Construction of the AvalonBay rental community at the former site of Princeton Hospital on Witherspoon Street has been temporarily halted due to the presence of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the site.
“In response, AvalonBay took additional samples and has sent them out for further testing,” reads a press release from Princeton’s municipal administrator Marc D. Dashield. “The results are expected within two weeks.”
Work on the 280-unit apartment and townhouse complex stopped a few weeks ago, and stockpiles of dirt and materials have been covered with plastic sheeting. The site is being wet down each day.
“Why is this happening?,” asked neighborhood resident John Armonia. “A few of the residents in the area are really concerned. If there is contamination, neighbors are going to be be breathing some of this stuff now. “
Princeton’s health officer Jeff Grosser and environmental consultant Ira Whitman “have confirmed that these are the measures that need to be taken to safeguard the public’s health and safety,” the statement from the town reads. “Until the results of AvalonBay’s secondary testing are received and reviewed, the municipality will not speculate about the conditions of the stockpiled materials. Princeton will, however, monitor the site daily to ensure that until such time as more information is available, AvalonBay continues to keep the stockpiled materials covered and continues to wet down the site for dust control.”
Mr. Grosser has also confirmed that both the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the Mercer County Department of Health are aware of the situation and have assigned a case number to the matter. “Mr. Grosser is in regular contact with the county health deparment,” the statement reads.
Mr. Armonia said he was driving by the site a few days ago and saw people walking around, taking some type of readings. “I asked them what was going on,” he said. “After a 15-minute conversation, one guy said we’re waiting for results on the soil for possible contamination. It seems something is going on and no one knows why.”
Neighbors of the construction site, organized into the group Princeton Citizens for Sustainable Neighborhoods, were vocal in their opposition to elements of the development plan, which was revised. There was particular concern about potential contamination from the former hospital site, and the way any such contamination would be handled.
AvalonBay first contracted to purchase the former hospital site in 2011. Asked Tuesday if he had any comment about the construction shutdown, the company’s Senior Vice President of Development Ronald S. Ladell said, “Nope.”