During construction of the new Princeton Public Library, a temporary facility would be located at the site of the present bookstore.
By: Jennifer Potash
The Princeton Public Library is expected to rent space at the Princeton Shopping Center while a new library is constructed, it was announced Tuesday.
The Library Board of Trustees unanimously authorized Library Assistant Director Eric Greenfeldt and Board President Harry Levine to enter into final negotiations with Dana Comfort, the owner of the Princeton Shopping Center, for a lease of the space currently occupied by a bargain bookstore.
Mr. Levine also informed the Borough Council of the plan Tuesday, before meeting with the governing body in closed session.
Under the proposed terms, the library would occupy at least 21,000 square feet, which includes ground-floor space and a downstairs, with an option to take up to 7,000 square feet of additional space at an increased rate.
"The space setup is ideal with an upstairs and a downstairs and separate areas for children and adults," Mr. Levine said. "It is plenty of room and even more room than we currently have (at the existing library)."
Also, the terms of the proposed agreement call for an 18-month lease ending in December 2003. The library would have until Sept. 30, 2001 to notify the shopping center if it intends to take the space.
There is the option to extend the lease for five three-month intervals, but the cost would increase, Mr. Levine said.
The trustees earlier targeted the Valley Road building, at Valley Road and Witherspoon Street in the township, as a possible location during the year-and-a-half construction period.
But, Mr. Levine said, the building was so decrepit that the necessary improvements would exceed the library’s budget for temporary space, Mr. Levine said.
The Hillier Group, the project architect, had estimated the cost of preparing the Valley Road building to serve as a temporary library at between $500,000 and $750,000, Mr. Greenfeldt said.
The cost of the improvements at the shopping center – some floor covering and lighting – and the rent come to about $200,000 less, Mr. Levine said.
Unlike the Valley Road location, which did not provide enough parking, the shopping center has plenty of spaces, Mr. Levine said.
The arrangement is mutually beneficial to both parties, he said.
"It will bring 1,300 library patrons a day to the Princeton Shopping Center," he said.
A key goal for the temporary location was finding a space that would have the least impact on the quality of library services, Mr. Greenfeldt said.
The Valley Road building would provide only 17,000 square feet of space, which would "result in a major compromise in our services," he said.
The library will have the option of maintaining the existing caféin the building – a similar space has been suggested for inclusion in the proposed new building.
"It will be a good test," Mr. Levine said.
One possible hurdle to the deal involves the approval of Rite Aid, the parent company of the former tenant, Encore Books & Music.
The book store, which closed in 1999, defaulted on its lease, Mr. Levine said.
"Rite Aid is continuing to pay the shopping center under its guarantee of providing the long-term lease obligation, " Mr. Levine said. "Therefore our occupancy would require approval by Rite Aid."
The current tenant, Bargain Books & Music, has a month-to-month lease, Mr. Levine said.
Mr. Levine praised the shopping center for its flexibility and interest in the project.
"Princeton Shopping Center has been very cooperative and understanding of our needs," he said.
The proposed agreement contains a provision the library doesn’t expect to use but wanted the flexibly to use – a 10-year commitment to the space at the end of the lease, Mr. Levine said.
"We have no intention of exercising that option," he said.
Princeton Borough Mayor Reed said he hopes not.
"We’ve already spent $800,000 on architectural plans and we’re not throwing them away," Mayor Reed said.
Mr. Levine said he hoped to have the negotiations concluded and a lease ready for the trustees’ approval at their next meeting, Nov. 28.
Also, the projected $17.5 million cost for the new library appears fixed, he said.
"It hasn’t varied one iota," Mr. Levine said.
In addition, Princeton University, which pledged $250,000 for the library project, has increased its donation by 20 percent to $300,000, Mr. Levine said.