School Board Takes First Step Towards Demolition of Former Valley Road School

The Princeton Board of Education is taking its first steps towards demolishing the now-vacant former Valley Road School building at 369 Witherspoon Street, despite passionate pleas by community members to convert the building into shared office space for non-profits, Nj.com reports. 

The school board on Tuesday unanimously agreed to set aside money to prepare for demolition, although they did not specify a dollar amount, according to Nj.com. The district will hire an engineer to determine how much demolition would cost, including asbestos remediation. 

The board will also entertain proposals for the use and purchase of the land on which the building now sits.

The resolution is a blow to the group trying to convert the local school into a hub for local non-profits. 

The Valley Road School-Adaptive Reuse Committee, led by Princeton residents Dick Woodbridge and Kip Cherry, hoped to save the historic portion of the former school and rent space through long-term leases, shared space and one-time conference or performance space. Renovations would be funded through grants and private donations.

“I believe there is an overwhelming sentiment in this community that the building should be preserved and renovated,” Woodbridge told Princeton officials earlier this year, during an attempt to put the school's future to a public vote.

Cherry said the group has already secured verbal commitments to use the space from McCarter Theatre and Bryn Mawr Wellesley Books, among others.

Princeton Council told Cherry and Woodbridge at the time that the town couldn't put a question on the ballot regarding property it doesn't own. 

That move came after VRS-ARC's proposal to the school board was rejected in March, The school board said the organization “failed to provide the Board with credible, documented assurances that it has or can secure funding adequate for the extremely extensive renovations necessary to make 369 Witherspoon safe."

The school district owns the property, but admits the building has been in poor condition for at least 30 years. The district has made it clear it will not divert scarce educational resources for renovations.

The building has not been used as a public school since before 1965 and is currently empty. Board members say the building is in need of millions of dollars of renovations and repairs in order to bring it to safe, usable condition and is only deteriorating further while it sits empty.