CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — A former industrial site in Camden will soon be developed for 15 single-family homes thanks to a $1 million federal grant for cleanup efforts.
The half-acre lot at Front and Elm in North Camden used to be home to a paper factory. Mayor Vic Carstarphen says families will put down their roots and continue the transformation of this neighborhood in the shadow of the Ben Franklin Bridge.
“Changing blightness to brightness, this is what this is,” he said. “Blightness to brightness for the community. Spaces that were environmentally messed up, and changing it for community.”
Money for site remediation is coming from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Administrator and Camden native Olivia Glenn says the federal government is dedicated to improving urban areas like Camden.
“I see today as a fulfillment of the work that the grassroots has done,” she said. “EPA just simply has the pleasure of giving the fiscal support to the vision and the resilience that has long been here.”
Camden City Council President Angel Fuentes says he’s excited about the future because of investments like this.
“Camden was once an economic powerhouse, and it seems like, slowly but surely, we’re getting there,” he said.
So far there’s no timeline on when the homes will be finished.
“Changing blightness to brightness, this is what this is,” he said. “Blightness to brightness for the community. Spaces that were environmentally messed up, and changing it for community.”
Money for site remediation is coming from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Administrator and Camden native Olivia Glenn says the federal government is dedicated to improving urban areas like Camden.
“I see today as a fulfillment of the work that the grassroots has done,” she said. “EPA just simply has the pleasure of giving the fiscal support to the vision and the resilience that has long been here.”
Camden City Council President Angel Fuentes says he’s excited about the future because of investments like this.
“Camden was once an economic powerhouse, and it seems like, slowly but surely, we’re getting there,” he said.
So far there’s no timeline on when the homes will be finished.