Camden Neighborhood Sees Revitalization With Help From State, American Water
(From Left to right) Chris Collins, Camden City Councilman, 2nd Ward; Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver; Bridget Phifer, CEO, PBCIP; Mark McDonough, President, New Jersey American Water; Victor Carstarphen, Mayor of Camden. Photo courtesy of New Jersey American Water.
AC JosepH Media
CAMDEN — The city’s Parkside Neighborhood Revitalization plan is taking shape for residents there, as city leaders and representatives from the New Jersey American Water visited a special site at the Haddon Avenue Commercial Corridor.
The site is one of several commercial and residential property revitalization projects in Camden already underway. The work being done at 1224 and 1327 Haddon Avenue is helping spur business development within the neighborhood.
Parkside Business and Community in Partnership is also working on the development of 10 single family housing units within the community set to break ground before the end of the year.
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PBCIP CEO Bridget Phifer was joined for the site visit in late October by Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, Camden Mayor Vic Carstarphen and New Jersey American Water President Mark McDonough.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to share with the Lieutenant Governor this achievement in Parkside that is made possible by the [Department of Community Affair’s Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit] grant program and companies like New Jersey American Water who participate in it,” Phifer said.
“With these funds, we can continue the vital work of strengthening economic development for the Haddon Avenue corridor and supporting home ownership in Parkside.”
The NRTC Program, which is administered by DCA’s Division of Housing and Community Resources, is designed to spur the renewal of distressed neighborhoods through strategies developed by residents and the community-based nonprofit organizations that assist them.
“Parkside Business and Community in Partnership has a long history of doing outstanding work in the Camden Community. Partners and organizations like PBCIP play a key role in helping to bring vibrancy to our city neighborhoods,” Carstarphen said. “I commend Gov. Phil Murphy, Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, the Department of Community Affairs, and New Jersey American Water for supporting Camden’s non-profit community and for their ongoing investment in our City’s revitalization.”
Since 2010, New Jersey American Water has provided approximately $9.1 million in grants to community initiatives in its service areas across the state through the Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit program. Approximately $8 million of that total has been awarded to Camden initiatives.
New Jersey American Water has been the water services provider for the Cramer Hill and East Camden parts of the city for over 100 years and American Water Contract Services has been the contract operator for Camden’s water and wastewater system since 2016.
“The Parkside neighborhood has seen so much growth and improvement since Governor Murphy and I took office and we are fulfilled to see that much of this incredible progress has been made through the Department of Community Affairs Neighborhood Revitalization Tax Credit Program with investments by New Jersey American Water,” said Oliver, who serves as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
“The Parkside Business and Community in Partnership have been working with us to ensure that families live in safe and clean environments while addressing long-standing inequities. It is through these successful public and private partnerships that we will continue to improve the quality of life for families who live in New Jersey,” she continued.
McDonough called the transformation of the neighborhood so far “remarkable.”
“The progress being made by PBCIP exemplifies why they are a respected, trusted leader in Camden,” he said. “Their work shows what is possible when residents, community leaders and businesses work together and alongside the State’s Department of Community Affairs to create transformational projects that can change lives.”
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