Princeton Weekly Bulletin September 21, 1998
University acquires Prospect St. properties
In accordance with the terms of an agreement struck a year ago with the Prospect Street eating club known as Dial, Elm and Cannon (DEC), the University has assumed ownership of two club properties, Dial Lodge and Elm Club.
DEC retains an option to purchase Notestein Hall, the former Cannon Club building that currently houses the Office of Population Research, by April 1999. DEC is seeking to raise the funds that would allow it to complete the purchase and refit the building as a dining and social facility. The club notified its undergraduate members this summer that it would suspend its operations, pending the acquisition and renovation of the new facility.
While some DEC members had intended to take rooms in the Dial and Elm buildings, the club notified them last spring of the possibility it would suspend operations, in time for them to draw for undergraduate housing. Regular University dining contracts also are available to DEC members.
Dial to become academic
Dial Lodge will eventually be used for academic purposes. The building will be renovated, then incorporated into the social sciences complex to include Robertson, Corwin, Fisher and Bendheim halls, and the planned Wallace Social Sciences Building.
The University is now using Elm Club to house 24 undergraduates until mid-October, when the final section of the newly constructed dorm, Scully Hall, will become available.
In May 1997, the University reached an agreement with DEC that would provide a framework for transferring its Elm and Dial properties to the University; in exchange, the University would transfer the Cannon property and a total cash payment of $2 million to the club. As part of the agreement, DEC immediately transferred the back lot of its Dial property to the University. The lot, which was used by the club for student parking, will become part of the site for the Wallace building.