Officials at the University Medical Center at Princeton are expected to announce their chosen site for a new hospital by mid-May, and it appears that the location will be in Plainsboro or West Windsor.##M:[more]##
According to sources, two contenders have risen to the top of the pile of sites being considered by Princeton Healthcare Systems (PCHS), the company that owns the hospital — the Princeton Nurseries property in Plainsboro owned by Princeton University, and Carnegie Center West in West Windsor, owned by Boston Properties. Both owners are actively courting the hospital.
Micky Landis, Boston Properties senior vice president, says he has been in “regular communication” with hospital officials. The 75-acre Carnegie West Property is located on Route 1 south between Princeton Overlook and the MarketFair mall.
The property currently holds development approvals for about 1.2 million square feet of office space. It would need to be rezoned, or granted a use variance from the township zoning board, to allow for hospital to be located there.
The company Landis represents, Boston Properties, has experience in building hospitals and medical buildings, and he hopes this gives him an edge. “We have two hospitals under construction right now in Massachusetts, and we just completed an eight-year project for the National Institutes of Health on government-owned land in Maryland,” says Landis. “I would hope that other sites might not be able to provide everything that Boston Properties can because, in fact, we are an experienced developer of hospitals. No other developer in the Princeton region would be an experienced developer of hospitals.”
The Princeton Nurseries property, located just north of Forrestal Village, adjacent to the new 100-acre Barclay Square apartment complex, would also require a rezoning or a use variance.
A source close to the university confirms that the property site is being actively marketed to the decision makers at the hospital. Of more than 250 acres available on the property, more than 100 are in Plainsboro, and 150 are in South Brunswick.
A major advantage for the Princeton Nurseries site is that is likely to face less opposition from neighbors than Carnegie Center West, located adjacent to the Canal Pointe, Colonnade Pointe, Princeton Greens, and Glen Acres residential communities.
As a case in point, residents from Canal Pointe and Colonnade Pointe appeared before West Windsor Council on April 25 to oppose the location of the hospital at Carnegie Center West.
Connie Maglione, a former township committeewoman and member of the Canal Pointe Homeowners Association, presented the council with a petition signed by 455 residents of the community.
“We oppose Carnegie Center West as a location for the hospital,” Maglione said. “We believe it would adversely affect the quality of life of the Canal Pointe Community.” She added the community has undertaken a “proactive effort” to keep the hospital off the site.
Tom Crane, president of the Colonnade Pointe Association and a former town council candidate, submitted a petition with 92 signatures. He pointed out that for the hospital to develop the property, the township would have to conduct a planning and rezoning process. “We’re telling you, before it begins, that we do not think it’s a good idea and it shouldn’t be considered.”
One resident said that the hospital would “disrupt our lifestyle and adversely affect our housing values.”
Coming from a different point of view was Colonnade Pointe resident Peter Hempel. “Proximity of a hospital might actually raise our property values. I’ve heard talk that they may want to build a wellness center there. If that happens, I can guarantee you that I can get at least another $10,”000 for my condo. I would like to have a hospital near me, not another office park.”
