Members of the Friends of West Windsor Open Space are urging the Township Council to come to an agreement for the acquisition of an open space parcel from the Jewish Community Center site.
News of the pending deal was announced by JCC officials last month, but the township has had several negotiations in closed session on the deal with no agreement announced.
Members of FOWWOS mentioned during public comment that they had seen two offers from the JCC that were submitted to council and hinted that the Township Council was not happy with the values mentioned for the property.
In turn, members of FOWWOS offered to provide the funds to hire an independent professional to conduct a third appraisal in hopes of moving the process along.
As the News reported last month, the JCC was finalizing an agreement with West Windsor in which it will sell 27 acres of the 81-acre campus to the township to be preserved as green space for recreation, officials at both the JCC and township confirmed.
But township officials said that a price had not yet been negotiated. Details of the agreement are confidential because negotiations are ongoing. The township will use funds set aside in its open space funds for the purchase. The news was announced in an update the JCC sent out to its members this month. In the letter, official say that the “project has been a challenge with many obstacles along the way.”
The letter states that the JCC has now received almost all of its many approvals from the various levels of state, county, and municipal governments. Mercer County and West Windsor have also completed the installation of sewer pipes to the JCC property. It was these various pieces of the process that contributed to the construction delay, JCC officials said.
Now, it appears the delay is coming because of the appraisal of the property’s value. During public comment, Andrew Kulley, an officer with FOWWOS, said he became concerned when he saw a newsletter circulated by the JCC that intimated that an agreement was imminent, but has seen no progress on the deal. “This is a very important property,” Kulley said. “It has been on a list of properties the township has targeted for years.”
He said the Duck Pond Run traverses the parcel, which also contains a blue heron rookery. “We’re concerned that this has not moved forward,” he added. “We would urge you to consummate this deal.” He told the Township Council that FOWWOS would be available to help the township with the deal.
Alison Miller, also a member of FOWWOS, said that if the issue with the property is the “value” of the site, that FOWWOS would help hire an independent appraiser. She said she had seen two offers that were submitted to the township and said FOWWOS is interested in helping the process move forward.
Bob Murray, also a member of FOWWOS, echoed the sentiment: “We would be very willing to fund a private appraisal by a professional company.”
David Siegel, who is also involved with FOWWOS, said that given the economic and real estate climate, “the township will be well-advised to act now,” he said. “It would be wise to work with a willing seller.”
Councilwoman Linda Geevers said she did not see a reason to seek a third appraisal for the property. “My opinion is the numbers will come in essentially the same,” she said. Rather, she said she felt the township should consider working with a professional real estate company to advise officials on the deal.
However, further discussion of the matter was discouraged by Council President Diane Ciccone because it is subject to closed session negotiations.
Still, Councilman Charles Morgan thought the council should at least meet to discuss the proposal from FOWWOS, and council members came to a consensus to discuss the matter in closed session before the next meeting on Monday, October 18.
Plans for the JCC were approved in December, 2007. The campus will include one 78,000 square-foot building and one 7,000 square-foot structure for the day camp. The campus will include a child care and early education center, health and fitness facilities, a Kosher cafe, private JFCS suites, and offices for the United Jewish Federation and Jewish Community Foundation. It will also include recreation fields and a swimming pool.
