Closing and reopening could occur a week later than current plan.
By: Jennifer Potash
The Princeton Public Library may revise its dates for closing its temporary location and opening the new downtown facility.
The library’s trustees are expected to review a proposal tonight that would have the facility close and re-open a week later than current plans, which call for the library to close this Sunday and open on or around April 1.
The library’s Web site now says the library will close at its Princeton Shopping Center location 6 p.m., Sunday, March 28.
Under this plan, the library will open on April 8.
The library is awaiting its temporary certificate of occupancy, which the Princeton Borough engineer is expected to grant on March 26, Library Director Leslie Burger said Monday.
"Without it, we can’t safely have our staff or our movers in the building," Ms. Burger said.
The lease with the Princeton Shopping Center ends April 30.
The library’s books and other materials will be moved the first week and the staff will then move into the $18 million facility.
If the extra time is required, it is not likely to exceed the library’s project budget.
In January, the library’s board of trustees approved a revised agreement with the project contractor Turner Construction. Under the agreement, Turner would receive a $25,000 extra payment if the work were completed by today, March 16. The contractor will incur penalties if the building is turned over after April 8.
The incentive payment will not exceed the library’s budget for the project.
As a way to welcome the community to the new state-of-the-art building, the library plans a grand-opening party on Saturday, May 15.
The library originally anticipated a December 2003 opening but a survey error resulted in the installation of footing 6 inches lower than called for in design plans and the opening date was set back to February of this year. Construction then suffered from harsh winter weather that forced the library to push back the opening date again.