Elected leaders and business officials rolled the curtain back Thursday on a $1 billion development plan they say will reshape Camden's former industrial waterfront into a booming neighborhood that will reshape the struggling city.
CAMDEN -- Elected leaders and business officials rolled the curtain back Thursday on a $1 billion development plan they say will reshape Camden's former industrial waterfront into a booming neighborhood they say will reshape the struggling city.
The proposal calls for the construction of retail and residential space, as much as 1.7 million square feet of office space and a hotel. The plan, which is in the preliminary stages, includes public and private investments for the 16 acres of waterfront situated across the Delaware River from Philadelphia.
Camden Mayor Dana Redd said the project will cap what she said has been a gradual transformation of what was one of the nation's most dangerous cities.
"I am proud to announce yet another milestone, a game changer for our proud city," she said. "It is Camden's time, it is your time, and we are moving Camden forward."
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Redd argued the city is prepared to usher in "a new, world-class Camden" with the project.
The unveiling wasn't just billed as a private-public partnership. Instead Redd and Gov. Chris Christie touted it as a positive result of elected leaders dropping party affiliation and doing the right thing for New Jersey residents.
"I see every time I come here the transformation," said Christie, who has touted his ability to work with Democrats on the presidential campaign trail. "It's these positive changes that are breathing new life into the city and really have a cascading affect on the region."
The master plan was created by Liberty Property Trust and A.M. Stern Architects.
"We have worked with a group of successful local business leaders over the last several months to shape this project and they will be investing in the various project components as the final plans take shape," said William Hankowsky, chairman and CEO of Liberty Property Trust.
Boosts from private investments include funding from George Norcross III, the chairman of Conner Strong & Buckelew, and the South Jersey Democratic powerbroker.
However, details weren't released about how much Norcross was kicking into the project, nor were details available during the announcement of how much the state would provide for the project.
Construction is scheduled to begin in the fall of 2016 and the project is expected to be completed in 2019.
Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook. Follow NJ.com Politics on Facebook.