Sturges read a letter submitted by Princeton HealthCare System President and CEO Barry Rabner essentially affirming the importance of the hospital to the community. While his letter acknowledged that residents and planners both need to know if the hospital is to stay or go to think about a Princeton of the future, he did not specifically say what the hospital's ultimate decision would be.

Mr. Rabner's letter partially read: "Since I spoke before the Princeton Future in May, we have not finalized a strategic plan or made a decision regarding the future of the hospital, which seems to be a key question for many people. I can assure you that work has been done to collect and analyze relevant information on these topics. We will keep you posted."

The letter went on to read: "There will be open public meetings in which we will present all that we know to the public."

Mr. Rabner also made reference to the joint municipal community task force that is in the works between the Township and Borough, and how it will play a role in the hospital's final decision.

Princeton Future's Mr. Floyd continued his support for Mr. Rabner and for the hospital, saying Mr. Rabner's ultimate decision will depend on what is best for the hospital and for the community.

"You've got to allow [the hospital] to make a business decision," he said. "When 75 percent of the patients are from out of Princeton, you don't have the right to tell [the hospital] they can't move."

"You're not gonna make it in that spot with the medical center," Mr. Floyd added.