West Windsor poised by buy old firehouse for $1

Mayor seeks conversion to community arts center.

By: Gwen Runkle
   WEST WINDSOR — The township may soon own the old Princeton Junction firehouse on Alexander Road — for the bargain price of just $1.
   On Monday, the Township Council introduced an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of the two-thirds-acre site from Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company No. 1.
   The township and fire company have been working out plans for the sale since the fire company moved into its new building on Clarksville Road in the fall of 2002.
   According to the ordinance, the township will purchase the firehouse for $1, allow for a plaque recognizing the history of the station to be erected on site and preserve the fire company’s name on the building.
   In addition, if the township were to sell the firehouse within five years from the date of transfer of ownership, a clause in the ordinance allows the fire company to share in the proceeds on a sliding scale.
   The fire company would receive 100 percent of the proceeds if sold in the first year, 80 percent in the second, 60 percent in the third, 40 percent in the fourth and 20 percent in the fifth.
   But, as Barbara Evans, township administrator, pointed out, "The township has no intention of selling the building."
   Mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh would like to see the firehouse converted into a community arts center for the township. The West Windsor Arts Council, a product of the mayor’s Arts Center Task Force, has even developed preliminary architectural plans for renovation of the firehouse.
   "But we don’t have an exact plan for what to do next," Ms. Evans said. "The township is not planning to expend any money to renovate yet. Assessments need to be made. We did receive a grant last year to improve the outside and streetscape of the firehouse, so we are talking about moving ahead with that, but that’s preliminary."
   The Township Council is keeping options open as well. The council has invited anyone with ideas for using the building to come out and speak at the public hearing for the sale ordinance on April 14.
   "We felt it was important to open it up to the community to see what they want to do," said Charles Morgan, council president.
   In related business Monday, the Township Council also reimbursed the Princeton Junction Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 $2,202 for utility and heating bills the company paid after vacating the old firehouse in October 2002.