I would like to react to some points raised in two letters published in the August 12 issue the News. I want first to say that I am convinced I represent a silent majority fed up with all the squabbling about the station redevelopment for which we have in principle always been in favor.
The uncertainty created by the fighting about it has damaged the image of West Windsor, gave a bad name to our administration, made it nearly impossible to sell our houses, in spite of the good school system, and reduced West Windsor to a second class township compared to Plainsboro. They built their village and library while we were still fighting and litigating about the potential future of ours, and in the meantime allowing the building of a nondescript development of circa 500 apartments on Clarksville Road that added to traffic and general congestion without affording any amenities.
More land is still available for the same kind of mindless development unless we take control of our township and get our act together. Both the Association of Realtors (the News, February 19, 2010) and the Mercer regional Chamber of Commerce (the News, August 12) supported the station redevelopment and transit village.
In regard to Steve Goldin, CEO of InterCap –– it is common practice for a businessman to create his company under a different name and become the CEO of the same, as contested by John Hinsdale in his letter (the News, August 12) –– I don’t consider him my friend, nor do I approve of his tough behavior. I consider him a businessman who puts his own interest first. If his advertising campaign offends you, it is a matter of taste not dishonesty.
I thought Hillier had done a good job. He had good taste and no self interest as he was only a consultant to us. His plan was too grand, but he was prepared to scale it down. Unfortunately he was faced with the usual uncompromising opposition. The reason that the administration cannot win against the vocal opposition of the few is that they do not want the redevelopment, full stop. The few like the status quo and do not understand that the alternative is bad, unstoppable development.
The long letter by Hemi Nae is a case in point. She claims to speak for many residents, but certainly not for me, a 42-year resident, or for anybody I know. If the area is not blighted, just look at the plaza where Acme was and at 571, then compare it even with the main street of Hightstown and judge which is a more desirable neighborhood to attract commercial business.
Once we have a “redevelopment zone” we will have the right to decide what to do within it. If we let Goldin go fly a kite and he proceeds with his litigation, he may win and with time change the zoning and build what he likes on his land. In the future we shall have nothing but houses, houses, and houses sprouting up like mushrooms with no plan, no town center, and we shall become the least attractive suburb of Princeton.
The mayor is right and pragmatic when he says that the alternative to voting for the ordinances is to continue the litigation and spend more tax money for an indefinite length of time. The judge’s decision concerning Intercap is not going to rely on the fiscal impact analysis that we are now doing, so that is not going to change the outcome. He wants to avoid a similar situation to the Toll Brothers (I was here then and can testify how much it cost us). In that case the judge did not wait for any financial analysis but awarded the developer the right to build more units than was proposed by West Windsor, as well as removing the planning authority from West Windsor. We lost on all fronts and against the same lawyer Goldin is employing now.
My conclusion coincides with the mayor’s. InterCap may not be exactly 100 percent what we wanted, but the reality is that the alternative is much worse. Let’s learn to compromise with what we have, get the best we can out of it, stop squabbling for political reasons, avoid further damage for us residents, and get down to the job of creating together something worth while for West Windsor.
Paola Blelloch
