Princeton preservation commission backs revised 344 Nassau plan, urges zoning support to preserve Horner House

The Princeton Historic Preservation Commission voted Dec. 1 to support a revised plan for 344 Nassau Street that separates a new three‑story residential building from the historic Horner House and asks the Zoning Board of Adjustment to grant variances needed to permit the design.

The commission’s recommendation follows a redesign by the applicant that reduced height and massing, cut the unit count from 15 to 10 (two units reserved for affordable housing), and eliminated any demolition of the Horner House. Elizabeth, a preservation staff member, told the commission the proposed separation and other design changes “preserve the historic fabric and features of the significant Horner House” and recommended conditions including delineation of a preservation area, product sheets for windows and doors, detailed landscape and fence specifications, and a ground‑penetrating radar (GPR) survey with archaeologist oversight.

Nut graf: The vote was advisory — the commission does not decide variances — but its support is intended to guide the Zoning Board. The project team framed the trade‑offs as necessary to save the Horner House while still delivering new housing, including the two required affordable units under the AHO‑2 overlay. The commission emphasized that its endorsement should be accompanied by clear design and archaeological safeguards.

Applicant and neighborhood compromise Daniel Barsky, the applicant, presented a…