PFARS Outlines Building Expansion Plans

With an outdated facility and a serious lack of space, Princeton First Aid and Rescue Squad has starting the process to expand its presence on North Harrison Street.

This week, PFARS President Peter Simon presented a concept plan of a new building at the squad’s existing site at the corner of N. Harrison Street and Clearview Avenue.

PFARS has purchased two adjoining properties- at 8 Clearview Ave. and 14 Clearview Ave.

Princeton Township Committee on Monday unanimously introduced a zoning ordinance, which, if approved would allow the PFARS expansion as a conditional use.

A public hearing is scheduled for Nov. 19.

“Our need for a new building has been clear for years, and our appearance here is an initial step to make this a reality,” Simon said. “We are eager to work with the town and the community to start the process towards a new facility that will properly meet the needs of the Princeton community.”

The squad has been looking for property for a new building since 2003, including land on Bayard Lane, the Township Public Works garage, a commercial lot on North Harrison Street and the former Valley Road School, among others. 

None panned out due to size, location, cost, timing or availability, Simon said.

The squad’s headquarters were built nearly 50 years ago in 1963.

Back then, the squad answered 937 calls a year using Cadillacs for ambulances and a converted bread truck as a rescue truck.

Today the apparatus is bigger in size and number: the squad has nine vehicles and trailers, of which only four fit inside the building. At the same time, call volume has tripled to more than 2,826 calls for service in 2011. There are nearly 90 volunteer members and six career employees.

The current building size is close to 4,600 sq. ft., Simon said.

PFARS plans to tear down the existing building and build a 20,000 sq. ft. building at a preliminary cost estimate of $7.25 million. Simon said the hope is that the new building will last for the next 75-100 years.

PFARS, mostly funded by grants, donations and third-party billing, saved enough money to purchase the two Clearview Avenue properties outright, Simon said.

Next, PFARS will conduct a feasibility study to determine the best way to raise money for the new building.

The squad has contacted its immediate neighbors about its expansion plans and met with the closest homeowner, who expressed no objections, Simon said. The next step is contacting neighbors in a larger radius.

“We want people to be aware of what’s going on, we don’t want it to be a surprise,” he said.

The squad is also looking at options for offsite parking to make room for a landscape buffer at the back of the property. And apparatus would still mostly exit the Harrison Street side of the building so neighbors won’t be further disturbed, Simon said.

The new building will have space for four efficiency apartment units to allow PFARS a boarder program where students can live at a reduced rate in exchange for on-call hours. The program provides volunteers who can respond to calls so the department can minimize use of paid staff or per diem squad members.