CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — Camden’s oldest public housing project is being rebuilt with the help of a $35 million federal grant.
U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge visited the city’s Cramer Hill neighborhood Wednesday to announce funding to revitalize the 80-year-old Ablett Village public housing complex.
“Camden is a great community that deserves this $35 million,” Fudge said, “$35 million is a big deal.”
During a ceremony at Ablett Village, New Jersey U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez said the federal money will be used to build 350 new public and mixed-income units.
“These buildings are 80 years old with major structural deficiencies you can’t cover up with Band-Aids,” Menendez said. “The families, children and seniors living here deserve safer, modern housing options and a greater access to economic opportunity.”
Camden Assemblyman Bill Spearman, who is a former resident of Ablett Village, said the project will give residents better access to jobs as the neighborhood is revitalized.
“Having facilities like Ablett Village are so critical because it provides a roof over their heads, but like you said, we also provide the other services that people need,” he said. “This is very personal because a lot of good people live here. And affordable housing — workforce housing — is the key for people to be able to rebuild their lives.”
Mary Cortez, president of the Cramer Hill Residents Association, said Ablett Village residents will first move to homes off-site.
“Once this is demolished and rebuilt, then they come back if they want to. But I think a lot of them will want to,” she said.
Guy Pierce, a board member of the Cramer Hill Residents Association, said the project means his section of town is seeing a rebirth.
“This was like a forgotten part of Camden,” he said, “and now, the people are bringing it back.”
Camden is one of five cities nationwide to receive a Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant. The other recipients include Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Fort Myers, Florida; and Lewiston, Maine.