Ten Things That Will Happen In Princeton In 2026!!

2025 was a big year for the lawn sign industry in Princeton

It’s time for the annual ‘Walkable Princeton’ predictions for the year ahead, continuing a tradition that started in 2014! Check them out and then read on to find out how many of our predictions for 2025 came true!

First, some things that will not happen. There will probably not be a resolution to the long-running effort to build apartments at the old Princeton Seminary lands. Upgrades to Community Park South, which have been discussed for decades, will probably not start. A plan to replace the old Dinky train, which broke down nine times in two weeks earlier this year, will probably not appear.

But these things might happen…

‘Wayfinding Reform’ – Princeton’s Downtown Business Boosting organization, ‘Experience Princeton’, got a new director this year, Robin Lapidus, who said that “improving wayfinding” is one of her top priorities. That would mean better signs to guide visitors to parking decks and stores. Princeton Council is usually very supportive of Experience Princeton, so they are likely to do something to make improved signage happen. (Likelihood: 6/10)
Nassau Street streetscape project finally starts – In 2016, the town of Princeton hired LRK consultants to come up with a plan for how to redesign the sidewalks and street fittings on Nassau Street. In 2024, a second set of consultants presented a ‘concept plan’ for the work. 2026 could be the year that construction actually begins. (Likelihood: 5/10).
New ‘art tax’ – Princeton Council’s “Public Art Task Force” will recommend a tax on new apartment buildings to create a fund for public art. Everyone likes art, but not so much as to pay for it out of regular property taxes. Taxing new housing will be presented as a way to get funds for new art for ‘free’. (Likelihood: 7/10)
Plan for a new fire station – In November 2024, Princeton Council awarded a contract to plan upgrades to the fire station on Witherspoon Street. The work was supposed to be done in six months, but, one year on, nothing has been released to the public. The big reveal might come in 2026. Could be…expensive. (Likelihood: 8/10)
Contested Democratic primary for Princeton Council – At least two new people are interested in running for Princeton Council, so it looks like we will have a contested Council primary for the first time since 2019. (Likelihood: 8/10)
Redevelopment plan for Franklin Avenue parking lot will be released – The surface parking lot at Franklin Ave and Harris Road has been envisioned as a site for housing since at least 2006. It was included in the town’s “Third Round” affordable housing plan in 2019, which meant that development was supposed to be completed by the end of 2025. But, so far, we have not even seen a site plan for what will be built there. Council member David Cohen recently stated that there would probably be some kind of action relating to it in “early 2026”. Could an actual site plan be forthcoming? (Likelihood: 5/10)
New Whole Foods Opens in Montgomery Township – Construction on the new ‘Montgomery Promenade’ mall has been progressing next to Princeton Airport, and the anchor tenant, Whole Foods Market, should open in 2026. (Likelihood: 7/10)
A new use will emerge for the old ‘Bank of America’ building – Since the Bank of America shut down at 90 Nassau Street in August 2024, the first floor of the building has lain empty. That seems bizarre for such a superb property in the heart of downtown Princeton. A new use will surely emerge in 2026. (Likelihood: 4/10)
Construction begins at Community Park and Littlebrook Elementary Schools – Princeton voters approved a major school bond referendum in January 2025 but many parents seem unaware that some massive construction is about to start at their local schools. According to the School District, construction at Community Park Elementary School and Littlebrook Elementary School will begin in “March 2026”, so, probably at some point in 2026. (Likelihood: 8/10)
A townhouse plan at Thanet Road – Earlier this year, the town of Princeton approved a plan for new housing to meet state affordable housing requirements. The housing will be built out over ten years. One of the first projects from this plan will be for stacked townhouses at Thanet Road, near the existing ‘Avalon Princeton Circle’ apartments. New zoning was put in place for these townhouses earlier this year, which suggests that a site plan could appear as soon as 2026. (Likelihood: 6/10)

And now, a review of our predictions for 2025! (Original blog here: “Ten Things That Will Happen In Princeton in 2025!!“)

“A new road, called ‘Magnolia Terrace’, will open.” Did it happen? No! A new road between Terhune Road and the Princeton Shopping Center is still under construction. It is not clear when it will ever open, or what it will be called, although a very nice walk-bike path alongside it has been completed and even featured in this bike ride.
“New sidewalks on Terhune Road.”Did it happen? No! Not in the section that was predicted anyway (Mt Lucas Road – Jefferson Road). A major sidewalk and traffic calming project was completed further east on Terhune Road, in the blocks between North Harrison St and Grover Ave.
“Roadwork and new bike lanes on North Harrison Street”Did it happen? Yes! A lot of people on social media expressed bewilderment when new protected bike lanes appeared next to the Princeton Shopping Center in November. But if they had been reading ‘Walkable Princeton’, they would have known that the whole plan was approved by Princeton Council in June.
“Nassau Street outdoor dining to expand.” Did it happen? No! Princeton Council amended ordinances regulating street dining on Nassau Street in 2024, but there was no obvious expansion of street dining.
“A housing plan for the Westminster Choir Site.” Did it happen? No! To the extent that there is any plan for the Westminster Choir College site – and so far there is really not much of a plan – it does not include housing.
“Commercial zoning reform”. Did it happen? No! The town that famously banned ‘Sakrid Coffee Roasters’ from roasting coffee beans did pretty much zero to expand commercial uses in 2025.
“New sidepath on Cherry Hill Road.” Did it happen? Yes! It is actually not finished yet, but the town of Princeton has made substantial progress on extending a walking / biking path on Cherry Hill Road up to Crestview Drive. It should open in 2026.
“Opening of the new Princeton University Art Museum.” Did it happen? Yes! Whatever you think about Princeton University, they get stuff done, and the new museum opened on Halloween.
“NJ Transit review will recommend service cuts.” Did it happen? No! Not only were there no service cuts announced, but the ‘restructuring review’ that was announced in April 2024, which was supposed to report back “within 12 months”, seemed to completely disappear without any report or discussion.
“New York City congestion pricing will definitely start.”Did it happen? Yes! This happened, and maybe it was obvious that it was going to happen, but New York is a strange place, and Governor Kathy Hochul had already postponed the congestion charge program once before.