CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — There’s a new collaborative effort in Camden to build more affordable housing, and there’s more than $16 million towards the effort from the city, county and philanthropic groups to help transform the city.
Leaders said the plan is to attack housing from multiple angles with new development, renovating blighted properties and knocking down homes that can’t be saved to start anew.
Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen said this includes building market-rate housing, which was already on the rise.
“We all expect that this collaboration is going to be transformational. It’s going to be generational. It’s going to be kids looking back 10-15 years from now and thankful for this moment that we have today,” said Carstarphen.
The program will be run by Camden Community Partnership, and CEO Dana Redd said there is already a list of properties to rehab and seed money will be available for approved projects.
“It’s about making sure that we do more and that families continue to thrive in the city of Camden,” she said.
Cooper Health Chairman George Norcross and his family foundation pledged $5 million to help cover soft costs like legal fees and blueprints to get projects off the ground and he says there’s no time to waste.
“It’s got to be built on steroids and with warp speed. Every day matters,” he said.
Camden County is providing $7.5 million and will help with land acquisitions when necessary.
The effort is also expected to provide construction jobs for city residents, and work will begin before the end of the year.