Letter: Stop the Institue from Building Next to the Princeton Battlefield

To the Editor:

Stop the Institute from building. 

I have written for some time about the Institute's plan to build on a parcel of the Princeton Battlefield. I am opposed and have been quite clear on this. 

What are the alternatives to this building of 15 units? There is a large parcel of land inside the Einstein Roadway circle, but that land has historical signifigance and cannot be built on. I have heard that somewhere before. I do not know what that signifigance is, but let's move on. 

The IAS is sitting on two vacant houses right now that could be rehabilitated and occupied. The need becomes two less units to thirteen. The IAS has a vacant lot on Mercer Road which could handle two-three houses. We are down to 10 units on the battlefield parcel. The IAS also has a number of houses with oversize lots, these lots could be sub-divided. I don't know how many units could be created. Whatever the number, the need on the battlefield parcel is reduced.

My point is that the proposed development is here to meet a need. That need could be handled in a different way that preserves land with historical significance. It would also save money and time as these parcels have already been built on and do not have the wetlands issues that the parcel under propsal does. The IAS could do all or part of this proposal and could gain support. 

Joe Carney

Glenwood NJ

Joe Carney is a member of the Princeton Battlefield Society.