As others review the year, we at ‘Walkable Princeton’ are looking forward, to a new year, which looks certain to be eventful. There will be a new President, and a fiercely-contested election for NJ Governor, but what will happen in Princeton and the local area? Here are ten predictions for the year ahead…and don’t forget to scroll down for a review of our predictions from last year!!

1. A new road, called ‘Magnolia Terrace’, will open. “Magnolia Terrace” will connect the Princeton Shopping Center directly to Terhune Road around the side of the new “The Alice” apartments. That will create a new entrance / exit to the mall, running roughly parallel to Grover Ave. Likelihood: 7/10.
2. New sidewalks on Terhune Road. Speaking of Terhune Road, the section between Mt Lucas Rd and N Harrison St will finally get proper sidewalks in 2025. Likelihood: 6/10.
3. Roadwork and new bike lanes on North Harrison Street. Drivers fed up with roadwork will be relieved that the years-long reconstruction of Witherspoon St is complete. But expect lots more digging on N Harrison St next year. And potentially also some new protected bike lanes. Likelihood: 9/10 for the roadwork, 3/10 for the bike lanes.
4. Nassau Street outdoor dining to expand. Eateries on Nassau St have mostly not been allowed to have sidewalk dining up till now. Expect that to change in 2025, with many more businesses taking advantage. Likelihood: 7/10.
5. A housing plan for the Westminster Choir Site. Princeton Council’s audacious plan to purchase the Westminster Choir College site for $50 million prompted questions about what exactly they want to do with the land? Don’t be surprised if Council pinpoints this site as a future location for affordable housing, to satisfy state mandates that were issued earlier this year. Of course, neighboring residents will object. Likelihood: 6/10.
6. Commercial zoning reform. The town will expand the types of businesses that can operate in commercial zones in Princeton. Potentially, this will avoid embarrassments like what happened last year, when ‘Sakrid Coffee Roasters’ were told that they weren’t allowed to roast coffee at their site on Witherspoon St. Likelihood: 6/10.
7. New sidepath on Cherry Hill Road. The town will expand the sidepath for cyclists and walkers on Cherry Hill Road. And the one on Rosedale Road too. Likelihood: 6/10
8. Opening of the new Princeton University Art Museum. The museum, which has been under construction for years, should finally reopen in the fall. It will be amazing. Likelihood: 7/10.
9. NJ Transit review will recommend service cuts. In April 2024, a ‘restructuring review’ of NJ Transit was launched, which was supposed to identify operational savings of 20%. If that comes out, it will surely mean cutbacks, of the type that cost Princeton its 655 ‘Health Line’ bus service in 2015. The Princeton ‘Dinky’ rail service could also be at risk. Likelihood: 5/10.
10. New York City congestion pricing will definitely start. New York elected officials have done almost everything wrong in their efforts to impose a charge for drivers entering Manhattan, but the overall principle is good, and they will finally make it happen in 2025. Likelihood: 7/10.

And now, let’s see how our predictions for 2024 worked out!! (Original article is here: Ten Things To Watch For In Princeton In 2024!)

1. Terra Momo Bread Shop To Be Torn Down. Did it happen? No! The building is still there, lying empty and unused.
2. Triumph Brew Pub to open on Palmer Square. Did it happen? Yes! And the opening on June 28 was first reported at ‘Walkable Princeton’! (Report: New “Triumph Brewing Company” Open At Last In Palmer Square In Princeton)
3. A New Affordable Housing Plan for Franklin Ave. Did it happen? No! The town has now been talking about building housing on a large surface parking lot on Franklin Ave for more than 10 years, but there is still no site plan for the redevelopment.
4. New affordable housing targets for Princeton. Did it happen? Yes! Once again, the story first appeared in ‘Walkable Princeton’, the website of choice for the discerning Princeton resident! (Report: State: Town of Princeton Must Plan For 276 New Affordable Homes To Be Built Over Next Ten Years)
5. Objector group to sue over mixed-income housing. Did it happen? Yes! The “Princeton Coalition for Responsible Development” launched a wide-ranging lawsuit against the town, to try to overturn the new Princeton Master Plan and efforts to build mixed-income housing on the old Princeton Seminary lands.
6. New faces on the Planning Board. Did it happen? Yes! Pallavi Nuka, Fredi Perlmutter, and Claudia Wilson Anderson all joined the Board.
7. Town to Settle Crash Litigation. Did it happen? No! The town still faces a lawsuit from the family of a woman who was killed after a high-speed chase involving Mayor Mark Freda. The mayor was disciplined by the Princeton First Aid and Rescue Service for his actions, but still cruised to re-election in November.
8. Textile Research Institute to Sell Up. Did it happen? No! Nobody knows what goes on at the mysterious ‘Textile Research Institute’ on Prospect Ave. It definitely did not get sold this year, possibly because there is a portal to the Upside Down in there?
9. Jasna Polana sold for redevelopment. Did it happen? No! The Jasna Polana golf course did get sold, but it will remain a golf course.
10. A new launch for the Paul Robeson House. Did it happen? No! There has been much progress with the restoration of the Robeson House on Witherspoon St, but the new target date for reopening is now “April 9, 2025”

Final score for 2024: 4 out of 10. Time to get a better crystal ball??

Thanks for reading this year, and have a great 2025!!!