While officials have still not broken ground at the site of the future Jewish Community Campus on Clarksville Road, the beginning is in sight.
In addition, the JCC is 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.
According to Business Administrator Robert Hary, that property has been on the township’s list of priority purchases. “In addition to the fact that it’s been on our list anyway, there is a blue heron rookery on the property. From an environmental standpoint, it makes it an attractive piece of property for us.”
Hary said no price has been negotiated yet, and the details of the agreement are confidential because negotiations are ongoing. But 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, said Drew Staffenberg, the JCC executive director.
The JCC is still awaiting approval from West Windsor to create a pump station on the property to connect to the sewer system. Officials are also in the final stages of lease negotiations between the agencies that will reside on the campus. They are also in final negotiations with several lenders regarding financing for the construction loan and long-term mortgage.
Staffenberg said he hopes construction can begin in the next 60 to 90 days. According to the update, the project is expected to take 16 months.
Plans for the JCC received unanimous preliminary and final site plan approval from the West Windsor Planning Board in December, 2007. The campus, including one 78,000 square-foot building and one 7,000 square-foot structure for the day camp, was originally scheduled to be completed in fall, 2009.
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.
