Plans for the Princeton Center for the Arts and Education (PCAE) to locate to St. Joseph’s Seminary will be reviewed by the Plainsboro Development Review Committee on Tuesday, May 17.
First on the agenda, the Congregation of the Mission of St. Vincent DePaul, which runs the seminary at 75 Mapleton Road, has applied for a major subdivision of the seminary property with variances. Then, the PCAE has applied for a preliminary and final site plan approval with variances for the same property, which is also on the agenda for May 17.
Along with the American Boychoir School, the French American School of Princeton and the Wilberforce School will operate at what will be known as the Princeton Center for Arts & Education (PCAE).
The PCAE is a nonprofit entity and has signed a 20-year renewable lease with the seminary, with the American Boychoir being the lead institution on site. The ability to economize was one of the reasons the schools decided to join efforts. All three schools will reportedly begin operating at the site in late August.
This past fall the Township Committee adopted two ordinances to rezone the St. Joseph’s Seminary property to allow for educational and cultural arts uses on site as well as for a cemetery zone.
The buildings on site are now zoned for educational and arts type uses, including for performance areas, practice areas, dormitories, eating space, and other uses associated with a school.
The French American School, which offers classes for students in pre-K through sixth grade, has locations on All Saints Road in Princeton and on Carter Road in Lawrence. Wilberforce, a private Christian school, currently leases space from the Princeton Church of Christ on River Road.
The PCAE, which has received a grant from the New Jersey Cultural Trust, also plans to raise $2 million to bring the seminary buildings into code compliance.
