Princeton Acquires Westminster Choir College Campus 

The campus has been sold to the town of Princeton, New Jersey, for $42 million

The Municipality of Princeton has now finalized its $42 million acquisition and formal ownership of the 23-acre Westminster Choir College campus property from Rider University.  

This acquisition comes after more than five years of lawsuits over the historic site’s future. Originally gifted to Westminster in 1935 by philanthropist Sophia Strong Taylor to train ministers of music, the campus has become the subject of legal disputes over whether its religious covenant prohibits transfer to secular entities, the Daily Princetonian reported. 

Westminster remained independent until 1991, when financial difficulties led to a merger with Rider University, which has since maintained Westminster’s original programs. While preserving its legacy, the new property management will now adapt the venue for public facility needs.

Additionally, Princeton has obtained the licenses for the Music Together, Princeton Pro Musica, and the Greater Princeton Youth Orchestra nonprofits that currently operate on the site, and is working to retain Rider’s Westminster Conservatory of Music’s programs on the property.

A New Jersey planning firm, Topology, is also being consulted to help “identify a vision for the site that is both implementable and worthy of the Municipality’s sizable investment.”

“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,” said Deputy Administrator Deanna Stockton. “Our work with Rider to ensure a seamless transition has been positive and productive.”

“We are thrilled to announce that the Municipality has been successful in securing this property for the residents of Princeton,” added Council President Mia Sacks. “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.”

“We are pleased that the legal hurdles involving the acquisition of this property have finally been resolved,” Mayor Mark Freda expressed. “We are eager to move forward together with the community to come up with the best plan for this site and our residents.”