On Tuesday, the Municipality of Princeton took formal ownership of the Westminster Choir College campus, a 23-acre property about a 10-minute walk due north of the Engineering Quad.
In a press release, officials confirmed that the town had finalized its $42 million acquisition from Rider University, with the sale approved by Judge Robert Lougy of the New Jersey Superior Court on March 5 and formal recording done with the Mercer County Clerk this week.
Council President Mia Sacks said in the press release that the property would be adapted for public facility needs, which she called “urgent.”
“We look forward to engaging the community over the next 18 months in a multi-faceted planning exercise with robust public engagement and maximum stakeholder input,” she added.
In the press release, Deputy Administrator Deanna Stockton said in the latest release that the municipality has been working closely with Rider University on “a seamless transition,” covering matters such as security, IT, landscaping, and fire systems.
Princeton officials have hired Topology, a New Jersey-based planning firm, to assist with development.
The acquisition comes after more than half a decade of lawsuits, public resistance, and concern over the historic site’s future. Originally gifted to Westminster in 1935 by philanthropist Sophia Strong Taylor for the purpose of training ministers of music, the property has become the subject of legal disputes over whether its religious covenant prohibits transfer to secular entities.
Westminster remained independent until 1991, when severe financial difficulties led to a merger with Rider University. According to court records, the Princeton Theological Seminary declined to assume administrative control, prompting the merger, despite conflicting with Taylor’s original stipulations. As part of the agreement, Rider committed to preserving Westminster’s original programs and mission.
In 2016, facing major financial shortfalls, Rider University announced plans to sell, relocate, or shut down Westminster Choir College. The decision triggered backlash from students, faculty, and alumni, who formed the Westminster Foundation to preserve the college in Princeton.
A 2018 lawsuit filed by the Foundation and faculty members successfully blocked Rider’s attempted sale of the campus to Beijing Kaiwen Education Technology Company. That same year, Princeton Theological Seminary also sued Rider, arguing the 1991 merger agreement required Westminster to remain on its original campus. That case remains unresolved.
The property has remained vacant since 2020, after Rider University’s decision to move the Choir College programs to Rider’s Lawrenceville campus.
Despite the legal resolutions this week, the acquisition is unlikely to bring an end to the legal challenges.
In September, Attorney Bruce Afran, representing the Westminster Foundation and advising Princeton Theological Seminary in related lawsuits, said that “the town will not avoid heavy litigation.”
The announcement comes after public meetings that were held last fall, when town council members approved ordinances to pursue acquisition despite opposition from Westminster faculty, alumni, and preservationists. Critics expressed concern that the site’s musical legacy would be lost and questioned the town’s ability to responsibly manage the facility’s cultural infrastructure.
At the time, longtime Westminster Conservatory teacher Amy Wolf warned that the property’s musical resources should be preserved and feared it might instead be turned into “a 22-acre soccer field.” Other residents questioned the transparency of the acquisition process and called for the formation of a public task force to ensure accountability.
The three nonprofits currently operating on the site — Music Together, Princeton Pro Musica, and the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra — have had their licenses transferred to the town. The municipality is working to allow the Westminster Conservatory to continue operations on the property.
Princeton Mayor Mark Freda echoed a sense of optimism. “We are pleased that the legal hurdles involving the acquisition of this property have finally been resolved,” he said in the press release. “We are eager to move forward together with the community to come up with the best plan for this site and our residents.”
As public planning efforts are set to begin, it remains to be seen whether the town’s vision will live up to the historic legacy of the Choir college and whether it can withstand the legal battles that ensue.
Hayk Yengibaryan is an associate News editor, senior Sports writer, and education director for the ‘Prince.’ He is from Glendale, Calif.
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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