By Anne Levin

At its June 12 meeting, Princeton Council passed a resolution providing support for the New Jersey Department of Transportation’s (NJDOT) concept plan for improvements to the midblock crosswalk on Nassau Street between Thomas Sweet Ice Cream and Princeton University’s building at 185 Nassau Street. The proposal calls for expanding and upgrading the pedestrian crosswalk.

Concurrently, the University is converting the front lawn of 185 Nassau Street into a space to be inviting to the public as well as the University community. According to Ronald McCoy, University architect, Office of the University Architect, the project is part of “an ongoing portfolio of opportunities to enhance the campus landscape.”

The Betsey Stockton garden, which the University planted in 2018 between Firestone Library and Nassau Street, was an inspiration. Stockton was a prominent African American missionary and educator in the 19th century, and a former slave of University President Ashbel Green. The grasses and flowering plants of that garden serve as a green roof for the library’s B and C floors.

“Building on the success of the Betsey Stockton garden, we prioritized this project as an opportunity to enhance campus landscape that is also an integral part of the Princeton community, Nassau Street, and the local merchants,” McCoy said. “We want to enhance the public use of this space.”

The area will include new paving, lawns, ground cover, benches, cafО chairs, and tables. “The garden is designed for informal social gatherings, public events, classroom discussions, and opportunities to exhibit the work of the Lewis Center for the Arts/Visual Arts students,” said McCoy.

Originally known as the Nassau Street School, the building at 185 Nassau Street was constructed in 1909 in Classic Revival style. The University bought the building from the Princeton Board of Education in 1963. Two decades later, it was renovated to house a new theater, additional storage and office space, a permanent exhibition gallery, a new film studio and cinema, a dance studio, acting studio, and a common room. The programs in Dance, Theater,

Music Theater, and the Princeton Atelier were relocated to the University’s Lewis Center for the Arts when it opened in 2017. The Program in Visual Arts has expanded to fill all of 185 Nassau Street.

Since the project is adjacent and across the street from the Central Historic District, it was given a courtesy review, and an endorsement from the Princeton Historic Commission.

The crosswalk for which the municipality approved improvements last week was suggested by the NJDOT. “We all know this is a very highly used crosswalk. The DOT actually approached us. It’s fantastic that they’re being pro-active,” said Councilmember David Cohen at the June 12 meeting.

The project includes enhanced lighting, because it can be dangerous to cross the street at night, and it is highly used because of its proximity to Thomas Sweet Ice Cream. The redesign could include bumping out sidewalks to make the crosswalk shorter, widening the crosswalk, and raising it to the height of the curbs. 

Asked if the improvements to the crosswalk will be an asset to the 185 Nassau Street project, McCoy said he was unaware of the planned improvements. “But the design will likely increase public access, and enhancements to the safety of access, such as the crosswalk, will be very helpful,” he said.