The former Westminster Choir College property on Walnut Lane, across the street from Princeton High School, was officially acquired by the Municipality of Princeton on April 1.
The town filed an action for eminent domain in Mercer County Superior Court on Jan. 14. Eminent domain allows the government to take private property for public use and to compensate the owner.
Rider University and the Princeton Theological Seminary, which both claimed ownership of the property, were named as defendants. They filed non-contesting answers, which acknowledged the town’s right to take title to the campus.
Rider University, the Princeton Theological Seminary and Princeton agreed to a stipulation March 3 that set the appraised value of the campus at $42 million. An order to approve the town’s acquisition of the property for that price was entered two days later.
A declaration of taking was filed with the Mercer County Clerk on April 1.
The property has been at the center of litigation regarding its legal ownership for several years, but the town’s acquisition of it through eminent domain is absolute, officials said. It eliminates any and all claims, restrictions or encroachments by any party over the property.
The 23-acre campus had been owned by Rider University, which acquired it through a merger with the Westminster Choir College in 1992. Rider moved the choir college to its Lawrence Township campus in September 2020.
The Westminster Foundation, which is not associated with the Westminster Choir College, expressed disappointment over the latest move. It had filed a lawsuit in 2019 to block Rider University’s decision to relocate the choir college to Lawrence Township.
“While we are disappointed that this step was taken before the legal case was resolved by the courts, our attorney, Bruce Afran, has spoken with the town’s attorney in the eminent domain case, who said the town is looking forward to engaging stakeholders – including the Westminster Foundation – in discussions regarding the potential for joint use of the property after the town completes its acquisition,” said Constance Fee, president of the Westminster Foundation.
The Princeton Council set the acquisition process in motion when it adopted an ordinance in September 2024 that authorized the town to acquire the campus by negotiation, purchase, condemnation or eminent domain.
Princeton officials had said that acquiring the property would enable the town to more effectively plan for its long-term future, such as providing much-needed education and recreational facilities for the community and the school district.
At its Feb. 10 meeting, the Princeton Council hired consultant Topology LLC to study how the campus could best be used to meet the needs of the town.
The study will present a preferred alternative among three options. It will include a concept diagram, a financial feasibility assessment and an implementation plan.
In the meantime, the licenses for three nonprofits operating at the site – Music Together, Princeton Pro Musica and the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra – have been transferred to the town.
Princeton officials also are working with Rider University to make it possible for the Westminster Conservatory of Music, which is a part of the university, to continue operating on the property.
