Instead of expanding at present site, a new structure at Village Center considered.
By: Gwen McNamara
PLAINSBORO Plans to expand the Plainsboro Public Library have been put on hold to explore the possibility of building a brand new facility in the township’s Village Center, municipal officials say.
The Village Center, a mixed-use development to be located on 15 acres between Schalks Crossing Road and the Queenship of Mary Roman Catholic Church on Dey Road, is currently under construction.
"We haven’t really determined anything yet," said Mayor Peter Cantu. "But we’ve put on hold plans to redesign and expand the library at its current location and are moving to carefully evaluate the possibility of putting in a new facility at the Village Center."
One of the main reasons the change is being considered is that moving the library to a new site could prove to be more cost-effective, the mayor said.
"As we looked at projected costs for expanding the library, it would seem more prudent to just build a new facility," Mayor Cantu said. "Costs for changes within the site, like reworking the (Municipal Center’s) roads, installing new landscaping, paving for more parking, all add up."
In addition, he pointed out that if the library wanted to remain open during the expansion, it would likely have to relocate to a new building and pay rent.
The idea to include the library in the Village Center came from Michael LaPlace, the township’s director of community development, he added.
"We’ve always anticipated allocating space in the center for some kind of municipal or civic use," the mayor said. "We initially wanted it to be for a recreational facility, like the YMCA, but those plans have not been panning out. That’s when Michael suggested the library."
Jinny Baeckler, director of the Plainsboro Public Library, which is located in the Municipal Complex off Plainsboro Road, is enthusiastic about the idea.
"If it becomes possible, we would be very interested," she said. "I think the library would fit very well with the center. The move would also provide the least disruption in service and we wouldn’t have to pay rent."
Ms. Baeckler also pointed out that moving the library could free up additional space for municipal offices.
Thomas Troy, senior vice president of Sharbell Development Corp., the developer of the Village Center, said his company is ready and willing to bring the library to the center.
"We are prepared to work with the town and the library in any way we can to help make this happen," he said. "We think it’s a wonderful idea that can certainly only further the center’s sense of community. It is a prime example of what kind of public space ought to be included."
Mr. Troy also pointed out that the civic-use building in the Village Center is slated to be built during the later stages of the project, which gives the municipality plenty of time to look at the issue.
But Mayor Cantu said the township wants to move quickly and will evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of moving the library over the next couple of months.
Plans to expand the Plainsboro Public Library began in 2001. The library developed a concept plan for a 17,000-square-foot expansion, which would double the size of the facility, in the fall of 2001 with the help of Holt Morgan Russell, an architectural firm in Princeton.
According to that plan, the expansion would be built on the back, or west side, of the library where parking is now located. Some special features would include creating a small café, adding an area to sell used books, building a separate art gallery, having a series of quiet study rooms and bringing back more casual seating lost as the library has added shelves and computers.
In the summer of 2002, a task force of library, municipal and community representatives selected BKSK Architects of New York City to design the project.
BKSK has completed some designs for the expansion, which could still be used if plans to move the library don’t pan out, Ms. Baeckler said. Construction was expected to start at the end of this year or the beginning of 2004.