By Jennifer Potash
The Princeton Packet
Tuesday, July 31, 2001

   A decision on the future site of The Arts Council of Princeton may not occur for a few more weeks and financial concerns are a factor.
   "We don't have a consensus and we're still discussing our options," Suzanne Goldenson, chairwoman of The Arts Council Board of Trustees, said Monday night. "We're at a sensitive part."
   The board scheduled the Monday night meeting in anticipation of narrowing down the options for the arts center, said Peter Bienstock, a trustee and chairman of the capital campaign for the expansion project.
   "At this point, a decision is not possible," he said Monday afternoon.
   The meeting was only attended by about half of the trustees, as many were away on vacation, Ms. Goldenson said.
   In addition to expanding The Arts Council's present location on Witherspoon Street — a plan which was rejected by the Regional Planning Board of Princeton in December — the trustees are looking at a site on Carter Road in Hopewell Township.
   Earlier this year, the trustees considered the Princeton Shopping Center but a shopping center official said last week that the parties are no longer in discussions to rent space.
   Cost was an issue at Monday night's meeting.
   "I hope our program is what drives our choice," Ms. Goldenson said afterward. "But the finances are a concern."
   The Arts Council's annual report, released in June, states that the two alternatives are less costly than expanding the Witherspoon Street building. The original plan was estimated at $3.5 million but the cost has escalated to about $6 million, Mr. Bienstock has said. The Arts Council has raised about $3.8 million for the expansion thus far.
   The Planning Board voted 6-5 in December to reject The Arts Council's expansion application, following lengthy public hearing and testimony from neighbors in the John-Witherspoon neighborhood in opposition to the project.
   The majority of board members indicated that while they loved the design of the building, by architect Michael Graves, it was inappropriate for the site and would have a negative impact on neighbors.
   In addition to objections regarding the size of the building, Planning Board members and adjacent neighbors expressed concern that the project would clog up residential streets already struggling with traffic congestion.
   Since that time, The Arts Council has made revisions to the expansion designs, reducing the building's size. The organization also moved the drop-off location, handicap access and delivery driveway from Witherspoon and Green streets to Paul Robeson Place.
   If requested by The Arts Council, the Subdivision Committee of the Planning Board could consider another review of an application if "substantive" changes have been made, Mr. Bienstock has said.
   The subcommittee can recommend that the full Planning Board reconsider the application. Mr. Bienstock said the Arts Council would need to have the review by Sept. 21 or would have to repeat the concept review process.
   Ms. Goldenson said Monday night that the organization would like to talk with the Planning Board about a possible extension of that deadline.

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