Making their case to relocate to new facilities on Quaker Road, representatives from the Historical Society of Princeton (HSP) went before the Regional Planning Board Thursday in an effort to outline plans for the site that will one day house the Society's administrative offices and reception facilities.
The preview was not delivered as a formal application, but it did offer a glimpse of what to expect when the HSP moves from the Bainbridge House on Nassau Street to the Updike Farm, purchased for $1.25 million in April 2004. The pricetag was offset by a $400,000 grant from New Jersey Green Acres and $191,290 from Mercer County Open Space Preservation Board.
HSP is planning on adding a 4,500 square-foot building to the six-acre farm, which lies adjacent to land owned by the Institute for Advanced Study. The building will also house a museum and library, in addition to providing year-round tours, according to John Dumont, president of the HSP board of trustees. Currently onsite are an existing farmhouse and a small garage.
Gail Stern, HSP director, said the reason for acquiring the Updike Farm was to preserve the farm itself, adding that the organization's presence will create minimal traffic. The area is also intended for preservation in the open space and recreation element of the Princeton Community Master Plan and is located in a State and National Historic District and in the Princeton Township s Battlefield District.
In an arguably tougher sell in August, the HSP's architects for the projects, Penny Watson and Michael Henry, gave a more precise physical description to the Princeton Township Historic Preservation Commission. In that presentation, Mr. Henry outlined the need to build a facility that could adequately house items such as the 65 pieces of Albert Einstein's furniture, part of a donation to HSP from the Institute for Advanced Study. The pieces have "very specific requirements," Mr. Henry said then, referring to climate control and risk management.
In Thursday's hearing, HSP representatives assured Planning Board members that any new construction would be done to improve public access, would employ Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standard, and would use construction materials in accord with the appearance of the 200-year-old farm.
Ms. Stern also said that parking for large scale events at the farm would be offsite with visitors shuttled in, and that the current layout would accommodate 37 parking spaces. Additionally, she said there were still "unanswered" questions related to sewer and wastewater infrastructure.
The farm had been inhabited by siblings Stanley and Sara Updike. After both died late in 2002, the property was turned over to nephew Donald C. Updike, the executor of the Stanley's estate. Mr. Updike said that family pride in the property led to the sale to the Historic Society.
The proposal to convert the farm into the HSP headquarters is expected to be formally submitted to the Planning Board sometime in 2006. In the meantime, the New Jersey Historic Sites Council is reviewing the proposal and will base its approval or rejection of the plan on the Planning Board's ultimate decision.