The twin flagpoles outside the Windsor Athletic Club (WAC) entrance, stars and stripes hanging side by side with the bright red Chinese flag, signaled the newest direction for the facility at 99 Clarksville Road. Initially planned to be the Jewish Community Campus (JCC) of Princeton Mercer Bucks, the 40-acre, 80,000-square-foot property was recast by previous owner Matt Wilson as an athletic facility, the WAC, earlier this year.
The property will now be known as the Sino-U.S. Science, Culture and Sports Center (SSCS), led by SSCS president Zhengzhong Li, who goes by Jack Lee. Wilson closed the sale to Lee and Sino-U.S., Culture and Sports LLC in late August, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at noon last Wednesday, September 3. The terms were not disclosed.
More than 40 people were in attendance at the opening SSCS event, including Lisa Wang, Lee’s wife, Wilson’s wife, Staci, WAC staff members, and West Windsor mayor Shing-Fu Hsueh.
Lee first visited the site November of last year, when the property was vacant and unfinished. The JCC had recently transferred the deed to Wilson after running out of funds to finish construction. Wilson had loaned $11 million to build the center in 2010. Last February Lee returned to the site and was greeted by a new health and fitness facility, brought to fruition through the efforts of the Wilson family.
“We have much more ambition,” Lee told the crowd. “We hope to build this place to be a world-class science, culture, and sports exchange center.”
Pledging to build strong cooperation between China and the U.S., Lee promised to bring more people from China to assist in the cultural exchange project. In addition to local educational programs, Lee envisions sending students to study in China as well as to host Chinese students studying in America. Lee has already started dialogue with his main preexisting tenant, the Wilberforce School, an independent, private Christian school. This fall, Wilberforce is adding grades 9 and 10 to its curriculum.
Lee also emphasized professional training for arts, math, and sports. “We want to build here a professional training center for adults,” Lee said. Given the numerous recreational amenities available, such as indoor basketball courts, and a saltwater swimming pool, developing athletic programs was a primary goal. Lee voiced interest in inviting the Chinese National basketball and soccer teams to train at the SSCS.
Mayor Hsueh, who was there to offer his support from the township, also emphasized the development of sports, citing the township’s strong sports organizations and his desire to make West Windsor “a center of sports.” Hsueh had previously not known Lee, who lives in Princeton, and he was heartened to see his new friend step in. “Now you see there is a future for this property,” Hsueh said.
Hsueh also credited the Wilson family for saving the property. “They made sure to finish everything, keep up property value, and keep up property revenue,” said the mayor, referring to center’s place on the township tax roll.
For Wilson and his family the day’s event marked an end to four years of twists and turns. Originally desiring to be involved with the JCC, which was to be named after him and his wife, the organization’s fundraising shortages ultimately turned him into a main investor forced to protect his loan (U.S. 1, October 30, 2013). The Wilson family took on additional debt to finish and operate the facility.
“This has been a long four-year journey for my wife and I since we agreed to lend the money in 2010,” Wilson said at the ceremony, who expressed gratitude for his wife’s close collaboration throughout. Wilson also thanked the staff he and his wife assembled the past year at Windsor Athletic Center, and felt “fortunate to have found Jack and Lisa,” the new owners.
Three things convinced Wilson that Lee was the right buyer. Along with the “good, interesting” long-term vision Lee articulated, the new owner also intends to continue operation of the WAC, which includes keeping the staff. Continuation of the JCC camp was the other priority for Wilson. “Keeping [the JCC camp] was extremely important. Jack was very excited to keep it here,” Wilson said.
When asked what lessons he has learned in the past four years, Wilson said, “together with my wife we worked our way out of it. We adapted and made the best of an extremely difficult challenge.”
Wilson’s current role is President of the WAC. His background is in technology and finance, and he is looking at future business opportunities involving leveraging and early-stage investment.
Amidst the new developments, JCC Princeton Mercer Bucks has carved out a presence at 99 Clarksville Road. The first JCC summer camp recently concluded at the site, with more than 300 campers having participated, and another camp for summer 2015 is in the works.
“We’re excited to grow our camp and programs. We’re inclusive of everybody,” says Wendy Soos, camp and program director. JCC will also organize year-round family and community programs, including a planned Fall Festival in October.
