Reworked Nassau Street addition wins preliminary support; commission forms subcommittee to review materials and landscaping

The Princeton Historic Preservation Commission on April 7 reviewed a substantially revised proposal to add a one‑story conference room and reconfigure parking at 342 and 338 Nassau Street. Commissioners and the applicant said the new design, which reduces the addition’s height and shifts it farther from North Harrison Street, substantially improves visibility of the historic structure and responds to earlier HPC and Planning Board concerns. The commission did not vote on an approval; instead it agreed to a subcommittee review of final materials, landscaping, lighting and historic‑area delineation before staff issues a final advisory memo to the Planning Board.

Why it matters: The proposed project involves a significant addition adjacent to a designated historic building in the Jugtown district and a site plan that combines two existing parking lots. The commission’s guidance is intended to reduce impacts on the historic façade, preserve mature hedge screening along Harrison Street where possible, and limit perceived invitation for vehicular cut‑through across the site.

What changed in the revised design

The applicants presented a reworked scheme that: - Moves the conference addition further away from North Harrison Street and reduces its ridge height so the new ridge sits roughly at the sill height of the…