Take a wide view of Witherspoon Street sites

By: centraljersey.com
What town changes should we be watching for in 2011? As your article "Crystal Ball" (Dec. 31) correctly points out, "the redevelopment of Witherspoon Street will be in the spotlight this year." There are actually four major endeavors that should be the "talk of the town" on that one street: The redevelopment of 1) the Valley Road School building, 2) the community pool, 3) the hospital site, and 4) the properties recently purchased by Robert Hillier, FAIA.
As redevelopment progresses, we need to keep our eyes peeled to be sure that we are not just taking a magnifying glass to proposed changes to these separate locales, but are using a wider lens to envision how any design interventions will affect the Witherspoon Street neighborhood and Princeton overall.
Architects and planners are eagerly poised at their computers. Yet are designers, politicians and we ready, willing and able to address not just the aesthetic and functional needs of Princeton but our community’s social and emotional needs as well? Our track record is mixed.
For example, our new Princeton Public Library is a thoughtfully, comprehensively designed facility for a wide range of intergenerational and multicultural users. Such thoughtful planning also resulted in the adjacent Hinds Plaza, now a Witherspoon Street destination for people-watching, performances and pausing where there was previously dead space.
On the other hand, the modern addition to Princeton Public High School is at complete odds with this beautiful, historic Princeton landmark. Rather than send the message, "Welcome into our educational and community gathering place," its jarring exterior and insufficient streetscape make me want to avoid it.
Thus, when it comes to our educational and civic spaces on Witherspoon Street, let’s applaud the Princeton citizens who want us to thoughtfully consider changes to our historic, community-centered facilities such as the Valley Road School Building and the Princeton Community Pool. Let’s recognize that both Corner House and TV 30, for instance, play an invaluable educational role in our community. Rather than see these groups scramble for accommodations, let’s put our heads together to be sure that such non-profits, so much the heart and soul of Princeton, are housed in places that meet their needs and honor their amazing contribution.
At the hospital site, let’s think creatively. For instance, why not broker a partnership between developers of university-based retirement communities and Princeton University to create affordable, taxable senior housing (including housing for retired P.U. faculty and staff) with on-site community education facilities? The Hillier properties? Let’s be sure any development both preserves and invigorates Witherspoon Street’s diverse, affordable residential and retail mix while contributing to a streetscape that we can point to (and use!) with pride.
Toby Israel, Ph.D. Walnut Lane
Money spent on wars should be spent at home
To the editor:
There is probably no other country in the world that is more important than the United States, because there were many times over the years we gave aid to others.
The Russians even said the world needs the United States.
Right now the United States and the rest of the world are in an economic turmoil. With national debt that is sky high our country has to find ways, among other things, to reduce spending.
I question the wisdom of our last two presidents for starting and maintaining the two wars we are fighting overseas. Not only were the wars unpopular but the U.S. is supplying most of the men and equipment that is taxing our resources and at a time when we can’t afford it.
We started the war in Iraq because we thought they had weapons of mass destruction when it was not true. Another reason was the presence of terrorists when actually there weren’t much of a problem until we invaded the country and stirred them up.
Also, the U.S, failed to learn from history when in 1980 the Russians invaded Afghanistan and were unsuccessful after 12 years of fighting.
The money we are spending on the wars can be put to better use at home taking care of our financial problems which are in dire need of attention.
The people of the Mideast have lived and fought their way for thousands of years and I don’t think we should interfere.
John Pinelli Jr. Princeton