In direct response to growing online vitriol regarding the borough’s downtown parking crisis, the Cranbury Township Committee today announced a bold new parking strategy for the Village.
In a 4-1 closed-session vote, the committee moved to seize via eminent domain the building currently occupied by the Princeton Ballet School. In its place, the committee approved a $425 million expenditure to erect a six-level parking garage on the site.
“The persistent criticism of this committee is that we are out of touch with the online buzz,” said Mayor Pari Stave. “Well, not only have we listened to the Internet chatter, we’ve acted upon it.”
Although bold, the measure was not without controversy.
“In moving to address a problem that didn’t really exist, my esteemed colleagues have managed to evict the one legitimate business in this town,” said Win Cody, the lone Republican member of the township committee. “Frankly our business tax revenue drops to about zero without their contributions.”
Cody believes the parking issues cited online were based on isolated incidents, and feels the town actually has an excess of parking given its myriad vacant businesses. Stave did not agree.
“Our job as a committee is to not to react to the issues of today, but to plan for tomorrow,” she said. “The reality is that business will bounce back in Cranbury — there’s no doubt about it. And when it does, this project will be seen as a stroke of brilliance on par with the new Babe Ruth ball field.”
The sheer swiftness of the committee’s action stunned the leadership of the ballet school.
“I choked on my Blue Rooster scone this morning,” said Marvin Preston, the ballet school’s executive director, noting that his choking did not have anything to do with the committee’s decision. “The bottom line is our school has been a vital partner to this community for decades, and we are quite hurt by this action.”
Preston said his company has lined up some interim space in neighboring East Windsor. “Though it’s certainly a bit down wind for us,” he added.
Per the committee’s action, it will seize ownership of the ballet school building at midnight on Saturday. Construction will begin on the 520-space parking facility on Monday.
Once constructed, the facility will be managed by Kinney Parking Systems at a cost to the town of $300,000 per year. A 10-year auto-renewing contract was signed with the firm. While still being negotiated with Kinney, parking at the facility is expected to cost around $10 per hour per car.
“The hallmark of any good town is safe, available parking,” said Stave. “I’m proud to leave my post knowing that some old lady won’t have to park across Route 130 just to get to the post office.”
Photo: An architect’s rendering of the new 6-story parking structure that will occupy the former site of the Princeton Ballet Company.
Cranbury Sauce 