Princeton is deciding how to balance its fire department’s future needs with its history and community ties.
Recent steps include funding new designs for the firehouse headquarters and discussions about the historic Chestnut Street Firehouse.
These plans bring challenges, especially balancing costs, upgrades, and preserving what matters to the town.
Last month, the Princeton Council approved spending $58,800 on conceptual design services for a new fire department headquarters.
A Baltimore-based architectural firm, Manns Woodward Studios, Inc., which specializes in firehouse designs, was engaged to take on the project.
Nonetheless, questions remain about what will happen with the Chestnut Street Firehouse, a historical part of Princeton since the early 1800s.
At a council meeting, William Shields, the president of Engine Company 1, spoke about the Chestnut Street Firehouse and urged the council to consider its future use carefully.
Shields, who has been with the fire department for nearly 55 years, described the firehouse as a two-story building with a basement, a main floor with a kitchen, assembly area, and rig room, and an upstairs with meeting space and offices.
The firehouse has parquet floors and a half bath upstairs and has recently been used for Mercer County Senior lunch programs.
Shields argued that selling or moving the firehouse could lead to long-term regret and high costs.
He suggested forming a committee of community members and current and former firefighters to explore options for the firehouse.
He stressed its deep roots in the town’s history, warning that losing such a central, historic location would be impossible to reverse.
While these discussions focus on Chestnut Street, the need for updates to the current firehouse headquarters is also pressing.
Built in 1992, the main firehouse had problems like roof leaks, aging mechanical systems, and non-compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Mayor Mark Freda explained that changes in how the firehouse is used have added to the strain.
Over the years, the town has hired six full-time firefighters, a paid fire chief, and combined fire inspectors with firefighting roles.
These full-time roles mean more people are in the firehouse 24/7, which it was not designed to handle.
The mechanical and electrical systems are past their usable life and likely need upgrades.
Mayor Freda said the council chose to focus on a five-year design study because it’s hard to predict the department’s needs beyond that time.
For example, volunteer membership is currently low, and it’s unclear how the fire department might change over time.
However, Councilman Leighton Newlin suggested looking further ahead, at least ten years, to align with the town’s plans for smart growth.
The council also discussed broader concerns, such as climate resilience and avoiding overloading the department’s remaining volunteers.
The town continues to struggle to strike the right balance between addressing immediate issues and planning for the future.
Getting input from the community is very important to make a smart and fair decision that works for everyone.
Shields’ idea to form a committee with residents, alongside current and former firefighters, is a good way to make sure all opinions are heard and different ideas are considered.
This could help Princeton find a way to protect the firehouse’s history while also meeting the town’s needs for updated and practical facilities.
By carefully considering all the options, Princeton can preserve an important part of its past while planning for the future.
Whatever the outcome, these decisions will shape the town’s fire department and community for years to come.