Mixed reaction on PNC building

[news]

Mixed reaction on PNC building
Cranbury residents have varying opinions on purchase

By Maria Prato-Gaines, Staff Writer
Posted: Friday, April 25, 2008 2:01 PM EDT

CRANBURY — The majority of residents that spoke at Monday’s Township Committee meeting were in favor of purchasing the PNC bank property, which has recently been put on the market.

Eight out of the 14 residents who addressed the committee encouraged the township to continue looking into purchasing the parcel, either for future use as a freestanding library or to retain the parking spaces on the site for downtown visitors.

The Township Committee made an informal agreement with the bank years ago that allowed downtown visitors to use 15 to 20 spaces in the PNC parking lot. That parking agreement would dissolve once the property exchanges hands and it would be up to the buyer’s discretion to renegotiate.

The approximately 8,700-square-foot building at 32 N. Main St. sits on a little more than an acre and is appraised at about $1.8 million, although PNC bank has it listed for $1.395 million.

One Main Street business owner encouraged the committee to purchase the property and ensure that those parking spaces were always available, because they were vital to the livelihood of downtown business.

”I know other towns where the community purchased the property and then leased it out,” said Bob Finigan, Cranbury resident and co-owner of The Blue Rooster Bakery and Cafe. “I don’t know if my business will be viable because of the lack of parking. Buy it and then think about what it would best be used for.”

Other residents said they knew what the building should be used for if the township were to purchase it.

”It’s bigger than our present library, but it’s laid out like our present library,” said resident Frank Marlowe. “It even has a built-in covered book drop. Everything is there waiting to be used.”

The Cranbury Public Library shares facilities with the school library. Marilynn Mullen, library director, said space already is an issue.

”We definitely feel we’re at capacity,” Ms. Mullen said. “I feel we’re almost beyond capacity. When we add books, we have to discard books. We’ve added so much we’ve lost spots for comfortable seating.”
...
http://www.packetonline.com/articles/2008/04/25/cranbury_press/news/doc48121a9d62125192149240.prt

[Guest]

Basically, those who attended the meeting and in favor of the purchase wanted the town to buy the property as a freestanding library or to retain the parking lots.

I bet those in favor are owner of the shops in the area. Are those owners the majority of Cranbury?

[Guest]

well, the Cranbury Business Assoc. was nearly out of operation because of lack of interest. Now, I see the owners are interested in buying the lot for parking. Yet, it is not a given that the new owner will refuse to allow parking for the town. In fact, I'd imagine any new business that comes in will want to allow parking to create good will and to open his customer base up to people who may park there for another shop and simply decide to go in.

I don't think the press numbers are right because I know 2 people against it who showed up and left. According to them there was more in the original turn out of people against than for it. Perhaps the people who stayed were the numbers the press totalled. Even so that is not a large turnout to justify a majority opinion to buy the building.

[Guest]

Let's face it - the only real reason that the TC wants to buy the property is for the 15 - 20 additional parking spaces for the local businesses. If that's the case, it will cost Cranbury approx $70,000 per parking space up front. But Truly, it can't be for a new library. We only have 4,000 residents in our community and the amount of money that would be needed would be in the millions. Afterall, It is costing the school approx. $350,000 just to fix the roof. It's almost always more expensive to retrofit a current structure than to build new.

Anyway Plainsboro has a plan in the process to build a state of the art brand new library which we will probably have access to.
"PLAINSBORO LIBRARY: Plans call for the construction of a three story, 34,000 square foot library which would hold 125,000 volumes and provide informal reading areas, display space for art, quiet study rooms, 40 computer stations, a children’s section with a greatly expanded science/computer center, a local history room, administrative offices, storage space, and several community meeting rooms."

Since 1970 their community grew from 2000 to 21000. Now, don't you think they need a new library? I can't understand in one breathe we our proud of our consolidation tactics, and in the next breath we want to add more expenses to our ever loom debt. Why not take advantage of the surrounding resources that we could never compete with. Along with our own current library, this would be our best course to follow.

[save$]

I borrowed books and DVDs (free) from Plainsboro library before. They accept Cranbury library card; just show them your Cranbury library card and they will put a sticker on it after entering your contact info into their computer.

Recall that the TC initially wanted to discuss the purchase in closed session?

After they changed the session to be public, I bet those with interests showed up, called the press, and created an illusion of "majority" supporting the idea.

I smell something fishy here.

[Cranbury Conservative]

One of the people who spoke at the meeting (he was an attorney) brought up a good point that the town may have other parking options on property which it already owns. This alternative to the parking situation would be far less costly to Cranbury and should be explored further.

Additionally if the business owners are concerned with the lack of or loss of parking due to the pending sale of the old PNC property then why don't they (the business owners) band together get financing and buy the property? They will then assure themselves of adequate parking for the future. The business owner’s would then have the ability to lease the building back to another business that may be interested.

Either of these solutions would take the burden off of the taxpayers and at the same time give the local business owners the solution they seek for the business districts parking issues.

[Guest]

I have an idea, instead of a babe ruth ball field that will be used mostly for out of town kids and not allowed for pick up games, why not make the field a parking lot. Seems to lower our expense of a ball field and solves the need of not buying the PNC building.

The Cranbur Business Assoc. is not unified enough unfortunately to do the work needed to buy the building. That is the major reason for the down town failures. In fact the CBA almost disbanded if not for a few people who saw the need for it to continue. Without the hardware store and pharmacy the store owners simply did not understand or appreciate the value the CBA brings.

[parking]

Since the town and PNC bank had the agreement to provide parking for the town, I think the TC should work on a plan that "motivates" the future owner of the property to do the same.

If I had the money, I'll open a convenient store there (e.g. a WAWA kind of store).

[Guest]

I think a deli would be ideal. I don't think a wawa or chain would get approval and it would be out of character. However, a mom and pop grocer and deli would be perfect.