It’s official: Municipality of Princeton uses eminent domain to take over Westminster Choir College property
The municipality of Princeton announced in a press release sent to Planet Princeton and other media contacts Wednesday morning—and to government-favored news organizations Tuesday—that the town has officially taken over the 23-acre Westminster Choir College campus.
Officials claim that the taking of the property via eminent domain is “absolute, and eliminates any and all claims, restrictions, or encroachments by any other party over the property.”
“We are thrilled to announce that the municipality has been successful in securing this property for the residents of Princeton,” Council President Mia Sacks said in a prepared statement. “The acquisition process has been a smooth one, and now the hard work begins: to reimagine this historic site to meet urgent public facility needs, while honoring the cultural significance of its past and leaving a legacy for future generations. 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.”
On Jan. 14, the municipality of Princeton filed an eminent domain action in New Jersey Superior Court to acquire the property. Rider University and Princeton Theological Seminary did not contest the town’s action. The town is paying Rider University $42 million for the property. A judge approved the sale March 5. Princeton recorded a declaration of taking on April 1 with the Mercer County clerk.
Officials said Rider has been working with the municipality in recent weeks to transfer management of the property.
“We have worked closely with Rider facilities personnel on operational transfer, including security, waste management, utilities, IT, fire and alarm systems, landscaping, and a host of other matters,” Deputy Administrator Deanna Stockton said in a written statement. “Our work with Rider to ensure a seamless transition has been positive and productive.”
The contracts for three nonprofits currently operating on the site—Music Together, Princeton Pro Musica and the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra—have been transferred to Princeton. Officials said the municipality has also been working with Rider University to make it possible for the Westminster Conservatory of Music, currently a part of Rider University, to continue operating on the property.
Princeton recently hired a consulting firm, the New Jersey-based planning firm Topology, to help “identify a vision for the site that is both implementable and worthy of the municipality’s sizable investment.”
“We are pleased that the legal hurdles involving the acquisition of this property have finally been resolved,” Mayor Mark Freda said in a written statement. “We are eager to move forward together with the community to come up with the best plan for this site and our residents.”
Lawyer Bruce Afran is representing a group of Westminster Choir College alumni, faculty and donors who have sued Rider University for closing down the Westminster campus in Princeton. In September, Afran said the group would continue its lawsuit.
“Even through eminent domain, the town will not avoid heavy litigation. Any attempt to take the property by eminent domain would be an attempt to bypass the religious covenant that binds the property,” Afran said at the time. “We would be in a constitutional lawsuit with the town, which could take many years to resolve if they attempt to purchase or seize the property.”
Planet Princeton has reached out to Afran about whether the purchase changes his group’s position. We will update this story when we have more information.
Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.
great news! hopefully this won’t be given to developers to overbuild and avoid taxes, but will instead be given to the schools that desperately need the space.
Putting aside the possible enormous cost to tax payers and the secretive and non-transparent dealings with this acquisition, I want to address what should be a huge concern regarding the Westminster Conservatory of Music, a tuition based not for profit community music school. The premier music school in New Jersey, it is open to anyone of all ages, abilities and experience. We draw students from towns within a 50 mile radius, including Pennsylvania. It has been housed on the campus since its inception in the 1070’s. I live in Princeton and am a proud member of the faculty that is of the highest caliber of teachers of private lessons and classes and as performers. The strong music and theater programs in all of the area elementary through high schools have benefited from the achievements of our students. Our youth programs and our orchestras enrich the lives of many. Our Saturday Honors Music Program offers immersion in music history, jazz, theory, chamber ensembles, etc. Our summer programs introduce students to various musical opportunities. The current location is easily accessible, is safe for children of all ages (many of whom walk from the schools or homes), provides lots of parking directly outside of the buildings we use, provides large studios. The buildings on campus are available for student recitals, concerts and other programs. We don’t know what will become of the town negotiating with Rider regarding the conservatory as Rider reaps financial benefit from the conservatory. I encourage everyone to find out about the school so as to support the importance of remaining on the Princeton campus. Please Speak Up! Website: Westminster Conservatory of Music.
Rider and it’s misguided president ultimately got what they wanted. Money. Shame on the town for doing this during litigation and while there was still a glimmer of hope for Westminster Choir College to relocate once again to Princeton and free itself from Rider university. I hope the Westminster foundation continues to fight against this take over. As a former Conservatory teacher of 27 years, I’m glad to no longer be a part of this mess but hope my former colleagues will continue to teach on the campus under a new administration that can preserve the mission of the school, rather than the interests of Rider.
So…I started teaching at Rider 9 years ago and this was a thing—- the Westminster alum and teachers have been suing over this for years, years! For years, no one has been able to acquire the property legally, and this doesn’t look to be a legal endeavor either.
Just so you’re aware, Rider is probably not going to receive anything substantial for this property. They are merely listed on the receiving end of this transaction because they technically have been on the books since acquiring Westminster, and the legal battles regarding if that is still proper are still ongoing (and nearing conclusion). The property in question is held *in trust*, where Westminster served as the original principal trustee, then Rider stepped into the shoes of Westminster from the 90s forward. Rider was booted as the principal trustee by a very recent judicial determination based on its actions in 2020 when Rider ceased to operate Westminster’s programs on the choir college’s historic campus. This triggered a shifting executory interest to the Theological Seminary, who has been the substitute trustee for the trust property since it was originally purchased for Westminster (conditionally, by one of its benefactresses). The judge determined that Rider clearly forfeited its fee-simple title to the property. Since litigation is still ongoing (now including litigation between Rider and its own legal representatives who oversaw the acquisition back in the 90s), the $42m is being collected and held by the courts, and barring any feats of legal gymnastics, all of that cash will end up in the Seminary’s (deep) coffers, and no longer be eligible to be counted as part of Rider’s dwindling endowment (which is notable, because it was last speculated to account for at least half of the whole university’s total assets).
Another property thatwill pay no property taxes… screwing the middle class in Princeton once again. 42 million. Who is paying for this property?
The residents of Princeton on the hook again for higher taxes. Consider voting for Council Members who remember whom they represent instead of having a cozy relationship with the university president. The university that should be paying significantly higher taxes per Council Member Leighton Newlin. Newlin said Princeton University acts like a hedge fund. Leighton Newlin settled his lawsuit with the university to the tune of $1,200,000 instead of getting a tax cut of 40 percent for EVERY resident taxpayer by having Princeton University pay its fair share to the community.