Cranbury Forum | Bulletin | Info Sharing Â
[Click here to bookmark this page: http://cranbury.info]
â–ª
Cranbury School
â–ª
Cranbury Township
â–ª
Cranbury Library
â–ª
Cranbury.org
â–ª
Cranburyhistory.org
(Press Ctrl and = keys to increase font size)
Search
Register (optional)
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
[http://cranbury.info]
->
News | Events
Post a reply
Username
Subject
Message body
Emoticons
Font colour:
Default
Dark Red
Red
Orange
Brown
Yellow
Green
Olive
Cyan
Blue
Dark Blue
Indigo
Violet
White
Black
Font size:
Tiny
Small
Normal
Large
Huge
Close Tags
[quote="Guest"]If parking is a problem maybe the people who will benefit from this should purchase the property. Or all the people who want the town to buy this property should form a corp. and purchase it . Everytime I go by it is half full of cars from the business next door why don't they buy it?[/quote]
Options
HTML is
ON
BBCode
is
ON
Smilies are
ON
Disable HTML in this post
Disable BBCode in this post
Disable Smilies in this post
All times are GMT - 4 Hours
Jump to:
Select a forum
Topics
----------------
News | Events
School | Parenting
Blogs by Cranbury Residents
Shopping | Good Deals | Price Talk
Home Sweet Home
House For Sale
Home Sales Pricing Records
Financial | Stocks | Mutual Funds
Cool Bytes & Bits
Garage Sale | ForSale Ads | Things to Trade
Tech Related (PC, Internet, HDTV, etc.)
Interesing and Fun Stuff to Share
What's Your Favorite?
Interests | Hobbies
Cranbury History
Radom Thoughts | Sports | Kitchen Sink
Amazon Deals
Local Business Info
----------------
Local Business Ads (FREE)
Support
----------------
Daily Sponsored Message & Amazon Ads
About Us | Your Privacy | Suggestion | Sponsored
Test Area (Practice your posting skills here)
Topic review
Author
Message
publius
Posted: Wed, Jul 9 2008, 8:32 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
Turn the watertower into a tourist attraction.
Charge a dollar to climb up there, and put those stereoscopes up there and charge a quarter to look at stuff.
It does make a good landmark. Maybe, sell ad space on it facing route 130. Neon lights would look great!!!!!!!!!!
Traveler
Posted: Wed, Jul 9 2008, 7:32 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
publius wrote:
The lead paint may be the only thing holding the watertower together!!!
Someday, it may have to come down, but, hopefully not for a while yet. I wonder what the view is like from up there?
Funny you should ask. I actually know an old time Cranbury resident who claims he scaled the tower as a teenager. Like Ripley says...believe it or not! The way I see it, it's either fact or a legendary tall tale.
publius
Posted: Wed, Jul 9 2008, 6:31 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
The lead paint may be the only thing holding the watertower together!!!
Someday, it may have to come down, but, hopefully not for a while yet. I wonder what the view is like from up there?
Guest
Posted: Wed, Jul 9 2008, 2:04 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
I would love to see another branch of Carlucci's Grill at PNC
or how bout a nice TIA Restaurant
or Steak place like Arthurs in Hoboken
or sushi place or indian or ..... God I like to eat out
Let's invite Chef Ramsay back again to Cranbury, or Bam!! Chef Emirl, or even NY guy Bobby Flay maybe - all his resterants are in NYC and New Orleans. Lots of good ideas for this PNC that would make it more palatable for me (get the pun)!!!
Guest
Posted: Wed, Jul 9 2008, 9:06 am EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
We also support businesses in town. My wife orders take-outs from Hot Wok when she is too busy to cook dinner.
I am also looking forward to their opening.
Guest
Posted: Wed, Jul 9 2008, 8:34 am EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
Quote:
like hmmm the blue rooster??? give me a break - in my opinion that women is wasting her money - hundred bucks says it does not last 2 years in this town.
I disagree and think this will be a great addition to the town. People will be able to have a meal, or buy bread/coffee and go. I think it will appeal to many Cranbury residents and will draw others into town. I am looking forward to their opening and to supporting them, as I support the other businesses in town.
Ed K
Posted: Tue, Jul 8 2008, 11:45 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
I'm not promoting for Cranbury to take down the water tower at all now!! Sometime in future when it is a safety issue was my main point. It is rusting now and in 5/10/15/20yrs be structurally unsound - so for safety reasons it will HAVE to be delt with. Thats all I was saying in the post, its not option till then. The water company is not maintaining it so structure is weakening with time. (also lead paint issue as some other poster had noted) I would love for us to start using it again if we can save it, because I too remember the good water we use to have here in Cranbury but I think its too late by now.
So there are also 3 other good ideas about parking in this thread, and the water tower option would be available sometime in the future for Cranbury as another option. Its good to have future options right?
publius
Posted: Tue, Jul 8 2008, 11:10 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
I don't like the idea of removing the watertower. I kinda like it, and if it ain't broke................
Anyway, how much space would it free up? Does that include that little bldg. next to the tower? Is that even used anymore? Maybe, the parking could be solved with some creativity. Maybe some signage pointing to public spaces should be used. The area on Park Place West, by the town hall, by the school. Most folks probably shop AFTER work. So, they'll come into town, and if they don't live here they may not know that other places exist for them if Main St. is full. The town hall and the school should be pretty empty after 4pm. Same for the weekends, when Main St. gets pretty filled up with parked cars early on in the day.
It's just a suggestion.
Traveler
Posted: Tue, Jul 8 2008, 3:17 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
Guest wrote:
Quaint little town with tea shops... HAHA... is that what cranbury has turned into? I remember growing up here ---- guess what? there was gas pumps on main street.... OH NO.... not gas pumps... this town even had a grocery store... can you believe that? Its just funny because "new" people want to come in and open little tea shops... like hmmm the blue rooster??? give me a break - in my opinion that women is wasting her money - hundred bucks says it does not last 2 years in this town. I have been here 60 years and know that this place will be very popular the first few months - then people will get tired of it... she will not make enough money and guess what? we dont have a quaint little tea shop...
Gee, try to be a bit more positive. Last I heard the Cranbury Delights just celebrated their 2 year anniversary and, from all accounts, seem to be doing a very steady business with new customers coming in everyday. Maybe their delicious homemade ice cream has something to do with the success.
Guest
Posted: Tue, Jul 8 2008, 1:32 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
Quaint little town with tea shops... HAHA... is that what cranbury has turned into?
i remember growing up here ---- guess what? there was gas pumps on main street.... OH NO.... not gas pumps... this town even had a grocery store... can you believe that? Its just funny because "new" people want to come in and open little tea shops... like hmmm the blue rooster??? give me a break - in my opinion that women is wasting her money - hundred bucks says it does not last 2 years in this town. I have been here 60 years and know that this place will be very popular the first few months - then people will get tired of it... she will not make enough money and guess what? we dont have a quaint little tea shop...
Guest
Posted: Tue, Jul 8 2008, 1:27 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
publius wrote:
You have to decide what you want the town to look like. Quaint, little stores & tea shops, or large trucks barreling through town every 5 minutes.
Correct me if I'm wrong - Isn't this America!? Since when is it the responsibility and right of a governmental agency to decide what and who buys a certain private property (whether it is commercial or residential). How would you like the township to decide who buys your home when you decide to sell? Or even worse claim Eminent Domain for your property to perhaps put a baseball field (get the hint).
Cranbury Conservative
Posted: Tue, Jul 8 2008, 1:23 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
Cranbury has the final say regarding what happens to the building no matter who purchases it or attempts to purchase it.
To further expand, people open businesses to make money. If someone does purchase the PNC Bank building they will be making a very large investment somewhere in the One Million Dollar plus range and they will want to open a business that will bring them a favorable return on that investment. To me this is another reason for us all to not worry about this property since in order to make money the new owner would only open a business that would appeal to the town such as a restaurant, bagel/deli store, professional offices or some other kind of community friendly business. I doubt that anyone’s worst fears regarding an illicit or destructive business will be realized when and if the building is purchased.
Another point to mention is the property has a deed restriction which does not allow for another financial institution to purchase the property. Perhaps there is a way for the township to have this changed? Could the historical society or HPAC become involved and champion such a cause? Since the building is in the historic district and has been a bank for so many years, could we not argue that a bank should be an available option for this property since it is within the character and history of the town? We can then work with the new owners to keep our parking agreement in place with incentives for them if needed.
There are many options that Cranbury has at its disposal so that we will have a successful privately run business in the current PNC bank building that provides parking for downtown businesses and is a valuable part of our community for years to come.
James
Posted: Tue, Jul 8 2008, 12:13 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
Gas stations, McDonalds and lumber yards are not permitted in town. The last place to sell gas was Harold's. Otherwise, the businesses are whatever a person wants to do.
I can't wait for the Blue Rooster myself and love the idea of being able to sit on their porch or grab something on the way to work. I think that concept will do very well in a town like ours.
I also think a bagel store/deli would be a huge draw. Good bagel places are rare and the good ones have lines out the door every Saturday and Sunday.
The issue though is three fold. What will draw people in, what does an individual want to invest in and then what people want to see in town.
Unfortunately, what will draw people isn't always what people want to see and what people want to see won't always draw people. The same way I know some people set up a shop not because it is a draw, but because it is a destination come in get the meal or item and leave. Right now, I think we have a problem because we have great businesses and people will come for the specific need (right now largely meals), but there isn't a large cross sections of multiple stores meeting needs. So it's hard for businesses to piggy back on a customer base.
publius
Posted: Tue, Jul 8 2008, 10:10 am EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
Yeah.....................the only problem with following the Jamesburg or Allentown model is that Cranbury is in a "better" location than they are. A hardware store works well in Allentown because the nearest BIG BOX INC. is at least 30 minutes away. In Cranbury, you have at least 5 or 6 BIG BOX INC. stores with 15 minutes of us.
Jamesburg is more working class town than Cranbury is. Do you want a lumber yard where the PNC bldg is located??? Would you like the ballet school on Main St. to be a car fix-it shop again? Although, it was for Rolls Royces and stuff. Cranbury has most of it's "grubbier" industries out on the outskirts of town. Not part of it's downtown makeup. No gas stations here either.
You have to decide what you want the town to look like. Quaint, little stores & tea shops, or large trucks barreling through town every 5 minutes. I don't know how Plainsboro still has a hardware store. It must be a hobby or something.
Antique shop was JUST as suggestion. But, the town should careful as to what businesses set up shop here. Only certain ones will work well. That Adams-Brown on Main St. could easily be converted back into a residential house again. Or perhaps, a shop downstairs and living quarters upstairs. I just think that we should be flexible and creative for our merchants so that they can provide valuable services and products and also be allowed to make a living.
Only a handful of retail models work well anymore for downtown merchants.
publius
Posted: Tue, Jul 8 2008, 9:54 am EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
To Jeff M.
Whats wrong with a little heated discussion? I'd rathe NOT be dry & boring in my posts. Would you prefer that we went by Robert's Rules and put EVERYONE to sleep? I'm sorry if I offended your gentile sensibilities, but we're not living in a Victorian novel. If I have opinions, i will express them. If they offend you, perhaps, it's better not to read them then. I tend to go for the jugular. I don't know why people don't go for the carotid instead of the jugular, but, I like to use sarcasm & humor to make a point. Try living a little bit on the edge. It's fun out here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guest
Posted: Mon, Jul 7 2008, 8:45 pm EDT
Post subject: Re: Clarity: What Cranbury should do with the PNC Bank Property...
If parking is a problem maybe the people who will benefit from this should purchase the property. Or all the people who want the town to buy this property should form a corp. and purchase it . Everytime I go by it is half full of cars from the business next door why don't they buy it?