The new Borough plaza, located next to the public library in downtown Princeton, is scheduled to be completed after fall break.
The plaza, funded in part by the University, remains nameless at this point. The Township Council recently discussed naming the plaza but made no definite plans.
"There's no great hurry to find a name," said Princeton Borough Administrator Robert Bruschi.
The University has donated $150,000 to the $1.1 million project. The contribution is intended to furnish the plaza, and any remaining funds can be used at the discretion of the Borough for the plaza in the future.
Bruschi said the University added to the furnishings of the square with designs for benches, waiting areas for buses and other "amenities."
Dean of the University School of Architecture Stan Allen, Art Museum director Susan Taylor and University Director of Community and State Affairs Pam Hersh attended the plaza's art committee meetings for furnishing the plaza.
Carl Peters, engineer for the Princeton Borough, confirmed that the new square will have a clothing store, Rouge, and an outdoor steakhouse. Additionally, a grocery store will open on Spring Street.
The defining feature of the square will be a parklike courtyard. Bruschi said he hopes the library's wireless Internet will eventually extend to the plaza. The square will also include 24 apartments — with 53 more expected by 2005 — and a parking garage that opened last spring.
Parking is free for up to half an hour, Peters said. He said there are always "about a hundred" spots available for use, especially now, as the new businesses have not yet opened.
Peters said the square will surely be finished "by Thanksgiving," if not sooner.
"We're hoping to have it done on Oct. 30. It's an optimistic schedule, but we hope to have it done by then," Bruschi said.
The Borough plans for the square to be finished in time for the "buy local" campaign, in which merchants will have the opportunity to reach out to the community by offering consumer incentives, such as specials and prix-fixe menus.
"[The 'buy local' campaign] was very successful last year," Bruschi said.
Hersh said that University involvement in town projects is not a new development. "We are continually involved in the community — both with cash and volunteer service in countless ways," she said in an email.
Bruschi said the University's influence on reshaping the municipal area of the Borough was highly significant.
Princeton Public Library was another recent community project that utilized University funds. Other community projects aided by Princeton include Borough public schools, Nassau Street's Garden Theatre and the Dinky station on University Place.
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