The New York-based firm of architect Robert A.M. Stern is in charge of the project’s masterplan. “It’s going to be a real urban neighbourhood”.
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“We will have direct feeds to the main EOC in Philadelphia the New Jersey state police at the ROC in west Trenton and the Unified State command post run by the state police in Camden”, said Blaker. Then there was supposed to be a museum dedicated to the history of recorded sound, a nod to RCA, which had offices, recording studios and factories there.
The area was the key to a wave of revitalization plans that started in the 1990s and includes destinations for visitors including an aquarium, minor-league baseball stadium and concert venue as well as one luxury apartment building. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and you should be there”, said Camden County Freeholder Jeffrey L. Nash, also vice chairman of the Delaware River Port Authority board. “That’s the game changer”.
And if you haven’t already finalized your travel plans to attend papal events in Philadelphia this weekend, security officials say your travel plans may truly be on a wing and a prayer.
Liberty Property Trust, based in Malvern, Pennsylvania, has already turned Philadelphia’s former Navy Yard into a thriving office park, it is building a second skyscraper for Comcast, and it manages some of the biggest office buildings in Center City Philadelphia.
Among the local business leaders committed to financially supporting the project is Democratic power broker George E. Norcross III, who has partnered with Christie several times in an effort to revitalize the city. To qualify for the incentive program, the businesses have to meet several requirements, such as bringing a certain number of new jobs to Camden and remaining in the city.
The Inquirer also reported that Norcross will be investing $50 million of his own money into the project.
Under New Jersey’s tax incentives, firms that move into Camden can receive tax credits over 10 years equal to the amount they spend on construction.
So far, motorists have pre-registered for only about 275 of the 8,000 parking spaces available on Camden’s Waterfront, which has been billed as the “gateway” for Pope Francis’ visit to Philadelphia, Mayor Dana Redd said.
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Liberty CEO William Hankowsky, who began his career over three decades ago in Camden as the city’s director of community development, reflected on the moment being somewhat of a homecoming for him. Hankowsky said that service jobs and the possibility of jobs nearby would boost the city.
