The Princeton Shopping Center is no longer an option.
   The Arts Council of Princeton's Board of Trustees is slated to meet Wednesday and reach a preliminary decision about the future site of the organization.
   Chris Hanington, general manager for the shopping center, said Wednesday that The Arts Council is no longer in discussions to rent space there.
   The Arts Council is considering a site in Hopewell Township, according to sources familiar with the negotiations.
   Peter Bienstock, a trustee and chairman of the capital campaign for the expansion project, has said the board has "two good locations we're looking at right now and one is our present location" at 102 Witherspoon St.
   Mr. Bienstock has declined to specify the other location under consideration.
   Following the rejection of an expansion plan by the Regional Planning Board of Princeton in December, The Arts Council made revisions to the Witherspoon Street building's design to reduce the size, Mr. Bienstock said.
   Also, The Arts Council in April moved the drop-off location, handicap access and delivery driveway from Witherspoon and Green streets to Paul Robeson Place. But the revised plan has not been submitted for review.
   If requested by The Arts Council, the Subdivision Committee of the Planning Board could consider another review if "substantive" changes have been made, Mr. Bienstock said. And the subcommittee can recommend the full Planning Board reconsider the application.
   Mr. Bienstock has said The Arts Council would need to have the review in September or would have to repeat the entire concept review process.
   The Arts Council would not go back to the Planning Board, he said, unless there is support from the community and the board for the expansion to proceed at 102 Witherspoon St.
   The Planning Board voted 6-5 in December to reject The Arts Council's application, following lengthy public hearing and testimony from neighbors in the John-Witherspoon neighborhood in opposition to the project.
   The majority of the Planning Board indicated that while they loved the design of the building, by architect Michael Graves, it was inappropriate for such a site and would have a negative impact on neighbors.
   In addition to objections to the project regarding the size of the building, Planning Board members and neighbors expressed concerns the project would clog up the residential streets with traffic that already causes problems.
   In late April, The Arts Council expressed an interest in gaining another review by the Planning Board. By mid-May, the organization dropped its bid for the review until the organization decided on a site to pursue the expansion.

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