Princeton’s Old Architecture and Neighborhoods Must be Respected, Protected, and Preserved
To the Editor:
“History, education, and beautiful old buildings are intrinsic parts of Princeton,” wrote Bobbie and Laura Bennett in a letter to the Editor of Town Topics [“Proposed Development would Degrade Area Well-Known and Beloved for its Historical Value,” Mailbox, May 7]. They continued, “(they are) distinguishing and irreplaceable features that make this town so special, so desirable. Who wouldn’t want to live here?” Exactly. But Princeton cannot be home to everyone; the infrastructure is indeed already overloaded. And to build a huge residential project on land partially within the Mercer Hill Historic District would be a travesty.
It has been pointed out often that the 238 apartments and 250+ vehicle garage would only provide the bare minimum of affordable housing units mandated by law. Other plans, more appropriate to the site, offering more lower-income housing were hopefully presented and rejected. The chosen project, to which the municipality has committed a $40 million tax break for the developer, begs the simple question: “Why?”
“Why this one?” is being asked by many Princetonians, in all of our neighborhoods, who oppose this choice. It is the wrong project in the wrong place at the wrong time or anytime.
Our family arrived in Princeton in 1965, with two toddler daughters, and financially stretched to purchase the most modest home in town. We knew we were investing wisely in a life in a community offering not only enormous academic and cultural resources, but a life to be spent amidst amazing history and beauty. We were eager to become involved and we did … ultimately living in three houses very close to the proposed project.
Our last home, built around 1700, from stones carried from the “brook” of the same name, had stood for almost a century before witnessing the important nearby battles of the American Revolution. We were thrilled to own a piece of history, to become its most recent stewards.
“We cannot be sentimental about old buildings,” one municipal planner remarked not long ago. As stewards in this amazing town, we all must be! Princeton’s old architecture and neighborhoods must be respected, protected and preserved. Past Princetonians carefully maintained what can never be replaced.
We must slow down and carefully think through before deciding in what ways we may wisely alter forever a whole town, unique in its universally-recognized historical significance and beauty.
“Will you look over there!,” my awed Uber driver from Jersey City said, pointing to a row of old houses we were passing. “I bet these places have been around a couple hundred years!” “Actually more,” I replied proudly. (He’s bringing his wife down for a look around.)