All this week, KYW Newsradio has stories of post-pandemic recovery with a series called "The State of Downtown." Listen on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. for "Audacy Conversations: The State of Downtown."
CAMDEN, N.J. (KYW Newsradio) — Downtowns all over the Philadelphia region are still working to get back on their feet after the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Efforts long underway to revitalize Camden’s downtown and promote economic activity are moving in the right direction, but nobody is declaring “Mission accomplished” just yet.
Mayor Vic Carstarphen has a bit of a “Field of Dreams,” if-you-build-it-they-will-come mentality about it. He says city leaders are trying to approach economic growth from all angles: reduce crime, clean up the streets, work with businesses large and small.
“You can feel, see and touch what’s happening,” he said.
The mayor says the city draws a lot of people to the waterfront attractions, including the Adventure Aquarium, the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion, and the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, though visitors often don’t do much exploring outside of that neighborhood.
“I want them to be able to stay. I want people to be able to live, work, and play here,” said Carstarphen.
Rosemarie Hicks, who owns Nuance Cafe on Market Street, said the city has been working hard, but more communication and coordination is needed.
“For example, when there’s a concert or events in the city, let the folks know and do advertisement support and marketing as it relates to businesses that are downtown,” Hicks said.
Attorney Alex Varghese visits the city often for work and says he enjoys grabbing lunch from new places.
“It feels safe, it feels clean and I like it,” he said.
Part of the reason why it’s clean is the city ambassadors known as the Yellow Jackets. Nate Echeverria, who runs the downtown business improvement district, says it’s a daily grind, always with the big picture in mind.
“There seems to be a new business opening every month, so I think we’re kind of seeing some of this play out,” said Echeverria.
The data backs up the positive trend. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty rate is the lowest it’s been in more than a decade. And the percentage of people in the labor force is the highest it’s been in the same time.
Outside City Hall, Alina Alivez says, there have been more free, family-friendly activities that she can bring her kids to, and she appreciates how the city remains committed to safety and cleanliness.
“I see the trash men — as we speak, they’re out here with brooms cleaning up — so, I feel like there has been a great impact,” Alivez said.
There are still many vacant storefronts, and the mayor says they will keep pushing for more development and more investment from their corporate partners, and they will keep plugging away each day to help push Camden toward its full potential.
🎧 Special Broadcast Nov. 16
Correction: A previous version of this article misspelled Nate's last name. The current version reflects that change.