School District Rejects Both Valley Road School Proposals

Princeton Regional Schools have rejected both proposals for the former Valley Road School building and won’t revisit the issue until June, 2012.

Board of Education Member Dorothy Bedford made the announcement at Tuesday’s Board of Education Meeting.

“It’s became clear to the board that the outcome of the community vote of the consolidation question in November will be of import to any decision this board will make,” said Bedford, who chairs the district’s facility committee.  

Neither proposal fully met the board’s criteria, she said. The district must try to find a proposal that’s best tied to the mission of education. However, both proposals were dismissed without prejudice. 

The one-year deferral means both Corner House, a counseling center for teens and young adults, and Princeton Community Television can remain in the building until May 31, 2012.

School officials have been evaluating what to do with the former school, which is located at 369 Witherspoon St. across from the Princeton Township Municipal Complex.

Two groups submitted proposals for how to use the site.

The Valley Road School Community Center, Inc. and the Valley Road School- Adaptive Reuse Committee hoped to turn the building into a hub for local non-profits.

The plan was to restore the building and have tenants sign long-term leases, share space or rent one-time conference or performance space.

The other proposal, submitted by Princeton Borough and Princeton Township, detailed a plan to demolish the building to make room for a joint facility for fire and rescue services.

Board of Education President Rebecca Cox said a structural engineer has provided the district with an estimate of $10.8 million to fully restore the building.

The cost includes repairing significant water damage to the building masonry, loose exterior bricks, rust, leaks and windows, Cox said.

Kip Cherry, president of the Valley Road School Community Center, Inc., thanked the school board for its efforts on Tuesday.

“We fully understand that there are many unknowns as this point,” Cherry said. “It is clear to us that school board has chosen the wisest course of action.”

Cherry offered approximately $2,000 of donations that her group has raised in order to repair the holes in the building’s roof.

But she said she disagrees with the structural engineer’s estimate for restoration; the $10.8 million is to bring the building up to top grade office space, not to do what her group is proposing at a lesser cost, Cherry said.

Dan Preston, chair of the board of trustees at Princeton Community TV also thanked the school board, but suggested that discussions on the building’s future should begin before June, so the building's tenants do not have to move out of the building while the school board makes a decision and then potentially move back in should the restoration proposal be accepted.

“I’m hoping maybe in the coming months we can work out an arrangement so that we’re in sync,” Preston said.