Planning group celebrates fifth anniversary
By: Marjorie Censer
Princeton Future celebrated its five-year anniversary and gave out awards to participants at a reception Sunday.
The nonprofit citizens’ organization that promotes holistic design, founded in 2000, recognized local officials and residents who have participated in the organization’s planning processes.
Leaders of Princeton Future said Sunday they are proud of the way the community has come together to work as one. Robert Geddes, co-founder of Princeton Future and former dean of Princeton University’s School of Architecture, said the group is an example of participatory democracy at work.
"I think it’s been an amazing model of listening to each other," Mr. Geddes told attendees.
The awards were divided into four categories: the downtown plan, downtown development, The Arts Council of Princeton and a final, special category.
Elyse Pivnick, Susanne Hand, Juliet Richardson and Princeton Borough Mayor Mildred Trotman were honored in the downtown plan category, while former borough Mayor Marvin Reed, the late Demos Bakoulis, Jack and the late Elaine Halberstadt and Polly Burlingham received awards for their work on downtown development.
Though Mr. Reed couldn’t attend, Princeton Future Co-Chairman Sheldon Sturges praised his willingness to listen to all sides.
"Marv is an extraordinary person in the way that he allows dissent and encourages it and works with it," Mr. Sturges said.
Princeton Future thanked university Vice President and Secretary Robert Durkee, Arts Council Board of Trustees President Wendy Mager, Willie Mae Tadlock and Nicholas Katzenbach for their leadership on the Arts Council planning discussions.
Ms. Tadlock, a Green Street resident, said she entered the discussion about the Arts Council’s proposed renovations angry, but she was glad to see the building size reduced. She said the Princeton Future process allowed her to speak for those who would have been affected by the large building, but didn’t attend meetings.
"The people who they were hurting didn’t come to the meetings," Ms. Tadlock said. "If I believe in something, then I’m going to fight for it."
Princeton Future co-founder Robert Goheen, Minnie and Eric Craig, Helmut Schwab and Arch Davis were recognized in the special category.
Charles and Christine St. John and Wanda and Robert Gunning were also given a special award for their commitment to Princeton Future. They attended virtually every meeting, Princeton Future representatives said.
Ms. Gunning, chairwoman of the Planning Board, said friends joke that she attends Princeton Future meetings because she goes into planning withdrawal on weekends.
"Princeton Future really has lived up to my expectations," she said. Instead of just saying, "Not in my backyard," the organization allows residents to say, "Yes, in my backyard, and let’s do it our way," she said.