By Greg Forester, Staff Writer
A local developer is working with Princeton Borough merchants to provide generators for Spring Street businesses that face a shutdown of electric current some time next week, after a proposed Monday shutdown was delayed due to rain.
The generators, to be provided by Jack Morrison, the developer of a 75,000-square-foot mixed-use project at the old Tulane Street parking lot, will allow businesses to power lights, cash registers, and other “basic stuff so they can remain open,” said Princeton Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi.
”Jack’s just trying to come up with something that will minimize the impact,” said Mr. Bruschi, who confirmed the shutdown had been pushed back to “some time after Easter.”
The shutdown of current is necessary due to safety regulations that prohibit the operation of a crane at the construction site within 10 feet of electrified, overhead power lines, borough officials said last week.
Work to place the lines underground remains incomplete.
Powering the Spring Street businesses will require many generators, Mr. Bruschi said, to be allocated based on “kilowatt needs.”
Armida Bella, manager of the Spring Street hair salon Chelsea Crimpers, said Wednesday workers had already begun making their rounds to inspect how businesses could accommodate generators during the shutdown.
Ms. Bella said merchants welcomed the idea of staying open after they fully expected to be closed for business Monday, until the inclement weather earlier this week prevented the shutdown.
We’re just happy they “didn’t do it this week because it’s Easter,” Ms. Bella said.
When finished, the Tulane Street development will house 56 apartments along with a first-floor, 4,000-square-foot grocery store.
A Wednesday, April 15, shutdown would see a morning powering down of businesses, according to an employee of Mr. Morrison’s JM Group.
The generators would power the businesses from the early morning hours into the afternoon.
