Princeton Approves $33K Planning Contract For Westminster Campus Redevelopment Work

PRINCETON, NJ — The Princeton Mayor and Council renewed a professional services agreement on Monday with Topology NJ LLC for a portion of the redevelopment plan for the Westminster Campus.

The contract amount is not to exceed $33,000, and the term of the agreement will be 12 months.

The Council previously awarded Topology a contract in February 2025 for $115,000 for 15 months.

The new contract authorizes Topology NJ LLC to provide professional planning services tied to the development of a redevelopment plan for the site.

Notably, this Redevelopment Plan 'will not, however, result in a comprehensive framework for the campus,'" according to the memo to the council. "This proposal is largely focused on a specific opportunity: McCarter Theatre’s potential acquisition of a portion of the Study Area."

This Redevelopment Plan will establish a framework for just the McCarter project in a portion of the site, with further planning still ongoing for the remainde, according to the memo.

The scope of services proposed by Topology includes four tasks leading to the creation of a Redevelopment Plan meeting the standards of the New Jersey Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.

Topology will also produce a presentation on the Redevelopment Plan and provide it at two public hearings – one before the governing body and one before the Planning Board.

Additionally, they will provide any needed permitting assistance.

The work is expected to take approximately four months from authorization, with total fees not to exceed $33,000.

In September 2024, the Council adopted an ordinance to move ahead with its plans to acquire the Westminster Choir College on 101 Walnut Lane.

The ordinance authorizes the acquisition of the property “by negotiation, purchase, condemnation or eminent domain.”

In November 2025, Chris Colley of Topology presented a list of 15 objectives on what Princeton could envision for the historic 23-acre site.

Promoting arts, culture, and music, and supporting open space were among the ideas the public suggested they would like to see at the newly acquired 23-acre former Westminster Choir College campus.

The Westminster Choir College (WCC) campus belongs to Rider University and in 2019, Rider moved its students to the University’s main campus in Lawrenceville.

Previous Reporting:

• Vision For Westminster College Campus In Princeton Discussed
• Princeton Hires Planning Firm For Westminster Choir College Site

Editor's Note: The article has been updated to clarify that the contract is only for a small portion of McCarter Theater.

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