Public Will Have a Chance to Weigh in on Kiosk Renovation Proposal

On May 13, the public will have an opportunity to weigh in on a proposal to lease and upgrade the kiosk at the corner of Nassau and Witherspoon Streets. 

Princeton Council introduced an ordinance this week to allow the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce to lease the kiosk for five years and renovate the ailing structure. 

When upgrades are done, the kiosk would have space allocated for local businesses, non-profits, the town and residents. There would also be advertising, a point of contention for some who argue that commercializing the structure is a bad idea. 

To ensure a preference for local adverting, Chamber officials have agreed to a Council's request that to appear before elected officials if unable to secure local advertising and there could be a need to solicit regional or national advertising. Local advertising would be offered at a discount, PRCC President & CEO Peter Crowley has said. 

Chamber officials say the advertising revenue for the first three years will go solely to pay for kiosk upgrades- about $20,000. After that, there may be options for Princeton and the Chamber to split revenues. 

PRCC officials say the goal to clean up the kiosks, which are part of the Princeton landscape, but are often disorganized and unhelpful to visitors. Once the first kiosk is upgraded, it's expected to feature maps, commuter information and a guide to local businesses and events. 

The lease between the town and Chamber will include language to allow Princeton to get out of the lease early with a financial penalty. 

“We are not often presented with an opportunity to help maintain a vibrant downtown," Council President Bernie Miller said Monday. "This is the first opportunity that has come before Council (to achieve that goal). There are enough conditions discussed tonight to provide the controls we would need to make certain that it serves its intended purpose of helping to maintain a vibrant downtown.”

Princeton officials have said renovating the kiosks is a low priority for the town; therefore the Chamber proposal would help prioritize the project and save the town money. 

The renovated kiosk will have 76 square feet of space, of which more than half will be for public posting on bulletin boards, Princeton Administrator Bob Bruschi said. That amount exceeds the current space for public posting on today's kiosk. 

“It will remain a place where anyone may speak on equal terms, on any matter, free of charge, free of content control,” Crowley said. “The Chamber has no plans to monitor or sensor what community groups post, except to take down past and expired notices after the advertised events take place.”