Volume LXX, Number 52
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Wednesday, December 28, 2016
Changing Character of Princeton Defines 2016
May the New Year Bring You Health and Happiness and Bring Us All One Step Closer to Peace on Earth A New Year’s Toast With Chekhov’s Champagne . . . . . . . 15 Unpredictability Spiced Up Local Sporting Scene in 2016 . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Art . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . 21 Cinema . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Classified Ads . . . . . . . 33 Mailbox . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Music/Theater . . . . . . 18 New To Us . . . . . . . . . 22 Obituaries . . . . . . . . . 32 Real Estate . . . . . . . . 33 Religion . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Service Directory . . . . 13 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Town Talk . . . . . . . . . . . 6
The rapid pace of teardowns and the often out-of-scale houses that replace them was an issue that dominated discussions in Princeton throughout 2016. The town’s changing character was the theme in the platforms of nearly every candidate who ran for local office in 2016. Midway through the year, moved to take action by the presence of bulldozers all over town, Princeton Council formed a Neighborhood Character and Zoning Initiative. The Initiative was among the governing body’s key actions of 2016. A task force was named, a consultant was hired, and public forums were held. By December, the group’s first recommendations were in place regarding setbacks, porches, and the measurement of cathedral ceilings. Council voted to formally approve an ordinance at its final meeting of the year, and more recommendations are to come in 2017. Elections
There were two Council seats up for grabs in the November election — one being vacated by Patrick Simon; the other, held by Jenny Crumiller, who hoped to hold on to her post for another term. She succeeded in doing so, along with newcomer Tim Quinn, who will officially join the governing body at its reorganization meeting on January 4, 2017. Ms. Crumiller and Mr. Quinn won more votes than Anne Neumann and Leticia Fraga, who were also vying for the two seats. Mayor Liz Lempert, challenged by Republican Peter Marks, was re-elected to a second term.
but also elsewhere in Princeton. The lawsuit had been brought by a group of residents who challenged the school’s property tax exemptions in court. The settlement, which came a week before a trial was supposed to begin, also dictates that the University will contribute $2 million in 2017 and then $1.6 million a year for the following five years to a fund that will distribute annual payments to Princeton homeowners who received a homestead benefit under the New Jersey Homestead Property Tax Credit Act. Following feedback from residents of Witherspoon-Jackson and other members of the public, Council voted in June to approve a design concept plan for Mary Moss Park, which is to be expanded with funds from Mercer County. The name of the park, which honors the legacy of resident Mary Moss, will remain the same. The design plan for the park at John and Lytle streets calls for a bigger playground, better landscaping, and more seating areas. The old wading pool will be removed. A water spray park will be installed in its place. Civil Rights Commission
In October, Council voted to re-establish a Civil Rights Commission in Princeton, following some debate about procedural elements of the ordinance. Ms. Fraga
chaired a subcommittee of the Human Service department, which worked on the proposal for two years. The Commission, which is to meet monthly and be made up of nine residents of Princeton, is an advisory body that has yet to be put into place.
year. Municipal employees were sorry to see Bob Kiser, the town’s municipal engineer, leave his post this summer after 33 years on the job. But they were pleased that his successor was Deanna Stockton, with whom he worked closely during her 16-year tenure as his assistant.
Changing of the Guard
Avalon Opens
The year 2016 saw the retirements and departures of several well-known and respected personalities in town. There were notable changes made in both municipal government and the non-profit world. Although she formally retired from her longtime post as director of Princeton Public Library at the end of 2015, Leslie Burger got a big send-off in early January when she was given a farewell party attended by local politicians, library personnel, donors, and friends. Ms. Burger, who was succeeded by Brett Bonfield, was instrumental in getting the library rebuilt and redesigned on its old footprint over a decade ago. Her parting project was a plan to redesign the second floor, which is nearing completion. Jeff Nathanson announced his departure as director of the Arts Council of Princeton; his successor, Taneisha Laird, was named at the end of the year. David Newton, longtime vice president in charge of Palmer Square, also stepped down this
In early fall, the first residents moved in to Avalon Princeton, the rental complex on the former site of Princeton Hospital. The controversy that has surrounded this project since its inception continued sporadically this year. In December, the developer accused the town’s environmental consultant on the construction site, the Whitman company, of improperly billing for the work, threatening legal action if the money isn’t redeposited into their escrow accounts. Princeton Public Schools
Seeking a renewed focus on “wellness and balance” in the face of excessive competitive pressure, Princeton Public Schools Superintendent Steve Cochrane emphasized the importance of helping students “not simply to get into a competitive college but to lead lives of joy and purpose.” The highly acclaimed district faced significant challenges in 2016 in its quest to promote both top-flight achievement and balanced, healthy lives. Continued on Page 4
Witherspoon-Jackson
In April, Council approved the establishment of the Witherspoon-Jackson neighborhood as an historic district, bringing the number of historic districts in town up to 20. While a few landowners lobbied to have their properties left out of the designation, and were told that could be considered later, there was overwhelming support for the measure, which honors the African-American history of the neighborhood. Witherspoon-Jackson was in the news again in October, when Princeton University agreed as part of a lawsuit settlement to make three contributions of $416,700 to the non-profit WitherspoonJackson Development Corporation, each year from 2017 to 2019. The funds are to be used to support housing and other needs of economically disadvantaged residents not only in that neighborhood,
HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY!: The first issue of Town Topics appeared in March 1946 . In the early years, founders Dan Coyle (left) and Don Stuart wrote all the copy and sold all the ads for their timetable-sized publication .