The two governing bodies still face resolving a number of issues.
By: Jennifer Potash
More thorough designs for a new Princeton Public Library drew praise this week from the Princeton Borough Council and Princeton Township Committee, but a number of issues remain until the two governing bodies can sign off on the project.
The Library Board of Trustees presented a progress report on the library expansion Thursday at Borough Hall. The trustees had hoped to present the two governing bodies with a completed phase-one report, but the end-of-June deadline was too optimistic, said board Chairman Harry Levine.
"If we are going to do this, we need to do it right and incorporate all the feedback of the trustees and governing body members," he said.
The report should be finished in about three weeks and the two governing bodies plan to meet July 31 to review it. At that meeting, the key issues will be reaching an agreement with Public Service Electric & Gas Co. for clean up of the contamination on the library site and Park & Shop lot; the library’s ability to raise $11 million of the total estimated $17.5 million cost; and library parking.
The finance committees of both municipalities are scheduled to meet July 5 to discuss the two offers from PSE&G to clean up the site.
The two municipalities agreed in April to approve the 2000 library expansion budget request of $551,000 for the architectural fees for building, design and construction drawings. The money will not be authorized until the two governing bodies receive and approve a report on the "B.1 plan" for a new, three-story building on the existing library site from The Hillier Group, the project architects.
A similar update by Hillier and from project consultant Urbitran/Ramp Associates of New York was made to the Library Board of Trustees at the group’s monthly meeting on Tuesday.
But there are problems with the parking design, and Mr. Levine did not want to present it to the two governing bodies. He said a revised plan would be present next month.
Brian Bartholomew, the parking consultant for Urbitran/Ramp, did tell the trustees that, in his professional opinion and from looking at borough data, he believes the borough "is going to need structured parking at that location sometime soon."
Hillier also presented a more refined cost of the project – a range of $16.4 million to $18.6 million, using $17. 5 million as the midpoint.
That cost range does not include what Public Service Electric & Gas would pay to demolish the existing library and put in the footings for the new building, Mr. Levine said.
Borough Council President Roger Martindell asked if the library’s increased cost over the $12 million estimated in 1994 meant that the two governing bodies were expected to contribute more than the $6 million agreed to then.
Mr. Levine said no, the library would turn to private donors for the rest.
Given the other cultural projects seeking private donations, such as The Arts Council of Princeton expansion plan and the community-based drive to preserve open space, Mr. Martindell questioned if the community can afford a $17.5 million library.
Mr. Levine replied that a $17.5 million library in 2001 dollars-when the library would be built-is essentially the same library that would have been built for $12 million in 1994.
"I know (the private sector) is not a bottomless well, and some projects will have to be delayed, but I do not believe the library is one of them," he said.
The presentations also delved into the changes made to the interior of the proposed library. The exterior designs are slated to be presented at the July 31 meeting.
While the exterior of the building is being developed, the architects are planning to have more windows on the Witherspoon Street and Wiggins Street sides of the building to foster a more open and inviting feeling, said Luis Vildostegui, an architect for the project.
"We don’t want this building to turn its back on the John-Witherspoon neighborhood," said Mr. Vildostegui.
That concept drew praise from Planning Board member Yina Moore, who called it "very original."
Located on the first floor are all the audio and video collections, new book displays, adult-fiction books, as well as a community room and space that could be used for a cafe or gift shop.
The second floor, the more quiet and studious floor, has the reference collection and adult nonfiction and small meeting rooms.
The children’s collection, young adult collection and library administration would be located on the third floor.
Calling the proposed library design "very exciting," Princeton Township Committee member Bill Enslin said the plan reminded him of Lincoln Center in New York. He did ask that the architects make sure the new building fits the character of the downtown.
Also, Mr. Levine said he hopes to have an agreement prepared with the Princeton Regional School Board over the use of the Valley Road building during the new library’s 16-month construction.