To the Editor:
On two quiet nights recently, some significant personal and public eras ended. We just wanted to make sure that the Princeton community was fully aware of the brilliant work done by two individuals during their long tenures with the Princeton Historic Preservation Commission (HPC). First, Elizabeth Kim, Princeton’s Historic Preservation Officer, retired after more than 11 years capably and diligently performing the duties associated with that role. The job required tracking details of proposed projects, advising on the approval process, and informing both commission members and applicants of the preservation considerations as well as the associated land-use laws. Elizabeth consistently provided the insight that everyone needed to reach the best outcomes possible.
Second, after serving as the chair of the HPC, Julie Capozolli stepped down after 15 years in that leadership position. During that long and demanding stretch, hundreds of projects were either reviewed administratively or by the full commission. In the vast majority of cases, Julie assisted property owners, architects, contractors, and commission members through the process, taking in commission members’ and the public’s concerns, to reach the agreed-upon adjustments (if any) needed to move the application to fruition.
Understanding and communicating how preserving the built environment contributes to Princeton’s quality of life is a core objective of the HPC, and one that continues to evolve. To that end, Julie and Elizabeth initiated a process to develop design guidelines tailored specifically for Princeton’s 21 historic districts. That tool is expected to be ready later this year, and will provide a more easily understood template to help builders and homeowners fulfill their obligations to the municipality’s historic heritage.
As the newly elected chair of the HPC, it is my strong intention to continue Elizabeth and Julie’s transparent method of review and to make the application process yield results that meet many objectives, including how growth and preservation goals can harmonize. Likewise, I hope to provide broad information about good preservation practices and how they can achieve mutually desirable goals regarding conservation, quality of life, and sustainability. Assisting us, and starting without missing a beat, is Princeton’s newly hired Historic Preservation Officer, Sara Quinlan. Bringing deep respect for the historic preservation process and stepping right up to assist with special projects such as the new design guidelines, we are ready and able and committed to building on the accomplishments made over many years of service.
Thank you, Elizabeth; thank you, Julie; and welcome Sara.